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EAST LANSING– Coming off a hard-fought defeat at the hands of No. 4 Penn State and dropping to 7-6 overall, Michigan State volleyball continues their road stint in search of a win over 7-5 Indiana.
While the Spartans have the record advantage against IU at 53-35 all-time, MSU has not defeated the Hoosiers in Bloomington since Nov. 25, 2017. The Spartans are also yet to defeat IU in any setting since Nov. 30, 2019.
Both squads are also eyeing their first B1G wins of the season, as IU suffered two conference road losses as well. This time to conference newcomers from the west, Washington and Oregon.
To right the ship for the Spartans, the offensive output of junior outside hitters Akasha Anderson and Taylor Preston has to stay hot.
Preston is coming off of an 18-kill performance against PSU, good for a season-high. Preston currently has 105 kills on the year at an average of 2.56 kills per set.
Anderson also remains the kill leader for MSU on the season, with a total of 151 and an average of 3.21 per set. She also ranks first in attacking errors for the Spartans at 70, so minimizing mistakes could also be key.
The Hoosiers also bring a fair amount of fire power in the form of junior opposite hitter Avry Tatum, whose 158 kills on the campaign ranks 11th in that category in the B1G.
Defensively, senior libero Nalani Iosia remains the cornerstone for MSU. As 4.26 digs per set is good for second in the B1G, and has reached the 200 mark for digs on the season. This overall also ranks third in the conference.
Her counterpart for the Hoosiers, sophomore libero Ramsey Gary, is up to 185 digs on the season and is hoping to give the MSU offensive effort some issues as well.
One distinct advantage MSU holds over IU is the middle game. The presence of sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig brings 60 total blocks, nine solo and 51 assisted, and lands in the top five in the conference.
She is assisted by junior middle blocker Evie Doezema, with a .381 hitting percentage and 37 total blocks.
Doezema matches up with IU’s junior middle blocker Madi Sell, who has posted similar total blocks at 37, but is behind in the hitting percentage line at .259.
MSU attempts to break their losing streak in Bloomington against IU on Oct. 4, with game-time set for 7 p.m.
EAST LANSING- Fresh off of a solid performance at home on Tuesday night, Michigan State volleyball joins rival Michigan to embark on a trip down to North Carolina.
The Spartans will face a pair of strong ACC programs with an opportunity to gain a couple of quality non-conference wins early in the season in the B1G-ACC Challenge.
This is the third consecutive season that the Wolverines, Spartans, Blue Devils, and Tar Heels have competed against each other in this round-robin-style series.
The first matchup takes the Spartans into Durham to take on the Duke Blue Devils at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Cameron Indoor Arena.
The Blue Devils, who sit at 4-5 on the year, are looking to even their record and shake off their sluggish start to the season. Even though the Blue Devils are off to a less-than-ideal start and MSU is favored to win on paper, they do possess a couple of key players the Spartans should watch out and prepare for.
Star middle blocker Rylie Kadel is 40th nationally in hitting percentage (.400), and All-ACC outside hitter Kerry Keefe leads her team in both kills per set (2.94) and points per set (3.53).
The Spartans are 3-3 against the Blue Devils since both programs squared off for the first time in 1997, so whoever takes the match Friday will have an edge in the all-time series.
Michigan State is hoping to avoid a third straight season that includes a loss to the Blue Devils, losing both in 2023 and 2022.
Michigan State will have an off day before heading down the road to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels of North Carolina on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Tar Heels have gotten off to a very solid start to the season, posting a 6-1 record so far in the 2024 campaign. Their one loss came to a very good South Carolina team that has received votes this season.
UNC ranks high nationally in a plethora of categories, including being 4th in the nation in both assists per set (13.74) and kills per set (14.61), and 5th in opponent hitting percentage (.118).
Not only is North Carolina statistically sound as a team, but they also have some key players Michigan State must plan for if they intend to steal one from the Tar Heels on their home floor.
Mabrey Shaffmaster, an All-ACC outside hitter, ranks 8th in the nation in aces per set, averaging just below one per set. She also leads her team in points per set and kills per set.
Star libero Maddy May averages 4.22 digs a set and leads a tough Tar Heel defense that will pose a tough task for the visiting Spartans.
Michigan State is 6-3 all-time against North Carolina, with the Spartans beating them 3-1 in their most recent matchup that took place last year at the Breslin Center. The teams first matched up in 1988, with the Tar Heels taking that one by a 3-1 score.
MSU got back on track in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Purdue-Fort Wayne, with four players recording double-doubles and both Taylah Holdem and Julia Bishop setting career highs in digs, with Holdem notching 16 and Bishop 18.
Michigan State, winners of two straight, hopes to continue their winning ways and give themselves a nice record to work with heading into conference play.
Their first matchup in conference play will be in Ann Arbor against the currently undefeated Wolverines a week from tomorrow Friday, September 27.
Both teams will have a week to practice and prepare for the big rivalry matchup after returning to Mitten from the trip down south.
The Wolverines play North Carolina at 7 p.m. on Friday, and matchup against the Blue Devils on Sunday night at 6:30.
