Spartans Shine with Career-Defining Performances to Defeat Broncos 3-1 | Michigan State Athletics

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Michigan State volleyball team celebrated a strong victory against Western Michigan on Monday, winning 3-1 at University Arena. This win keeps the Spartans undefeated at 5-0, while the Broncos fell to 1-6.

The Spartans showcased their skills, hitting .251 and achieving a whopping 68 kills. In contrast, Western Michigan struggled with a hitting percentage of just .128. MSU dominated in several categories, including total kills (68 to 43), service aces (3 to 2), blocks (10 to 7), and digs (89 to 73).

A standout performance came from redshirt freshman setter Malayah Long, who not only recorded a career-high 56 assists but also set a personal best with 14 digs and four blocks. This marked her second consecutive double-double, an achievement rarely seen in team history. Junior outside hitter Taylah Holdem also shined, racking up 26 kills on .375 hitting and adding 11 digs.

The defensive highlight was redshirt sophomore libero Sarah Vellucci, who crushed her previous record by logging 31 digs. This impressive total ranks as the third-highest in a four-set match in the program’s history. Junior libero Lia Schneider contributed with a season-high of 14 digs.

Senior Evie Doezema tied her career best with 16 kills, while junior Karolina Staniszewska came close with 14. Sophomore middle blocker Breccan Scheck contributed with seven kills and posted six blocks, highlighting a strong team effort throughout the match.

The game started with WMU taking an early lead, leading 4-1 in the first set. However, the Spartans rallied back, with Long’s kill tying the score at 7-7. Despite a strong push from WMU, they ultimately took the first set 25-22.

In the second set, Michigan State turned the tables, unleashing a 13-0 run after trailing early. They dominated, winning the set 25-13 while hitting a remarkable .325.

The third set saw MSU jump to a 10-4 lead, but the Broncos attempted to close the gap. Ultimately, MSU closed out the set 25-18 with an impressive performance.

Towards the end of the fourth set, MSU built on their momentum, going on a six-point run that forced a WMU timeout. The match ended with Holdem’s career-high kill, sealing the victory at 25-20.

This victory not only showcases the Spartans’ potential this season but also reflects their continuous improvement. Their next challenge will be against Kennesaw State in Georgia, where fans will eagerly watch to see if MSU can continue their winning streak.

Recent trends in college volleyball show that teams focusing on both offensive firepower and strong defense tend to perform better. With MSU boasting multiple players hitting double digits in kills and digs, they seem well on track to make a strong impact as the season progresses.

For more on collegiate volleyball statistics and trends, check out the NCAA volleyball site here.

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