Lansing Sun

Michigan State's volleyball team celebrated its senior class with a 3-1 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday night at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. The Spartans won with scores of 25-16, 25-22, 29-31, and 25-12.

Senior libero Nalani Iosia achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the 2,000 career dig mark, becoming only the second player in the program's history to do so. Kori Moster was the first with 2,218 digs.

Head coach Leah Johnson expressed pride in her team's performance: "I was proud of how we came back in set four and really pushed," she said. "Aliyah (Moore) had a great match offensively and she really put together two back-to-back matches to close out her career at Breslin."

The victory improved Michigan State's record to 13-17 overall and 6-13 in Big Ten play. The Spartans have now won five of their last six matches. Meanwhile, Northwestern fell to 5-22 overall and 3-16 in conference play. Michigan State will conclude its season against No.7-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday.

Aliyah Moore led the Spartans with a season-high of 14 kills on 31 swings, achieving a .387 hitting percentage. Other notable performances included junior outside hitter Taylor Preston with 12 kills and sophomore outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska with 11 kills. Preston also recorded a season-high of 13 digs for her third double-double of the year, while Staniszewska had ten digs for her second double-double.

Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig contributed six blocks for Michigan State. Senior setters Julia Bishop and Rachel Muisenga shared setting duties with Bishop tallying three aces that matched her career-high.

The Spartans out-hit Northwestern .212 to .100, keeping the Wildcats at negative hitting percentages during set one. MSU maintained an over .216 hitting percentage through the final three sets and achieved a side-out percentage of ninety-one percent in set four.

In set one, Michigan State overcame an early tie by executing a decisive scoring run aided by Wildcat errors. Aliyah Moore was instrumental during this period with multiple kills and blocks contributing to their win.

Set two saw Michigan State erase an early deficit before pulling ahead mid-way through thanks to key plays from Kulig and Preston who delivered crucial points when needed most.

Set three featured intense exchanges as both teams battled into extra points before Northwestern eventually claimed it after fending off multiple Spartan match points opportunities.

In contrast, set four belonged entirely to Michigan State following an early lead they never relinquished further cemented by strategic plays from players like Evie Doezema who delivered vital solo blocks along with Bishop’s ace service which helped secure their ultimate triumph over Northwestern this evening.