EAST LANSING- A day after sweeping in-state foe Eastern Michigan 3-0 on Monday, Spartan volleyball took the floor and looked to take the momentum they gained in Ypsilanti back to East Lansing in their matchup with Purdue Fort Wayne.
They did just that, starting off strong, taking the first two sets of the match and using that strong start to defeat the Mastodons in four sets (25-14, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22).
In the first set, the Spartans took an early 3-2 lead and quickly expanded it to 7-2 thanks to a nice 4-0 scoring run.
The Spartans scoring was helped all throughout the first by Mastodon errors, with Purdue Fort Wayne committing nine in set one.
Akasha Anderson and Taylah Holdem both had four kills in the first set, with Holdem hitting .500 going 4/8 on attempts. After Purdue FW settled in and closed in on the MSU lead to make it 12-8 in favor of Michigan State , the Spartans again used a strong offensive surge to have subsequent runs of 5-0 and 4-0 to balloon the lead to 21-10.
A little back and forth ensued towards the end of one but the Spartans took set one handedly, 25-13.
In the second set, the Mastodons started to find their footing, putting themselves ahead 5-4 and early thanks to three three errors by MSU and after some back and forth action, the Mastodons kept up and held the lead throughout the set.
Anderson and Holdem continued their offensive performance early in the second, with two kills a piece early to give MSU an 8-7 lead, and after some scoring by both squads MSU used a 4-1 run to take a 15-13 lead, forcing Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Steve Florio to call a timeout to talk things over.
Outside hitter Akasha Anderson celebrates after securing another kill in MSU’s matchup versus Purdue Fort Wayne. (Sept. 17, 2024)Whatever was said worked for a little, as after MSU scored a quick one out of the timeout, PFW went on a scoring run of their own, taking three straight to tie it at 16.
MSU used a nice 5-0 run to give themselves a 23-18 lead after things were tied up 18 all. After the Mastodons scored one off a Mya Plemons kill, MSU scored two in a row to take the second set by a score of 25-19.
Evie Doezema shined in the second and led the Spartans with six kills. Set three saw an early service ace by MSU star libero Nalani Iosia to help her squad jump out to a 6-3 lead.
MSU graduate libero Nalani Iosia sets her outside hitters during the Spartans matchup versus Purdue Fort Wayne. (Sept. 17, 2024)The Mastodons scored two straight and then MSU used a 4-0 scoring run to make it 10-5, which led to a timeout by PFW. MSU made it 15-8 after steady play to keep and slowly expand their lead.
Purdue Fort Wayne closed in and slowed down the Spartan push thanks to a couple of attack errors by Anderson and Doezema, and closed back in using a coinciding 4-1 run to make the score 17-14.
After a Mastodon service ace by Nicole Jones made the score 19-17, Spartan head coach Leah Johnson decided to call her first timeout of the set to try and settle her team back in.
Out of the timeout, PFW continued their sudden surge, tying the set at 19, and eventually taking a 22-20 lead. Due to an Abby Stratford kill and a Panna Ratkai service ace, coach Johnson decided to call another timeout to try and weather the storm that the Mastodons decided to create late in the third.
The timeout did not work for the Spartans, as PFW scored two more to make it set-point for the Mastodons, who completed the comeback to take set three, 25-21.
Set four saw Purdue Fort Wayne continued their late success, giving themselves an early 5-3 lead.
Taylor Preston scored three straight for MSU, helping them tie it 7-7 after some back and forth action. MSU kept it up, increasing their lead to 11-7 thanks to another short 4-0 offensive outburst by MSU, which led to a Mastodon timeout.
Back and forth went both teams for a while, but a little Mastodon surge tied it up at 14. Taylor Preston had two straight kills, (her fourth and fifth of the set), to put MSU back ahead by two, but the Mastodons quickly responded with two kills of their own.
Both squads traded points back and forth, one by one as the game was once again tied at 21 late in the fourth. MSU scored three straight points out of a PFW timeout to make it match-point, and the Spartans MSU prevailed, winning the fourth set 25-22 to take the match.
Taylor Preston helped lead the Spartans to victory in both the set and match with seven kills in set four and 14 overall.
Iosia Nalani led MSU with 22 digs in another nice defensive performance. Senior setter Rachel Muisenga led the Spartans in assists with a solid 27.
Three spartans were tied for the lead in kills during the match, with Taylor Preston, Evie Doezema, and Taylah Holdem all notching 14.
For the Mastodons, Riley Rosneck led the team in kills, with 14. Londynn Betts led Purdue Fort Wayne in digs with 22. The assist leader was Nicole Jones, who had 18 in the match.
The victory makes two in a row for Michigan State (6-3), who is looking to head into conference play with a solid record to build off of.
An opportunity for a pair of quality non-conference wins awaits as they head down to the Tar Heel State later this week to take on both Duke (Sep. 20) and North Carolina (Sep. 22) before starting conference play at arch-rival Michigan on September 27th.
For the Mastodons (4-6), they are looking to right the ship after the loss to Michigan State made it three in a row for Purdue FW.
They will have a chance to bounce back when they host a tournament next weekend. Friday, they will take on St. Francis (PA), and on Saturday they will matchup against in-state rival Indiana State in the morning, and the Eagles of Eastern Michigan in the evening.
