LEXINGTON, Ky. – Little Rock volleyball took its second loss of the season to No. 19 Michigan State by a final score of 3-0 (22-25, 24-26, 20-25) on Saturday afternoon.
Little Rock started the match with two straight points on kills by
Edina Selimovic and
Miona Milovanovic. The Spartans then got on the board with a service error and an attack error by the Trojans. Both squads exchanged kills and tied once again at 4-4. Michigan State then started to pull away as it built a 13-7 lead before Little Rock called its first timeout of the match. Two errors by Michigan State brought Little Rock to within four at 13-9. The Spartans struck right back with a kill and a Trojan attack error to take a 15-9 lead. Down five points at 17-12, Little Rock earned three consecutive points on two Michigan State errors and a kill by
Megan Mathis. At 20-17, the Trojans brought the match to within a point on a Michigan State attack error and a kill by
Carolee Dillard. At 21-20, Michigan State went on a 4-2 run to take the set, winning 25-22.
Little Rock started the second set with three consecutive points on three Michigan State attack errors. The Trojans continued the run and built a 5-2 lead with kills by Dillard and
Marina Avram. Little Rock took a four point lead at 8-4 with a kill by Milovanovic. The Trojans then made it a six point lead at 13-7 after a Spartan net violation and attack error, forcing Michigan State to call a timeout. With a 15-9 lead over Michigan State, the Spartans went on an 8-1 run to take a 17-16 lead. Michigan State continued its 11-2 run to take a 20-17 lead as Little Rock called its final timeout. The Trojans pulled within one at 20-19 after a kill by Dillard and a Spartan attack error. With two Michigan State attack errors, Little Rock tied the match at 21-21. The two squads kept the blows coming as both remained tied until the Spartans took the set with a 26-24 win.
Michigan State started the third set with two kills before a kill by Milovanovic got Little Rock on the board. The Trojans remained within two points of the Spartans until two Michigan State kills forced the Trojans to take a timeout at 9-5. Down 9-6, Dillard came through with back-to-back blocks to bring Little Rock within one. Michigan State then went on a roll, scoring five consecutive points before Little Rock called a timeout at 15-9. The Trojans answered back by scoring three straight points on two kills by Selimovic and a Spartan attack error, bringing the score to 15-12. Little Rock brought the score to within two at 18-16 after Selimovic's 10th kill and a bad set by Michigan State. The Spartans scored two before the Trojans answered right back with a kill by Mathis and a block by Dillard and
Taylor Lindberg. After this, Michigan State went on a 5-2 run to take the set and match with a score of 25-20.
Selimovic finished with 10 kills, a team-high .474 hitting percentage and one ace.
Mathis had six kills, 19 assists and had a .462.
Dillard also had six kills with four total blocks (one solo and three assisted).
Priscila Almeida came through on defense with 15 digs.
Kelsey Leech finished with six digs and one ace.
The Trojans will have a short break before taking on No. 15 Kentucky in the final match of the Bluegrass Invitational tonight at 6:30 p.m. The match will air live on WatchESPN.
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