A home return couldn’t change the bad fortunes of the MSU volleyball team.
In the team’s first home game in two weeks, the No. 17 Spartans (20-9 overall, 9-8 Big Ten) fell to No. 15 Wisconsin (20-4, 13-2) in four sets (25-22, 20-25, 21-25, 23-25).
Despite returning home, MSU volleyball loses to Wisconsin
MSU won the first set, but dropped three straight competitive sets. The Spartans now are 3-8 since starting the season 17-1.
Senior outside hitter Lauren Wicinski had 11 kills, two aces and seven digs. Freshman middle blocker Allyssah Fitterer had 10 kills and four blocks, and freshman outside hitter Chloe Reinig had seven kills and three blocks.
Senior middle blocker Alexis Mathews had eight kills and seven blocks. Freshman middle blocker Autumn Christenson added three blocks.
MSU began the first set strong, building a 6-1 lead off of fierce kills and a few attack errors committed by the Badgers.
Wisconsin called a timeout to stop the run, but it didn’t immediately pay off — the Badgers committed two more errors after the whistle. A double-block by Reinig and Mathews led to a 9-1 lead and the Badgers calling another timeout.
Wisconsin snapped the run by scoring out of the timeout and began to find flow in its offense, cutting the lead to 13-8.
Both teams swapped points, but MSU won a tense back-and-forth to increase the lead to 17-11. Wisconsin continued to put pressure on the Spartan defense, but they continued to answer back, eventually taking a 22-16 lead.
The Spartans took set point, 24-17, but it wasn’t over yet. Wisconsin scored four straight to trim the lead to 24-21. George called a timeout to help get the Spartans back under control.
With a comeback attempt by Wisconsin looming, Wicinski iced the first set for the Spartans, 25-22, with a kill.
MSU scored the first two kills of the first set, but Wisconsin responded by scoring five straight to take a 5-3 lead. The Badgers added three more to the run before George called a timeout.
Wisconsin led by as many as six before MSU broke the 4-0 run by scoring two. Trailing 9-5, MSU began to find life on offense, swapping blows with the Badgers as the score reach 13-9.
Wicinski had a solo block to cut the lead to three, 16-13. But the Badgers wouldn’t stand down, scoring two more to take an 18-13 lead. MSU called a timeout.
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MSU’s momentum fell flat at the end. The Spartans stared at a return by the Badgers instead of hitting it back, giving Wisconsin set point. Reinig tipped the ball on the next play, but the ball landed on the wrong side of the net to give Wisconsin a 25-20 win in set two.
Wisconsin built another early lead in set three, 5-2. The Spartans pulled within 11-9 after a kill by Mathews that saw her hand reach high above the net. However, Wisconsin refused to be topped, increasing the lead back at 15-10 to lead an MSU timeout.
Both teams continued to fight, and MSU got within three several times as Wisconsin led 19-16 late in the set. Galloway scored an ace, and Wisconsin called a timeout.
The Badgers scored two straight out of the timeout, but Mathews responded with another huge kill. Kuipers punctuated a 2-1 MSU run to trim Wisconsin’s lead to 22-20, and the Badgers called another timeout.
Another comeback attempt fell short for MSU, as Wisconsin went on to win set three, 25-21.
The Spartans took an early 4-2 lead in set four, but it didn’t last long. Wisconsin tied the game at 5-5 and then took the lead, pushing it to 10-6 before MSU called a timeout.
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The Spartans continued to fight, cutting the lead to one, then tying it at 13-13. Wisconsin took the lead soon after, but MSU clawed back to tie it at 17-17. Similar to the previous two sets, the comeback fell short. Wisconsin went on to win, 25-23.
MSU will return to action Saturday, hosting No. 11 Minnesota at home.