EAST LANSING– After being shut out at home by a surging Western Michigan squad and having their record dropped to 4-3. Michigan State volleyball looks to return to form as they face Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti.
This is the 29th all-time matchup between the two, with MSU leading the series 21-8. The last matchup in 2022 resulted in a 3-2 victory for the Spartans.
Both teams are entering the match seeking to bounce back, as EMU suffered a hard fought 3-2 loss at the hands of Duquesne, dropping their record on the season to 4-6.
Offensively, the Eagles are looking for a big night from sophomore outside hitter Kaili Doctor, who has recorded 118 kills on the season, averaging 2.81 per set. She can also establish a defensive presence at the net, with 23 blocks assisted along two solo blocks so far.
For the Spartans, the outside hitter trio of junior Akasha Anderson, junior Taylor Preston, and sophomore Taylah Holdem look to continue their offensive dominance.
Anderson leads MSU in kills on the season with 78 and averages 3.25 per set, while Preston and Holdem are tied for second with 44 each.
MSU also brings senior libero Nalani Iosia, who was awarded the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following her performance over the Kathy Deboer invitational.
She is up to 100 digs on the season, averaging 4.17 per set, and has contributed to the offensive with 30 assists on the year.
EMU also brings some defensive prowess in the form of senior defensive specialist Hannah Blaney. She leads the Eagles in digs at 151 on the year, on a 3.68 per set average. She also ranks third on the roster for assists, with 46 for the campaign.
MSU tries to get back in the win column against EMU on Sept. 16, with game time set for 6 p.m.
EAST LANSING- Following a dazzling display that led to being crowned tournament champions in the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, the Michigan State volleyball team looked to continue their momentum on their home floor.
The celebration did not end there for the Spartans, as junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson received Tournament MVP honors, and senior defensive specialist and libero Nalani Iosia was awarded the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
However, Western Michigan was coming into East Lansing with no shortage of wind in its sails following an upset victory over No. 24 Marquette in Milwaukee.
Western Michigan traveled to the Breslin Center on Wednesday night and the Broncos handled business by sweeping MSU, winning all three sets.
Back-to-back attack errors led to MSU finding themselves in a 4-2 hole early in the first set, which quickly snowballed into an 8-4 Broncos lead behind four of freshman outside hitter Annalise Patchett’s five opening set kills.
Despite Western leading by as many as nine points, four straight MSU points and later consecutive service aces from sophomore Taylah Holdem put Michigan State down just three points to the visiting Broncos.
Despite a valiant fight from the Spartans, Western Michigan held on to take the initial set, 25-17 behind eight kills from Keona Salesman and 12 assists in the inaugural set from Logan Case.
The Broncos continued their road glory with a sizzling start to the second set that saw WMU jump out to a quick 6-0 lead, spurred by three kills from Anna Calgano, who finished with five on the set.
The Spartans managed to cut the deficit to three at the midway point due to the contributions of Aliyah Moore, but Michigan State’s eight errors in the second set saw momentum plummet at the Breslin Center.
For the second straight set, the Spartans roared back and kept Western Michigan on their toes, but it was the visitors who prevailed 25-22 as the offensive woes continued for MSU, who hit for a feeble .098 hitting percentage and a .293 kill percentage in the second set.
It was a third-set surge in East Lansing, as Michigan State took a 5-1 lead, though the Broncos ultimately knotted the game up at five, and pulled away thereafter until Holdem added three of her four third-set kills within four possessions to help pull the dormant Spartan offense back in it, WMU pulled off the road sweep, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21.
Junior outside hitter Taylor Preston led the charge for the Spartans with 11 kills and eight digs, while Iosia continued her defensive dominance with 16 digs despite the loss and Aliyah Moore was not far behind with seven kills and a .357 hitting percentage.
WMU saw four players finish with eight or more kills, with Salesman leading the charge for the Broncos with 17, while Case was responsible for 35 of Western’s 45 assists.
Michigan State’s record fell to 4-3 on the season and have ample opportunity for rest with a return to action coming Monday as the Spartans head to Ypsilanti to play another in-state foe in Eastern Michigan.
EAST LANSING- For the second time in her career, senior Nalani Iosia has been named Big Ten Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week.
The senior from Long Beach, California had herself a performance this past weekend at the Kathy DeBoer Invitational.
The Michigan State Spartans finished the tournament undefeated, and Iosia put up some impressive numbers defensively.
In Friday’s game against Western Kentucky, Iosia had an impressive 25 Digs, two less than her previous season high of 27 against Iowa. Iosia also racked up eight assists, leading to a Spartan victory.
In Saturday’s game against Marist, Iosia only had 13 Digs compared to her 25 the day prior, and racked up four Assists as well.
However, the Spartans remained undefeated and managed to sweep Marist in three sets.
In the last round of the invitational on Sunday, Michigan State would face Loyola Chicago, where Iosia put up 18 Digs and seven Assists.
Iosia was a huge factor in the success of MSU’s performance this past weekend, and her defensive ability helped the Spartans stay on top.
