Lansing Sun

Michigan State volleyball put forth a strong effort but ultimately fell 3-1 to No. 4-ranked Penn State on Sunday at Rec Hall. The match scores were 23-25, 25-17, 25-21, and 25-23. Junior outside hitter Taylor Preston led Michigan State with her best performance of the season, recording 18 kills on .317 hitting along with seven digs and two blocks.

With this result, Michigan State's record stands at 7-6 (0-2 B1G), while Penn State improves to 12-1 (2-0 B1G). The Spartans will travel next weekend to face Indiana (7-5, 0-2 B1G) and No. 10-ranked Purdue (10-3, 1-1 B1G).

Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson achieved her second double-double as a Spartan with ten kills and ten digs. Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig led the team in blocks with four. Senior setter Julia Bishop assisted on a season-high of 33 attempts, and senior libero Nalani Iosia recorded fourteen digs.

The Spartans hit .176 overall but improved to .286 in the fourth set. Penn State had an overall hitting percentage of .247 for the match but was held to .109 by MSU in the first set. PSU outside hitter Jess Mruzik finished with a match-high of twenty-nine kills.

In the first set, Michigan State took an early lead at 8-7 and maintained it throughout, limiting Penn State to just .109 hitting in that frame. Despite a late push from PSU, Preston secured the set for MSU with her fourth kill.

Penn State dominated the second set, leading by as many as eight points at one stage. A late run by MSU brought them closer at 20-16 after a Bishop ace prompted PSU to call a timeout. Following the break, PSU regained control and closed out the set.

In the third set, MSU reduced their deficit to one point midway through but could not overcome PSU's lead despite a strong run highlighted by Preston's twelfth kill.

The fourth set saw Michigan State leading mid-way before a Nittany Lion run gave PSU control again. The Spartans managed to tie it at 22-all following two errors from Penn State and a block from Preston and junior middle blocker Evie Doezema. However, consecutive kills from Penn State ended the match.

Michigan State will continue their road trip next weekend against Indiana on Friday night followed by a nationally broadcast game against Purdue on Sunday evening on Big Ten Network.