Lansing Sun

Michigan State Volleyball Falls to Florida in Competitive Match

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Michigan State University's volleyball team concluded its trip out west with a match against No. 11-ranked University of Florida on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans fell 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-17) in a contest that was closer than the final score indicated.

The loss to Florida brings Michigan State's overall record to 1-2, while the Gators finish their weekend in Colorado with a perfect 3-0 record.

Junior Akasha Anderson led MSU with 10 kills, and sophomore Taylah Holdem added seven kills and led all Spartans with two service aces. Sophomore Zuzanna Kulig hit .556 with five kills on nine attempts and tallied four blocks, tying junior Evie Doezema for the team high.

Seniors Julia Bishop and Rachel Muisenga contributed 15 and 12 assists respectively, with Bishop finishing one dig away from a double-double at nine. Senior Nalani Iosia posted a team-best 13 digs.

Michigan State hit .206 overall, including a .323 clip in set one but were outpaced by Florida's .361 hitting percentage. The Gators held advantages in aces (5-3) and blocks (9-to-8.5).

In the first set, Michigan State led by as many as two points late at 20-18 and 23-21. Both MSU leads forced Gator timeouts after back-to-back aces by Holdem and Anderson's fifth kill of the set. Moore's second kill put Michigan State on set point at 24-23, but Florida rallied to take the set.

Holdem's fourth kill tied set two early at 8-8 before Florida used a 9-3 run to take a commanding lead that forced MSU into calling both timeouts. Despite efforts to rally through consecutive kills by Holdem and senior Aliyah Moore, Florida extended their lead to secure the second set.

Both teams traded runs at the start of the third set until an MSU run prompted a timeout from Florida. A subsequent run from Florida tied the frame at 6-6 before they took control of the set using another scoring stretch despite Michigan State’s continued efforts.

Up next for Michigan State is their first home appearance of the season at Breslin Center during the Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance on September 6-8. They will face Western Kentucky on Friday, September 6th at 7:00 p.m., who are coming off an opening weekend where they went 2-1.