With Big Ten play approaching, and a current season record of 4-2, Iosia has more opportunities to showcase her defensive prowess.
Michigan State will take on Western Michigan at home this Wednesday, the game is slated for 6 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
EAST LANSING– After cruising to a win over Marist, Michigan State set its sights on an undefeated home weekend with a tough Loyola Chicago squad on deck. MSU earned its goal and completed a 3-1 win over the Ramblers.
The Spartans appeared confident throughout the first set. Despite the Ramblers benefiting from six MSU attacking errors, the Spartans always looked in control of the moment.
This can be owed to the continued dominance of junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson, who began the match with six kills and ended with 17.
“She started the match, and they had lined her up pretty well and we kept talking about that chess match,” MSU head coach Leah Johnson said. “I love how she counterattacked and added some different tools to her game.”
Senior outside hitter Aliyah Moore also had a breakout start, from the outside and in front of the net. She recorded one blocking assist along with three kills in the first, as the Spartans finished off the period with a 25-19 win.
Loyola aimed to test MSU to begin the second set and flip the script. The Ramblers took an early 8-4 lead defined by a massive block courtesy of junior middle blocker Ann Marie Remmes, assisted by freshman outside hitter Kate Maley.
This early lead for the Ramblers never faded, as Loyola stifled any MSU comebacks. The set was defined by a clean kill from senior opposite hitter Esma Ajanovic that made it a set point, and a MSU service error that clinched it for the Ramblers at 25-22.
“They’re [Loyola] used to winning, they don’t do anything without a fight,” Johnson said. “We started getting frustrated with what we weren’t doing, instead of confident and poised in what we could do.”
In a third set where it became either teams match to take, grabbing momentum became key. A big opportunity arose in the second point of the window, where junior outside hitter Taylor Preston outlasted the Loyola attack and finished an extended rally for the Spartans. She finished the match with nine kills.
From there, MSU jumped out to an 11-5 advantage and never looked back. While the Ramblers would close it to 24-20 with a 5-0 run, sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem finished the job for MSU.
Holdem made a major impact on the match with nine kills, including one in the third that painted the baseline.
MSU kept its momentum rolling with another controlling start. Including two major assisted blocks upfront from junior middle blocker Nil Okur. However, Loyola did not go away quietly, eventually taking the lead at 16-15.
MSU grinded it out from that point forward, as both teams continued to go back and forth. The stalemate wasn’t broken until MSU took three of four points to end the set and match at 25-23, with the finisher coming from Okur dumping a kill into the middle of the court.
“I thought Nil Okur came in, was a huge spark for us. No errors, hit over .500 I believe, had a good blocking presence” Johnson said. “She’s just so fast, so when she gets on the court it adds a different element.”
MSU improves to 4-2 on the season and will be back at the Breslin Center against Western Michigan on Sept. 11, with game time set for 6 p.m.
CHICAGO – At day one of Big Ten Volleyball Media Days, featuring head coach Leah Johnson joined by junior outside hitters Evie Doezema and Taylor Preston for the Spartans, MSU was clear about their focus and intensity going into the 2024 season.
In her opening statement, Johnson spoke on the impressive actions taken by her team during the offseason.
“This summer they’ve been putting in the work … Every day I pass by the gym and there’s a new practice plan on the board,” said Johnson. “As I go into my office and they’re on the court, the amount of work and intensity that they’re investing in one another without anyone else there is phenomenal.”
Along with highlighting the team’s effort and energy around the upcoming season, MSU spoke on their overall goals for the season, where they need to improve to get there, and their plan for navigating a difficult schedule ahead.
A big point for the team that was emphasized throughout had to do with the mindset going into a match all year, no matter the opponent.
“ There’s a cadence to how you do things, and you don’t want any match to be bigger and more important than the next because they all matter,” said Johnson.
“ If your goal is postseason and then to make a run every single match matters. It doesn’t matter what name is on that jersey because we are the only name that matters to us. It’s Michigan State.”
Taylor Preston, a transfer portal addition from Oklahoma, mentioned how this attitude and the culture of the program led her to East Lansing.
“ Just the person she is [Johnson] and the coach she is, I could just tell how much this team meant to her, the goals she had, the competing — like the mindset, everything,” said Preston.
“ It was something that I was so eager to be a part of… I absolutely loved it. I loved every second of being here and being coached under her.”
Preston recorded 354 kills for the Sooners in 2023, resulting in a career high. It’s a hot streak she is looking to keep alive, as she mentioned one of her personal goals is to be, “one of the biggest point scorers on our team and in the Big Ten as a whole.”
As for team goals and strategies as a whole, MSU is determined to cut down on miscues and flip matches in their direction.
“A big emphasis for the spring for us was in point management. When you watch Big Ten volleyball you see very few mistakes,” said Johnson.
“There are no friendly whoops, here’s yours, enjoy. Everybody is sharp. The volleyball is clean. We spent a lot of time in the off-season focused on our point management.”
The Spartans are also continuing to stay creative with their strategies. A pillar in the program that was best exemplified last season by Evie Doezema.
“It wasn’t until I got here that I opened my mindset to being more versatile,” said Doezema. “ switching to play right side and now middle, that is probably the thing I give advice the most about for young volleyball players, is the more versatile you are, the more you can offer a coach and the more you stand out against other players.”
