“We separated to six individual players instead of playing as a team,” senior outside hitter Amy Dentlinger said. “And that is something we have been priding ourselves in the whole year, playing as a team.”

The loss ended MSU’s six-game winning streak, but it wasn’t all bad news for the Spartans, as they retain the coveted State Pride Flag for their third straight year on a 139-133 point advantage.

Not only did the Spartans keep their in-state rivalry trophy, but junior outside hitter Lauren Wicinski broke the single-season record for service aces, grabbing her 76th of the season.

Spartan fans felt signs of comfort in the first set, as the Spartans first jumped out to a 6-3 lead. The Spartans grew that lead to 11-6, but it wasn’t long before the Wolverines started to close the gap.

After Michigan tied the game at 14 apiece, both teams went blow-for-blow, until MSU appeared to seal the set by taking a 24-21 lead. The Wolverines were not going to go down without a fight, as they rattled off five straight points to take the first set, 26-24.

The Wolverines then went on to use their momentum to pounce on the Spartans in the second set, as they never let MSU grab a lead. For the Spartans, the most optimistic looking portion of the set is when MSU closed the gap to 14-16, but Michigan went on to take the match, 25-20.

After a 10 minute break between sets, the Spartans came out with the same energy they did in the first set. The Spartans took a 15-10 lead, but that was the largest lead they would get, as Michigan rallied to take the third set.

The turning point of the set is when the Wolverines went on a 5-0 run, going up 19-16. It was too late for the Spartans to mount a comeback, as they allowed themselves to be swept for the second time this season.

“Give some credit to Michigan, I think they did a really nice job serving,” head coach Cathy George said. “They came at us with an attack mentality, and I feel like it was (the opposite) of what we did to them at Michigan (earlier this year).”

Michigan ended their night with six service aces and hit on a .336 clip.

All was not bad news for the Spartans, however, as Wicinski broke MSU’s single-season record for service aces, as she recorded her third ace of the night in the third set. That record-breaking ace moved her ahead of Jane Zenner, who has held the record since 1983.

Although the record breaking performance hasn’t been touched for decades, Wicinski had no idea that she was approaching the milestone.

“I had no idea,” Wicinski said. “I kind of heard it in the (public address) announcement, and I was like ‘what?’”

The other record breaking performance of the night came off the court, as the attendance of 5,059 is highest ever seen at a volleyball game in Jenison Field House.

Wicinski led the Spartans in kills with 14, while junior middle blocker Alexis Mathews contributed with eight of her own.

Sophomore libero Kori Moster led the defense, as she had 16 digs on the night.

The Spartans look to finish the regular season on a high note, as they travel to face No. 1 Penn State at 8 p.m. Saturday in State College, Penn..