Michigan State volleyball fends off Maryland in five-set win

EAST LANSING — The Michigan State volleyball team was looking to rebound from a three-set loss to top-ranked Nebraska just two days earlier.

It was far from easy, but the Spartans started fast and then had to hold off a strong Maryland comeback attempt for a five-set victory, 25-18, 14-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-13, on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Breslin Center.

MSU (15-3, 5-3 Big Ten), which was coming off a record-breaking attendance night against Nebraska on Friday, eventually outlasted the tougher-than-expected Terrapins, who entered having won just one Big Ten match so far this season.

Maryland (8-10, 1-7 Big Ten) out-hit the Spartans, .171 to .104 and had a 21-12 edge in total blocks. But it was MSU outside hitter Bianca Mumcular who got the winning kill on match point off a perfect set by Malayah Long

"We knew Maryland was a good blocking team, both them and Nebraska are two of the top blocking teams in the conference, and it was the first time we were really tested offensively," MSU coach Kristen Kelsay said. "We can prepare for the battle we think we are going to play, but we won't know what it looks like until we start, and it was a tough battle for us. I'm proud of the way we responded, even in the fifth set, we haven't been in that moment yet.

"I'm glad we were able to get the win while learning those lessons today."

Junior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska led the Spartans with 19 kills, while Mumcular had 13 kills. Long had 36 assists for MSU, and junior libero Lia Schneider recorded a team-high 13 digs.

Overall, the weekend was a positive learning experience for a young team approaching a big road weekend when it travels to Iowa on Oct. 24 before a rematch with the No. 1 Cornhuskers the next night.

"We learned that we can make changes quickly after a game, and that everybody on our team is good enough to come in and help us on the court," Staniszewska said. "These two games showed us that, and our practices are built to help us in tight moments to trust our system and our skills."

The Spartans looked to be on their way to a four-set win after they won two of the first three sets and led the fourth 8-1. But Maryland called timeout, swung the momentum by taking nine of the next 11 points and eventually forced a fifth set with a 25-21 win.

MSU never trailed in the final set, but the Terrapins did rally from down 13-8 to force the Spartans to the final point.

"Every Big Ten match is a different fire, like Nebraska was a fire we hadn't seen and this was a fire, and it'll refine us if we put the work in," Kelsay said. "As a staff, we'll do the work and make sure we have a game plan, and we just have to keep teaching."

MSU will next face Iowa on Oct. 24, followed by Nebraska the following day.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State volleyball fends off Maryland in five-set win