EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball defeated No. 13-ranked Penn State on Saturday night in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-19, 11-25, 16-25, 25-18, 18-16), snapping a 13-game losing streak against the Nittany Lions that dated back to Nov. 2, 2013. The Spartans showed resilience down 2-1 and took the final two sets of the match to stun Penn State inside the Breslin Center.
It's MSU's first home victory over Penn State since Nov. 1, 2002, also a five-setter. Michigan State earns its first home ranked win since Oct. 7, 2017, a 3-1 win over then No. 7-ranked Wisconsin.
"When you win set one, you know that's a team you can beat," Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson said. "Sets two and three were below norm for us, so we knew we'd regress to our mean and stop giving them so many points. Eventually we surpassed our norm and that's the level we've been training to get to. I was really happy with the way the team responded."
With a win Michigan State improves to 14-9 overall and 6-6 in B1G action. MSU's six conference victories are tied for the most by the program since 2019. Penn State drops to 15-6 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem led the Spartans with 14 kills, including two in the final three points of the match. Holdem added 10 digs to secure her seventh double-double of the season. Junior opposite Aliyah Moore finished with nine kills, which included five over the final two sets along with a team-high four blocks. Sophomore opposite Evie Doezema finished with eight kills, hitting .263 for the match.
Junior setter Rachel Muisenga secured her first career double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs, while junior setter Julia Bishop led the team with 26 assists and was one dig shy of her fifth double-double. Senior libero Nalani Iosia posted a match-high 15 digs and freshman outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska added 11.
MSU out-hit the Nittany Lions .144 to .128 overall and .327 to .064 over the final two sets of the match. Michigan State's composure late led them to the victory despite trailing in total blocks 19-to-9, and aces 10-to-1.
What started out as a back-and-forth first set ended in favor of the Spartans after things were tied up late at 17 apiece. An 8-2 Michigan State run capped off a dramatic first set that featured 12 tied scores and three lead changes. Holdem and Doezema each had four kills for the Spartans in the first with Doezema adding two of her kills in the final six Spartan points of the frame.
Penn State controlled sets two and three, winning by scores of 25-11 and 25-16 to lead Michigan State heading into set four.
With their backs against a wall, MSU continued to battle and took a quick 4-0 lead over the Nittany Lions to force an early timeout in set four. Michigan State continued to put the pressure on, opening up a six-point lead, 13-7, on a solo block by Moore. Penn State started to charge back, using a 4-1 run to pull within three, 14-11, and force an MSU timeout. Michigan State took full advantage of the breather and went on a 6-2 run out of the break, which was capped off on a Staniszewska kill that forced a Penn State timeout. Three straight Nittany Lion points forced MSU's final timeout of the set, but once again the Spartans would show their resilience by scoring five of the final six points, highlighted by kills from sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur, Staniszewska and Moore. The Spartans out-hit Penn State .379 to -.029 in the fourth to shift the momentum of the match.
Set five wasn't for the faint of heart as MSU lead by as many as five, 11-6, before a Penn State timeout helped the Nittany Lions get back into it. A 6-2 PSU run out of the break forced Michigan State's hand as Johnson called each of her timeouts to settle the team for the closing stages of the match. A kill by Okur put Michigan State on match point, 14-12, but three straight Nittany Lion points put Penn State on a match point of its own, 15-14. An MSU service error put Penn State back in front, 16-15, but the Spartans' will did not waver. Holdem connected on two of her 14 kills, and fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur and Moore combined for a stuff block to send the Nittany Lions back to State College. A late challenge on Holdem's match-winning kill was unsuccessful and the Spartans rushed the court with jubilation.
UP NEXT
Michigan State remains at home next weekend when it takes on Maryland and Iowa from the Breslin Center. The Spartans first meet Maryland on Friday, Nov. 3 for a 7:00 p.m. first serve. Both of next weekend's matches will be streamed live on B1G+.
Match recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
It's MSU's first home victory over Penn State since Nov. 1, 2002, also a five-setter. Michigan State earns its first home ranked win since Oct. 7, 2017, a 3-1 win over then No. 7-ranked Wisconsin.
"When you win set one, you know that's a team you can beat," Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson said. "Sets two and three were below norm for us, so we knew we'd regress to our mean and stop giving them so many points. Eventually we surpassed our norm and that's the level we've been training to get to. I was really happy with the way the team responded."
With a win Michigan State improves to 14-9 overall and 6-6 in B1G action. MSU's six conference victories are tied for the most by the program since 2019. Penn State drops to 15-6 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem led the Spartans with 14 kills, including two in the final three points of the match. Holdem added 10 digs to secure her seventh double-double of the season. Junior opposite Aliyah Moore finished with nine kills, which included five over the final two sets along with a team-high four blocks. Sophomore opposite Evie Doezema finished with eight kills, hitting .263 for the match.
Junior setter Rachel Muisenga secured her first career double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs, while junior setter Julia Bishop led the team with 26 assists and was one dig shy of her fifth double-double. Senior libero Nalani Iosia posted a match-high 15 digs and freshman outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska added 11.
MSU out-hit the Nittany Lions .144 to .128 overall and .327 to .064 over the final two sets of the match. Michigan State's composure late led them to the victory despite trailing in total blocks 19-to-9, and aces 10-to-1.
What started out as a back-and-forth first set ended in favor of the Spartans after things were tied up late at 17 apiece. An 8-2 Michigan State run capped off a dramatic first set that featured 12 tied scores and three lead changes. Holdem and Doezema each had four kills for the Spartans in the first with Doezema adding two of her kills in the final six Spartan points of the frame.
Penn State controlled sets two and three, winning by scores of 25-11 and 25-16 to lead Michigan State heading into set four.
With their backs against a wall, MSU continued to battle and took a quick 4-0 lead over the Nittany Lions to force an early timeout in set four. Michigan State continued to put the pressure on, opening up a six-point lead, 13-7, on a solo block by Moore. Penn State started to charge back, using a 4-1 run to pull within three, 14-11, and force an MSU timeout. Michigan State took full advantage of the breather and went on a 6-2 run out of the break, which was capped off on a Staniszewska kill that forced a Penn State timeout. Three straight Nittany Lion points forced MSU's final timeout of the set, but once again the Spartans would show their resilience by scoring five of the final six points, highlighted by kills from sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur, Staniszewska and Moore. The Spartans out-hit Penn State .379 to -.029 in the fourth to shift the momentum of the match.
Set five wasn't for the faint of heart as MSU lead by as many as five, 11-6, before a Penn State timeout helped the Nittany Lions get back into it. A 6-2 PSU run out of the break forced Michigan State's hand as Johnson called each of her timeouts to settle the team for the closing stages of the match. A kill by Okur put Michigan State on match point, 14-12, but three straight Nittany Lion points put Penn State on a match point of its own, 15-14. An MSU service error put Penn State back in front, 16-15, but the Spartans' will did not waver. Holdem connected on two of her 14 kills, and fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur and Moore combined for a stuff block to send the Nittany Lions back to State College. A late challenge on Holdem's match-winning kill was unsuccessful and the Spartans rushed the court with jubilation.
UP NEXT
Michigan State remains at home next weekend when it takes on Maryland and Iowa from the Breslin Center. The Spartans first meet Maryland on Friday, Nov. 3 for a 7:00 p.m. first serve. Both of next weekend's matches will be streamed live on B1G+.
Match recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