Johnson also spoke on how versatility and the ability to move around on the court is a big sticking point:
“Great people and great athletes allows me the flexibility then to put a lineup together that may not be as prototypical as you might assume,” said Johnson. “And right now that creativity has been an advantage for us.”
Even when major changes arose this offseason for the conference with the addition of Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC, Michigan State is maintaining a similar attitude towards the newcomers as do any of their unfamiliar opponents.
“They’re just further away. They’re not that different. They all have a unique style of play, just as any school, just like non-conference,” said Johnson.
“When we prepare for non-conference, this is a team we haven’t seen very often or at all, and so you’re preparing for them in a different — through a different lens.”
With the end goal of making the postseason, the Spartans are not only using their mindset of establishing a cadence, hard work from the off season, and strategy to push them there. MSU is also drawing inspiration from a stand out performance against Penn State from last season.
“To come out on top against a ranked team like that as we’re building our program back up, it was surreal,” said Doezema.
“It just showed the amount of effort and work we’ve really put into this team and how much more we can accomplish this year. We’re hoping to do it a million times over again.”
Michigan State will start their campaign off on the road against Northern Colorado on August 30, with gametime set for 8 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING – After capping off their season with a 17-14 overall record and a 9-11 conference finish, three Michigan State volleyball players received Big Ten postseason honors.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem and fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur each earned a spot on the second team all Big Ten. In addition, Holdem received a bid for the conference all freshman team. Junior setter Julia Bishop gained recognition as MSU’s sportsmanship honoree as well.
Holdem made her impression felt throughout the season with 399 kills, which was the most out of any Spartan this season. She also finished with the second most digs on the team with 238. McArthur proved to be an offensive weapon, with 186 kills, 28 solo blocks, and 88 block assists.
Both blocking statics by McArthur were the most by anyone on the team. Bishop filled the role of elite distributor, with 524 assists, the most on the squad this season.
These honors come off a big improvement season for the Spartans in head coach Leah Johnson’s second year, as MSU more than doubled its conference wins from this season compared to last year. The nine conference wins became the most since 2017, and the overall 17 wins were the most since 2018.
Other notable achievements over the season include the first season sweep of Michigan since 2006, and setting the attendance record at the Breslin Center, with 8,789 spectators in the October matchup with Nebraska. MSU also averaged a home attendance mark of 4,090 spectators per match, which ranked sixth nationally.
EAST LANSING – Following an incredible win against No. 16 Penn State, Michigan State returned to the Breslin Center looking to keep the momentum rolling. They did just that against the visiting Maryland Terrapins, taking the victory in a 3-0 match sweep.
While Maryland went up 4-1 early and took advantage of a few MSU mistakes, the Spartans quickly turned the first set around. Even though MSU started off a little rusty, the script flipped in an instant, as fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur made electric plays throughout the contest. She totaled eight kills and six blocks for the match.
“Both our middles, between the two of them, had one error,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “[McArthur] was a point machine, she had six blocks, just phenomenal. Zuzanna was elite as well tonight.”
The Terrapins did not help themselves either, as they amounted seven attacking errors and two service errors, leading to an MSU 10-2 run at one point, culminating in a dominant Michigan State set win at 25-14.
In similar fashion to the first set, Maryland came out hot in the second. With some impressive play in the beginning, the Terps jumped out to a 6-1 lead against a cold Michigan State. But once again, the Spartans locked in to go on a 11-1 run to take full control of the set. While freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem and freshman middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig made their presence felt with some fantastic kills, service aces is where the Spartans recorded a solid amount of their points. Even though they only average 1.5 per set on the season, MSU converted on six service aces in the period. While Maryland got off the mat following MSU’s massive run, Michigan State came out with the second set win at 25-18.
“I think our serving, to start with, put them out of system,” said Johnson. “I thought we served the ball really well and that was a big reason why we were able to be successful.”
Michigan State went into the third set looking to close the match out, but Maryland wasn’t quite finished yet. Instead of going down easy, Maryland made the period a back and forth battle throughout. That lasted until the Spartans started to pull away down the stretch after being tied at 20. While the Terps made it tough, the match was capped off by a hard fought point and kill by junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore. This resulted in a 25-22 set win and a 3-0 match victory.
“I will say they came in a little loose early in the week and I challenged them right away with some stats and some different objectives and they responded to that,” said Johnson. “We still gotta clean up a lot of points but we’re better than we were two weeks ago, we’re better than we were four weeks ago.”
Michigan State climbs above .500 in conference play, going 7-6 against B1G opponents and 15-9 overall. Maryland meanwhile falls to 15-10 overall and 5-8 in conference.
The Spartans will play host to the Iowa Hawkeyes for their next matchup on Saturday, Nov. 4, with gametime set for 7:00 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING – Coming off a home loss to No. 4 Wisconsin, Michigan State had another ranked opponent on the docket with No. 14 Penn State coming to town. While the Nittany Lions looked solid throughout the match, the Spartans were able to lock in and secure a 3-2 victory.
