EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State welcomed back the 1995 and 1996 Big Ten Championship teams on Friday night in the Breslin Center as the Spartans were defeated by #14 Purdue 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 17-25, 16-25). MSU came out of the gates with a strong gameplan, leading for the entirety of the first set after hitting .324.
The Spartans hit .194 for the match as opposed .259 for the Boilermakers. Freshman Maradith O'Gorman and sophomore Aliyah Moore led the Spartans with a dozen kills each as O'Gorman hit .241. Fifth year Rebecka Poljan added eight kills in the middle while freshman Selin Aslayan finished with seven. Graduate Zoe Nunez recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 29 assists and 10 digs. Junior Nalani Iosia posted a match-high 23 digs after an outstanding performance in the back row.
Michigan State started hot in set one taking a 9-3 lead over the Boilermakers. Purdue battled back within two points of the Spartans at 13-11, but another 9-3 Spartan run opened up a 22-15 advantage. The Spartans finished the set on a 3-1 run with kills by O'Gorman and Aslayan, and a Iosia ace. Moore and O'Gorman each finished the first set with five kills, with O'Gorman hitting .500 for the set.
Set two was back and forth to start until the Spartans used a 7-1 run to take an 11-7 lead over Purdue. Michigan State used a 5-0 run to take a commanding 21-15 lead late in the set, but the Boilermakers would go on to show why they are No. 14-ranked team in the country. An 11-3 run Purdue run ended the set in Purdue's favor as the teams went to extra points.
The 1995 and 1996 Big Ten Championship teams were honored between sets two and three
The Spartans took an early 4-1 lead in set three, but Purdue controlled the set from there on out. Raven Colvin started to heat up for the Boilermakers with six kills on eight swings in the third. Colvin continued her pace with five kills on seven swings in set four. Purdue used a 7-0 run in the fourth to pull away from the Spartans.
Purdue was led by 16 kills at the hand of Colvin, while Maddy Chinn (13) and Eva Hudson (12) also finished in double figures. Megan Renner had a match-best 42 assists and Maddie Schermerhorn had 12 digs.
Up Next: Michigan State remains at home next weekend, hosting Illinois and Northwestern. The Spartans first meet the Fighting Illini at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 before hosting the Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 12. First serve for Saturday's game against Northwestern is TBA.
