In the final game of the UAB/Samford Invitational, the No. 16 Spartans were trying to knock off co-host Samford to stay undefeated on the trip. The Spartans head back to East Lansing with a lot of momentum after a four-set victory.

The first set was close until MSU scored five straight points to make it 14-7. MSU’s Jazmine White had two service aces in a row to help the Spartans pull away to win the set, 25-12. Samford had nine attack errors in the first set. Kori Moster and Holly Toliver both had three digs in the first set.

In the second set, the score was gridlocked again until the Spartans got streaky by scoring seven straight points. Four of those points were due to Samford scoring errors. MSU won the set 25-12 and the final point was lost on a Samford attack error.

For the third, Stamford took its first sizeable lead of the match going up by three points, which led to the first time out by MSU head coach Cathy George for the entire night. Stamford held on towards the later half of the set, until back-to-back errors let the Spartans back in the game and tied the set at 18-18.

It took extra time of back-and-forth points that gave Stamford the win in the third set, 33-31. Stamford had a positive hitting percentage in the third set compared to the first two sets.

The Spartans went up early in the fourth set 10-2 after eight straight points, which included four straight kills, but Samford came roaring back to bring it to a one-point, fourth set at 18-17.

However, the Spartans pulled away to remain victorious in the UAB/Samford Invitational, 25-19.

For Samford, it was errors that haunted them the whole game. They had 33 attack errors as a team and 13 of those came from outside hitter Michaela Reesor. The Spartans had 16 attack errors of there own, but only one handling error on the night.

Moster led the Spartans defensively with 16 digs and two service aces, while Alyssa Fitterer led the offensive attack with 16 kills and 26 attacks. Fitterer earned tournament MVP honors.

MSU returns to East Lansing for its home opener against Northern Colorado on September 5 at Jenison Field House.

Alex Scharg is a multimedia journalist for Impact Sports.

Photo: Michigan State University Athletics