The first set demonstrated that both squads were ready for a showdown, as the contest remained tight throughout. Both teams played even and sharp volleyball throughout the set, they even had the same amount of attacking errors at six a piece. Eventually though, Michigan State found a way to chip away at the Penn State defense in consecutive instances. After the Nittany Lions came out of a late timeout to make it a 20-19 score, the Spartans turned up the heat and went on a 5-0. This sequence was highlighted by an incredible kill in the corner by sophomore middle blocker Evie Doezema, who finished the match with eight kills. The first set was sealed after a Penn State attacking error, and Michigan State won it, 25-19.
Penn State did not back down in the second set though, as the Nittany Lions set the tone immediately with a 7-0 start. They never let up on the gas either, as the Penn State attack fronted by senior outside hitter Jess Mruzik dominated. Mruzik was responsible for 22 points and grad student setter Mac Podraza made an impact with 37 assists. The Spartans also made their fair share of mistakes, as they made nine attacking errors en route to a second set loss at 25-11.
Going into the third set, Penn State was looking to keep the momentum rolling. While Michigan State made it more interesting in the beginning, the Nittany Lions never truly slowed down. While Penn State kept playing with fire, Michigan State was limited to only five kills as PSU secured the third set at 25-16.
“We just played so poorly in sets two and three,” Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson said. “Like we can’t keep playing that bad, that’s not our norm that was below norm.”
Penn State had victory on their minds entering the fourth set, but Michigan State had other plans. The Spartans jumped out to an early lead and stiff-armed any PSU comeback attempts throughout the set. Whenever the Nittany Lions threw a punch, MSU came right back in order to keep a steady lead. It also helped that the Spartans played mistake free, as they only had two attacking errors in the set. The contest was punctuated by a nasty kill delivered by junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore. She ended with nine kills and Michigan State got it done with a score of 25-18.
“Eventually we actually surpassed our norm,” said Johnson. “That’s the level we’ve been training to get to, so I was really glad with our response.”
Entering the fifth set in a do or die situation, Michigan State needed everybody to focus in and step up. That’s exactly what happened as a variety of Spartans made a number of clutch plays. Whether it was freshman outside hitter Karolina Staniszweska with big slams or sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur with monster kills, it seemed like everyone got involved somehow. While Penn State was never out of it and took a lead down the stretch, Michigan State found a way to the comeback match win and a 18-16 set victory.
THE SPARTANS HAVE DONE IT @MSU_Volleyball beats No. 13 Penn State for the first time since 2013.
: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/Tr539AhNZe
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) October 29, 2023
“Everyone is so selfless on our team,” said Johnson. “When they think about having a great middle performance they think about it as a position not a person.”
Michigan State improves to a 6-6 conference record and 14-9 overall. Penn State on the other hand drops to 15-6 overall and stands at 9-3 in conference.
The Spartans will stay at home for their next matchup against the Maryland Terrapins on friday, Nov. 3, with gametime slated for 7:00 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING – Coming off a road loss against Minnesota, Michigan State volleyball had a tall task awaiting back at the Breslin Center. While the Spartans hung tough against No. 4 Wisconsin, it proved to be too little in a 3-0 loss. This is the third match sweep suffered by Michigan State this season.
At the start of the first set, Michigan State hit the ground running and jumped out to a 7-1 lead. The run featured energetic play from fifth-year middle blocker Amani McArthur and sophomore middle blocker Evie Doezema. The pair collaborated for a massive block and McArthur had a few incredible kills. McArthur finished the match with seven kills and four blocks while Doezema contributed with nine kills.
“I thought both of them were excellent,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “I think they looked so good because our centers played so well too. They were aggressive, I was proud of how we started and put pressure on them right away.”
The Spartans found this early lead necessary, as Wisconsin then found its footing and made the remainder of the set close. MSU then came up short when Wisconsin took the lead late at 23-22. The set ended on a Badger win at 25-23, following a powerful kill courtesy of senior outside hitter Sarah Franklin.
Wisconsin took this momentum into the second set and took firm control of the contest after a tie at three. In the start and mid-point of the set, Michigan State was able to hang around but Wisconsin stifled any true comeback attempts. This was due in part by the discrepancy in attacking errors between the two squads, as the Spartans ended the set with seven while the Badgers limited theirs to three. Wisconsin ended the set on a 6-1 run with a final score of 25-17. The sequence was highlighted by a pair of big Wisconsin kills by Franklin and senior middle blocker Caroline Crawford.
While Michigan State remained in the fight at the start of the third set, Wisconsin smelled blood in the water and focused on closing the match out. The Badgers did just that, as the Spartans began to wear down as the set went on. Wisconsin on the other hand remained sharp, took care of business, and closed out their match victory with a 25-16 set win.
MSU junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore rises to hit the ball over the Wisconsin defense on Friday, October 27, 2023 at the Breslin Center. (Jack Moreland)“Even if sets two and three looked easy, the scores were big, they were unforced errors but the volleyball itself was really high level on both sides,” said Johnson. “I liked that we came out with our gameplan, and it usually takes us a set and a half to get into a game plan and I think we executed from the very beginning.”
