Maryland volleyball hadn’t won a set at home in more than a month when Michigan State’s Akasha Anderson jumped in preparation to spike and extend the set.

The Spartans’ leading killer drilled a shot well beyond the baseline, sending the crowd into a frenzy and breaking the Terps’ streak

Maryland beat Michigan State in 4 sets at Xfinity Center on Thursday in a battle between two of the bottom three teams in the Big Ten. The Terps’ win snapped an eight-game losing skid that included seven sweeps.

“It’s back and forth, side out, and it’s what the fans are looking for,” coach Adam Hughes said. “We were able to make some plays down the stretch, and that’s what we’ve been looking forward to doing… very proud of the team.”

Samantha Schnitta’s serving helped it get off to a fast start.

The Big Ten leader aces leader crushed a serve that ricocheted off a Spartan into the bleachers, giving the Terps an early lead. She followed with another. The graduate student had been struggling, tallying just three aces across her past three matches, but notched three in the win.

Michigan State’s offense struggled to hit around defenders early. Maryland notched 16 blocks in one of its best defensive performances. Middle blocker Eva Rohrbach led the way with 10, her most since Aug. 30.

“Eva was really good, she just looked really comfortable in her reads,” Hughes said. “She was just really dialed in and finishing her hands really well. I thought she anchored it.”

[Amid a grim season, Maryland volleyball’s young players are providing hope]

Fifth year Sam Csire dumped a shot down the right sideline in between a few defenders, giving the Terps a commanding lead. They took the set, 25-17, on Anderson’s miss.

But Michigan State turned things around early in the second. Four straight kills gave it an early five-point edge, prompting a Maryland timeout as its front row struggled to block shots.

Things started to shift late in the set. Fifth year setter Sydney Dowler recorded a kill and block to trim the deficit to three. Csire notched back-to-back kills to keep the Terps’ comeback attempt going. But Michigan State halted the run, winning five of six points and taking the set, 25-19.

Maryland looked rejuvenated to open the third, racing to a five-point lead on back-to-back Lilly Gunter aces. It found an advantage with its serve throughout, notching two more aces than the Spartans.

But strong back row play helped Michigan State turn things around.

The Spartans entered the night ninth in the Big Ten in digs, one of the team’s best statistical rankings. They tallied eight more digs than the Terps, helping them extend points and keep sets within striking range.

[Maryland volleyball swept by Indiana, 3-0, for eighth straight loss]

Freshman Katie Scherer ended a six-zero run with a kill. She stepped into a starting role with outside hitter Sydney Bryant out for the year. The pin hitter notched a season-high 10 kills, helping keep constant pressure on the Spartans back row.

Schnitta drilled a spike right at a Spartan that went uncontrollably out-of-play, giving Maryland the set, 25-18. The teams were tied at four in the fourth set after Taylor Preston’s ninth kill of the match. The outside hitter led the Spartans with 12 kills.

But the Terps responded. Middle blocker Anastasia Russ recorded back-to-back blocks and Rohrbach followed with a serve that Michigan State hit uncontrollably outside of the court.

Lilly Gunter made an athletic all-out dive to save a serve from hitting the floor after it glimpsed the net. Schnitta sealed the point with a spike down the right sideline, halting a Spartans run. Csire’s eighth kill of the match gave Maryland a two-point edge.

With the crowd on its feet, Preston rocketed a shot beyond the baseline, ending the set, 25-22. The Terps secured their first win in more than a month.

“Nine ties and six lead changes in game four, and [the team] never flinched,” Hughes said. “That is exactly what we’re looking for in consistency.”