Michigan State junior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska (2) spikes the ball and scores during the match against USC at the Breslin Center on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025.
For one electric set, it looked as though Michigan State volleyball might finally flip the script after a series of road losses. The Spartans fed off the home crowd, traded blows with a nationally dangerous USC squad, and held the late momentum. But in a match defined by precise offense and relentless pressure, the Trojans ultimately pulled away, handing MSU a straight-sets loss Wednesday night at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State came out sharp in the opening set, riding early kills and a surge of energy from the crowd to build a narrow lead. Mya Bolton’s service run pushed MSU ahead 21–19 and forced a USC timeout. The Spartans looked composed down the stretch, but USC closed with a late push and took the set 25–23.
“We needed to finish that first set,” head coach Kristen Kelsay said postgame. “Some of the best volleyball we’ve played in that match, you know?”
The loss of the opening set proved costly. USC seized control early in the second, exposing gaps in MSU’s defense and forcing the Spartans into long chases across the court. The Trojans rolled to an 11–8 advantage and never looked back, extending the lead to 15–10 before closing the set 25–18.
“They don't give you a lot of points and you saw, right? Like we were able to score, but then they were able to score, and in a lot of crafty ways,” Kelsay said. “It's a unique style. So it definitely challenged us.”
USC’s offense was relentless throughout the match, finishing with 48 kills. Their hitters frequently disguised shots with off-speed touches and swipes off the block, making defense difficult for a young Spartan roster.
“They score in interesting ways, right? A lot of off speed, a lot of swipes off the block,” Kelsay said. “Like, there's times that you're like, ohh, we're going to win this point, and then they find a way to manipulate your hands. And they do a really elite job of that.”
Michigan State attempted to reset in Set 3, jumping to a 3–2 lead with renewed energy. The teams fought point-for-point early, tied at 7–7, but misplaced kills and sharp USC blocking widened the gap. The Trojans surged to a 23–17 lead and closed the match 25–19.
Kelsay pointed to the difficulty of slowing USC’s middle attack as a turning point.
“We were hitting 300 when we weren't able to slow their attackers down,” she said. “And so that's why I made the switch at the middle to see if we could slow their middles down because we were losing the game in the middle before.”
Despite the outcome, Kelsay emphasized the broader context of the season as the Spartans approached their final stretch.
“The message to the team is just how we finish this chapter matters, right?” she said. “We've had a tough road. We played some top ranked teams… We just happened to be hitting it at the end of the year so how we respond Friday, how we finish this chapter, send off our seniors as matters.”
The loss drops Michigan State further in Big Ten play, but the Spartans will quickly turn their focus to their next matchup as they look to close the season with momentum.
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