Wisconsin continues to prove its worth, improving to a 10-1 B1G record and 19-1 overall. With the loss, Michigan State falls below .500 in conference play, slipping to a B1G record of 5-6 and 13-9 overall.
The Spartans will stay at the Breslin Center for another ranked matchup against No. 14 Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 28, with gametime set for 7:00 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING – Coming off of a victory on the road against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 14, Michigan State volleyball turned its attention to rival Michigan for a battle at the Breslin Center. While it appeared to be anyone’s contest through the first two sets, the Spartans took firm control and secured the match at 3-1. The win also locked in MSU’s first season sweep of Michigan since 2006.
Going into the first set, the energy on both sides was palpable, and that reflected with the play on the court. Both squads went shot for shot in the early stages and remained tight for the majority of the set. Several highlights included a monster kill by freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem, which made it a 6-5 contest in favor of the Spartans. Another highlight was a heater by fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur which gave MSU a 15-14 lead. Holdem and McArthur finished with 16 and 8 kills, respectively. McArthur also had a strong defensive performance and finished the match with 5.5 blocks.
MSU fifth-year middle blocker Amani McArthur (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a point against Michigan on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Breslin Center. (Jack Moreland)“[McArthur] was blocking well except the setter,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “I kinda got out of her way and said ‘hey just trust your instincts go get her,’ then she turned it on even more. Offensively she was really unstoppable.”
Michigan continued to fight through these punches and answered with some of their own, like the service ace by senior outside hitter Kendall Murray that gave UM a 22-18 lead. The Wolverines eventually took control down the stretch, and the contest ended on a Spartan service error, resulting in a Michigan victory at 25-20.
While the start of the second set was nearly identical to the first, this one came all the way down to the wire. The two teams continued to trade points in the beginning and midpoint, until Michigan pulled ahead by a few points at 19-16. While the Wolverines were looking to stiff arm an MSU comeback attempt, the Spartans did not go down easy. After going down 23-21 and taking a timeout, Michigan State answered the call and went on a 4-0 run behind an electrifying crowd to make it 24-23.
“I wanted to give them some confidence that they just had to trust what they’d been doing,” said Johson about what was said in that timeout. “I reassured them of the points that had been scored and how, and honestly they just went and executed.”
The Wolverines stayed alive for a few extra points, but a critical mistake that haunted them throughout the set reared its head. Michigan made a service error and then gave up an MSU service ace by senior libero Nalani Iosia to give Michigan State the set at 28-26. The Wolverines finished the set with seven service errors while the Spartans limited theirs to two.
While Michigan looked to bounce back heading into the third set, MSU came in aggressive. The tone was set immediately by a McArthur kill and a service ace by junior setter Julia Bishop. From there, the Spartans jumped out to a 9-1 lead. While Michigan played relatively mistake free with only four attacking errors, they could not match the offensive haymakers thrown by MSU. Michigan State finished the set out with a 25-13 win.
“I think it was the exhale of the win of set two and then it was the ‘ok now we push,’ and that looked like the team that’s been playing all season,” said Johnson.
The start of the fourth set remained competitive on both sides, but the finish could only be described as dominant for Michigan State. After Michigan hung around following a strong start for MSU, the Wolverines eventually tied the set at 12. The flow of the set completely shifted, as Michigan State ripped off seven straight points and finished on a 12-3 run. This sequence featured two straight authoritative kills by sophomore middle blocker Evie Doezema. These were the finishing touches of a 10 kill performance for Doezema, as Michigan State earned the set win at 25-16 and the match victory at 3-1.
MSU’s Julia Bishop (left) and Nalani Iosia celebrate a Spartan win over Michigan on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Breslin Center. (Angelo Savino)“I’m really proud of this group,” said Johnson. “We’re proud to accomplish what we can in this moment, and you know I think we’ve been working very hard to start to elevate ourselves to a level that’s consistent and predictable in our style of play.”
Michigan State gets its second straight B1G win and improves to a 13-7 overall record and 5-4 in conference play Michigan meanwhile remains winless on the road, going 0-8 away from Ann Arbor and slipping to 3-15 overall.
The Spartans will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a matchup with the Golden Gophers on Sunday, Oct. 22, with gametime set for 3:00 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING – Following a loss at the hands of No. 2 Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 6, Michigan State had to gear up for another conference matchup against Northwestern. While the match remained competitive throughout, the Spartans could not pull it out as Northwestern earned a 3-2 win.
While Michigan State made plays throughout the first set, they traded points with Northwestern through most of the contest. The set remained tightly contested up until it was knotted up at 16 a piece, as both squads played relatively mistake free. The Spartans needed a spark and finally got one with junior outside hitter Grace Kelly, who put the team on her back with four phenomenal kills down the stretch and six total for the first set. MSU was able to stay in front, hold off the Northwestern attack, and finish it off at 25-22. Kelly finished the match with 20 kills overall.
“Yesterday Taylah Holdem had a good match, tonight Grace Kelly had a good match,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “I was really proud of Grace because she struggled last night, she just has a horrendous cold, she can barely talk, and she still puts points on the board.”
