Now in the homestretch of the season, every rally means that much more. No. 13 Oregon (20-6, 12-5 Big Ten) secured its much-needed victory in a 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 sweep at Michigan State (11-17, 4-13 Big Ten).

The Ducks conceded a 7-2 scoring run early in Set 1. The Spartans were efficient in their hitting and forced Oregon’s Mimi Colyer into nine total attacks at the beginning of the first.

Noemie Glover helped the Ducks come alive with her four first-set kills. The sophomore Glover has hit her stride in recent matches, now recording a total of 34 kills in her last three.

But things started to crumble for Oregon in the back half of Set 1. Michigan State went on a 6-0 to take the lead at 21-20. Service aces and kills from Cristin Cline and Michelle Ohwobete carried the Ducks to a 25-21 win in the first set.

The two sides met for the third time ever on Thursday. The home team won each of the previous two matchups, including a four-set Spartans victory for Michigan State in 2013.

Thursday broke the home team trend.

The Spartans once again went on an 8-1 run at the beginning of Set 2 to force an Oregon timeout. The Ducks’ front row and the service line helped Oregon rally back. The Ducks tallied five blocks in the period and 11 service aces overall.

Colyer elevated at set point to take the second 25-18 and earn her eighth kill of the match.

The last match was a low moment in Oregon’s season. The Ducks dominated the first two sets against then-ranked No. 23 USC but the Trojans came back for the reverse sweep. Oregon had never lost a match when holding its opponent under .200 percent hitting until that moment.

Not only did the Ducks’ woes against ranked teams continue, but their hopes of hosting the NCAA Tournament next month decreased.

Oregon needs to win a majority, if not all, of its remaining matches this season in order to host. Thursday’s victory was a start in making that a reality.

Unlike the loss to the Trojans, the Ducks finished the job in Set 3 against Michigan State. The Spartans gave Oregon a tough time throughout the match with 35 total kills but 23 attack errors was too much to overcome against a top-25 team.

Colyer ended the match in the same fashion as she clinched the second set: with a definitive kill. She finished with 12 kills and seven blocks, leading the team in both categories.

The Ducks stay in Michigan to face the Wolverines (16-11, 6-10 Big Ten) on Saturday at 4 p.m. Oregon has three matches left of the regular season with only one coming on its home floor next Wednesday against Purdue (22-6, 13-4 Big Ten).