In a 3-1 victory over the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars, Doezema led the match in kills with 15 — helping the Spartans remain unscathed as they head into Big Ten play 10-0. 

In the third set of the night, the Cougars started up 4-0, and their crowd was loving it. The Spartans struggled to respond and fell further behind, 13-6 – prompting Kelsay to call a timeout. 

“We played a different lineup every set,” Kelsay said. “Every person that was healthy on our bench went in today. And that meant we lost a set, and I said, ‘You know what, we're playing the long game here.’ And I want our athletes to get the opportunity, and really proud of how they responded in the fourth.”

MSU took the first four points out of the timeout, starting with a dagger kill from junior middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig and forced SIUE errors; however, SIUE kept its lead.

It seemed like the momentum had shifted when Spartan freshman outside hitter Bianca Mumcular dominated the net – spiking the ball and when it came back sending it right over for the kill. The Cougars called a timeout but the teams continued to trade points, and the Spartans trailed. 

After two Spartan kills, a block from freshman opposite hitter Caroline Formankova and Kulig evened the score - but not for long. The teams continued to swap points, tied 23-23, until a kill from SIUE sophomore outside hitter Sophie Robinson urged MSU to call a timeout. 

SIUE sold on the serve, and its error evened the score again – but back-to-back kills quickly ended the set 26-24. 

Michigan State’s redshirt freshman setter Malayah Long started the fourth set with an ace, and the Spartans looked like themselves. Flipping the script from the third, MSU started off 5-0, after consecutive kills from Kulig. 

Long remained behind the line and got a kill of her own, until SIUE earned its first point of the set. 

MSU pulled ahead 10-3, and eventually 21-13 – maintaining its lead behind kills and blocks.

Just four points away from clinching the match, sophomore defensive specialist Mya Bolton stepped up to the service line — entering just her fifth game of the season — and executed an ace. 

“I need to know, who's ready to go, right?” Kelsay said.  “I need them to have that experience in other settings before maybe their number is called on the road in the Big Ten. This conference is gnarly, and so the more experience I can get them in other environments to get prepare them is important to me.”

Mumcular ended the match with a kill, ending the Kathy DeBoer Invitational with a third MSU win. 

Like the previous two days, the Spartans were in close contest at times throughout the first two sets.  It was different players that stepped up each times, such as junior defensive specialist Ky Clayton with aces in the second set, Muscular and Kulig with kills and Doezema throughout the night. 

Kelsay said her squad has grown to be comfortable in close sets and has relaxed compared to the beginning of their season — they stay in the moment and they don’t look at the score.

Michigan State will begin conference play on the road against the Minnesota Gophers on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT. Minnesota is 9-1 entering Big Ten play, with its only loss being its first match of the season.