MSU Volleyball: Ohio State Sweeps The Spartans

Game One

The Ohio State Buckeyes made quick work of the Michigan State Spartans in match one. OSU swept MSU in straight sets (17-25, 15-25, 20-25). Michigan State battled early in each, but the Buckeyes rode mid-set runs to victory in each.

Set one saw MSU fight point-for-point until OSU ran away with it on a 7-0 run to push the lead from 12-10 to eventually 22-13. Ohio State hit .471 in the set while notching a pair of aces to MSU’s seven errors against 10 kills.

Set two had the Spartans holding a narrow 10-8 lead before Ohio State went on a 9-0 scoring run and just like that it was 17-10 Buckeyes. OSU managed four stuffs in the frame, and helped in seeing MSU making nine attack errors in the set.

In the third and final set, Michigan State fought point-for-point early to tie it all up at 6-6. The Spartans even went on a 5-1 run to make it 11-7 and force an Ohio State timeout. The Buckeyes clawed back to make it 11-10 before MSU could respond and push it back to a 13-11 Spartan lead. Then disaster struck as Ohio State used four kills, a pair of blocks, and an ace to go on a 10-2 run and make it 21-16.

Michigan State’s Cecilee Max-Brown led MSU with eight kills and 10 digs. Naya Gros had five kills, a team best .571 hit rate, and notched a block. Jamye Cox had 14 digs.

Game Two

The Spartans made match two on Monday much more competitive overall, waging a five-set battle, but came up short as Ohio State swept the series. OSU won in 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 13-25, 10-15).

Sarah Franklin got her first career double-double with 20 kills and 13 digs, both being career bests as well. Celia Cullen had a season best in assists with 14, notched four kills and two blocks, and just missed a double-double as she had nine digs. Cecilee Max-Brown had 14 kills, nine digs, and three blocks.

Set one saw a repeat of Sunday’s action with both teams keeping it close through the first 10 points. MSU even led 9-6 at one point, but OSU pulled away after the teams tied it up at 13-13. The Spartans pulled back within one on a 4-1 run to make it 21-20 OSU, but OSU pulled away again for the set win.

Set two saw MSU finally win its first on the 11th try of the season. Michigan State battled back from a 5-3 deficit with a 7-0 scoring run to make it 10-5 MSU. While Ohio State got back within two-points twice, the Spartans held on for the win. Despite an OSU timeout with a 20-16 MSU lead, the Spartans held on for the 25-20 set win.

Set three was another Spartan victory as a confident green-and-white team jumped out to a 10-5 lead and eventually extended it to 17-9. Ohio State made a 6-2 run to make it a four-point difference 19-15 MSU, but the teams traded points briefly before pulling out a 25-18 win.

Set four seemed to see the wind deflate out of MSU’s sails as the Buckeyes jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never let up. Just like that it was 17-5 as Ohio State managed two separate 6-0 runs. Michigan State hit an abysmal .114 in the match and quickly was knocked out 13-25.

Set five saw the Spartans come out battling point-for-point to start as it was tied-up at 7-7 as a TV timeout was triggered. The Buckeyes made a 4-2 run as play resumed to make it 12-9, and extended it to 15-10 in short order for the win and the series sweep.

Michigan State is back in action at Maryland on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13 with game times to be announced. The matches are currently set for streaming on BTN+.