EAST LANSING- Michigan State volleyball fell in a clean sweep by Nebraska at the Breslin Center, ending their eight-game undefeated streak at home on Friday.
The Big Ten conference matchup broke the previous program attendance record of 8,789 set against the Cornhuskers in 2023 with a total of 11,578 fans in the stadium.
The game opened with Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Spartans’ redshirt freshman setter Malayah Long, serving. Long’s serve was quickly met with a kill by Nebraska’s freshman opposite hitter Virginia Adriano, assisted by junior setter Bergen Reilly.
The Huskers started off hot and lead the Spartans by seven when first-year head coach Kristen Kelsay, called for the first time out of the game. Coming out of the timeout, MSU earned a point off a set gone out of bounds on junior middle blocker Andi Johnson.
Michigan State managed to rally three points but ultimately fell 25-15 to end the first set after a kill from junior outside hitter, and Michigan native, Harper Murray.
Nebraska fires first in the second set with a kill from Adriano followed by a service ace from freshman outside hitter Teraya Sigler. The Huskers scored seven unanswered points until an attack error by Sigler awarded the Spartans their first of the set. Michigan State went on a scoring streak of their own, bringing the score to 7-6.
Shortly after, Nebraska brought on the highest lead of the game, following another timeout by Michigan State. At 19-10 the Spartans looked for a way to win back the set. Unable to break through the Husker defense, MSU fell 25-18, down 2-0 heading into the third and final set of the game.
The Spartans scored first in the third set after an attack error by Adriano. After a burst of back-and-forth scoring, Nebraska took the lead once again. After being down by six, Michigan State battled to match Nebraska, bringing the score to 16-14 which was met by the Big Red’s first timeout of the game.
The two teams fought fiercely, Nebraska to maintain the lead and the Spartans to keep it close. MSU held their fifth timeout of the game and was able to bridge the gap later in the set, bringing the score to 21-18.
A block by Adriano forced an attack error on junior outside hitter Taylah Holdem, leading to the final Spartan timeout. Nebraska fires off a service ace heading into the final minutes of the game by Reilly.
A kill by Adriano, her seventh of the game, brought an end to Michigan State’s undefeated home streak and kept the Huskers dominate at 17-0 for the season.
“I’m proud of the way that they continue to battle, but we have to play cleaner volleyball to play a caliber team like this,” said Kelsay referring to the seven attack errors that attributed to some of Nebraska’s crucial points.
Heading into Sunday’s game against Maryland, Kelsay says she hopes to see earlier communication between the team.
