No. 22 Michigan State volleyball pushed Illinois all the way Thursday night in Champaign, but the Spartans came away with a four-set loss inside Huff Hall, falling 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22.
The defeat drops MSU to 14-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten. Illinois moves to 12-6 and 4-3 in conference play.
Michigan State had its chances, especially after taking the third set and stretching the fourth into a tight finish. But Illinois controlled enough of the match’s key numbers, outhitting the Spartans .261 to .215, finishing with more kills, 57-52, more digs, 58-53, and more blocks, 9-7. MSU held the edge in service aces, 6-5.
Senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston delivered a career night for the Spartans with 20 kills, plus four digs and three blocks. Freshman outside hitter Madi Andrews added 15 kills, six digs and a team-high three service aces.
Senior libero Lia Schneider paced MSU defensively with 17 digs, while senior middle blocker Zora Hardison led the block column with four total blocks. Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long turned in her second double-double of the season with 38 assists and 11 digs.
The opening set was back and forth from the start. Michigan State briefly grabbed a 7-6 lead after a Hayley Ogden kill and two straight Carmen Waye aces, only for Illinois to answer and build its own cushion. The Spartans kept hanging around, with Andrews helping them regain the edge at 18-17, but the Illini closed stronger and took the frame 25-22.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with MSU battling out of a deficit and pulling within a point after a 5-0 run that included a Vellucci ace, a Bankston kill and another Andrews swing. The Spartans even moved in front 18-17 before Illinois steadied itself, reclaimed the lead and eventually finished the set 25-23.
Michigan State’s best stretch of the night came in the third. Down 11-7, the Spartans used a burst that featured two Andrews aces and a Bankston-Hardison block to tie it at 11-11, then extended that run to 7-0 to go ahead 14-11.
Illinois kept coming, but MSU answered again late, with Hardison and Bankston finishing points to help set up a 24-21 lead. Waye closed it out with the final kill, giving the Spartans a 25-21 win and a lifeline in the match.
The fourth set looked like it might belong to Michigan State early, as the Spartans jumped out 5-0 and carried a lead through much of the frame. Illinois chipped away, grabbed a 17-15 advantage after a 4-0 run, and later tied things at 20-20. Bankston and Andrews brought MSU back level again at 21-21, but Illinois answered with the last push, scoring the final two points to seal the match 25-22.
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