Next match:
at the University of Southern California
October 24, 2024 | 11:00 PM ET
Thursday, October 24th / 11pm ET
at the University of Southern California
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball defeated Washington 3-1 (17-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-18) during Homecoming Weekend Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Student Events Center. It ended with a loss. Senior libero Nalani Iosia tied her career high with 27 goals and had the third-most digs in a game by a B1G player this season.
MSU improved to 7-12 (0-8 B1G) and Washington improved to 14-4 (4-4 B1G). The Spartans return to the road next weekend in Los Angeles after a two-week homestand, playing against the University of Southern California on Thursday, October 24th, and the University of California, Los Angeles on Saturday, October 26th. Thursday night’s game at the University of Southern California will be nationally broadcast on the Big Ten. network.
Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson had her best performance of the season with a season-high 18 kills on a .316 batting average and one block. Third-year outside hitter Taylor Preston also had double-digit kills and added 12 points. Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig had an efficient .545 batting average with six kills and six blocks.
Senior setter Julia Bishop tied her career high with four blocks and recorded her fifth double-double of the year with 35 assists and 13 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Tyra Holdem topped the double-digit mark for the second time this season, finishing with 12 RBI.
Iosia had 40 digs this weekend, moving him into seventh place on Michigan State’s career all-time list with 1,261. Iosia is averaging 4.51 digs/set this season, which would rank sixth all-time in a single season at MSU.
Michigan State held Washington to a -.0023 batting average in the first set with an elite defensive performance that featured five blocks. The Huskies tied the set 14-14 midway through, but it was all MSU from there. Michigan State used an 8-1 run from that tie to accumulate a seven-point advantage at 22-15 at the half. Bishop was part of a three-block block in the second half of the frame, setting a season high in the first set alone. Anderson’s strong flyover kill secured MSU the set at 25-17, her fifth kill of the stanza.
Julia Bishop’s SOLO block! 😱#gogreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/s3FT0lZuBE
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 20, 2024
MSU started the second set, going 8-3 after a kill by Preston, forcing Washington to take a timeout. The Huskies made some adjustments, but ended the set by defeating Michigan State 22-10. Anderson’s kill kept MSU up 18-14. Michigan State tried to shift momentum back into their favor late in the frame, avoiding set point with a Krig kill.
Kash keeps us fighting!#gogreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/2qeczE4gZ2
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 20, 2024
Another strong start by MSU forced the Huskies to take an early timeout and lead 10-5 in the third. Preston got things going early with back-to-back kills, giving Washington some breathing room. Anderson’s kill kept the Spartans at a 16-14 advantage past the midpoint of set three. Washington took over late in the third set and went on an 11-2 run to end the set 25-18.
Preston runs across the court and forces Washington into a timeout!#gogreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/CT5MAYjJmV
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 20, 2024
Blocks from Kulig and Holdem brought the Spartans to within two points at 6-4 early in the fourth. Both teams traded points down the stretch, with Michigan State fighting to maintain a four-point lead. As part of MSU’s 3-1 run, Hold’em’s ace brought the Spartans within three points at the half, 19-16. However, Washington used a 6-2 run to close out the set, ending the match at 25-18.
Kash had a season-high 18 kills!#gogreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/1NzwGHaUbU
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 20, 2024