Despite dropping the first set, Northwestern did not falter in the second. Michigan State appeared to remain steady early on, but the Wildcats became the aggressors as the set pushed on. This was best exemplified by a deadly accurate service ace by senior setter Alexa Rousseau towards the end. Northwestern continued their offensive onslaught and took the second set 25-16.
Entering the third set, Northwestern looked to keep their foot on the gas. While Michigan State did not make it easy on the Wildcats, they never lost control and seemed to always be ahead by a few points. The Northwestern attack, fronted by fifth year outside hitter Julia Sangiacomo and sophomore outside hitter Averie Hernandez, continued to get theirs throughout. They finished the match with 32 and 17 kills respectively, handling business in a 25-20 set win.
“They’re just sending [Sangiacomo] so much volume,” said Johnson. “They’re not trying to be balanced, they’re just giving her the ball and letting her do her job, and she hits with heat and she hits with rage.”
The Spartans were down going into the fourth set, but certainly not out. This was demonstrated early as MSU jumped out to a 8-3 lead in the early stages. The highlight of this sequence was a strong blocking effort by fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur with Kelly in on the action as well. Northwestern came roaring back out of a timeout and made an impressive 5-0 run to tie the set and they eventually grabbed a controlling lead. Michigan State eventually locked back in with a sense of urgency, forcing a tie at 24 and a win by two situation. With the momentum swung back in the direction of the Spartans, junior setter Rachel Muisenga made the set winning service ace in a do or die situation, clinching it at 26-24.
Despite the energy and crowd being behind the Spartans entering the fifth set, Northwestern refused to flinch. The Wildcats began with a quick start and a 5-1 lead. Michigan State battled back to tie it at six, but Northwestern took control going forward and sealed the set win at 15-10 and the match at 3-2.
“The fight is there, the grind is there, the will is there,” said Johnson. “I’m not discouraged and you’ll never find me discouraged, but to me this is just potential, you know, waiting to burst.”
Northwestern’s record improves to 8-8 on the year, while Michigan State drops to 11-6.
The Spartans have a road trip to Lincoln, Nebraska and a rematch with the Cornhuskers on Friday, Oct. 13 with gametime set at 7:00 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING – Following a Big Ten victory over Rutgers on Sunday, Sept. 30, Michigan State volleyball headed into Friday evening’s match with a big test against one the nation’s toughest opponents. The Spartans fell to No. 2 Nebraska 3-1 on Friday evening at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State volleyball set an attendance record at the Breslin Center, with 8,789 spectators.
The match began with a hard-fought first set, as it stayed neck and neck until the midpoint. The Spartans jumped to a 20-15 lead behind an energized crowd at the Breslin Center. Momentum shifted following a Nebraska timeout as they held Michigan State to just three scores, taking the set 25-23.
While Nebraska made five total serving errors in the first set, Michigan State made their fair share of mistakes down the stretch with nine total attacking errors, allowing the Huskers to draw first blood.
Michigan State would not be held down for long, as they looked to enter the second set with a vengeance. While Nebraska evened the set at five, the Spartans flipped the switch and never looked back. Michigan State seemed to slam the door shut on the Huskers after freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem got MSU its first ace of the match and junior outside hitter Grace Kelly nailed an authoritative kill for her sixth of the match. Kelly finished with six kills, as the Spartans took the second set in dominant fashion, 25-16.
Nebraska looked to come out of the break with some fire, and they did just that in the third set. The Huskers jumped out to an 11-3 lead as the Spartans couldn’t find their footing. MSU put up a fight towards the end of the set, but proved to be too little, too late as Nebraska answered with a 25-15 third set victory.
Nebraska continued to roll into the fourth set, as the Huskers began with a 4-0 run. While the Spartans attempted a comeback bid early on, Nebraska cruised to a 25-11 set win and a 3-1 match victory.
“It’s a totally different matchup, they play a different style of volleyball,” head coach Leah Johnson said. “We trusted our preparation and we executed our preparation for two sets. I was really proud of that.”
“They had to make a change, they had to serve aggressive and they did,” said Johnson. “That neutralized the match for them, so it gave them that power advantage that is why they’re so successful.”
The Huskers remain unbeaten, improving to 14-0 on the season, while Michigan State falls to 11-5.
The Spartans will look to bounce back at home against the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 7, with gametime set at 7:00 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, MI– Michigan State won their Big Ten opener against rival Michigan on Friday evening with a 3-0 clean sweep.
The Spartans traveled to Ann Arbor for a well-attended game at the Crisler Center, ending their 10-game losing streak against the Wolverines with head coach Leah Johnson’s first-career win against Michigan.
“I tell the team when we’re ready to win we’ll win,” said head coach Leah Johnson.
The match opened up with an electric first set dominated by MSU. Michigan took the first point, but that did not matter. MSU denied at the net consistently and was responsive to Michigan’s plays.
Michigan had multiple errors and was unable to keep up. MSU took the first set 25-14.
The second set started with Michigan in control, quickly putting up five points and creating separation. MSU took a timeout, adjusted, and closed the gap to then reclaim the lead.
The Spartans had to play hard to keep their lead, but they were able to outlast the Wolverines to clinch the second set, 25-22, with a service ace from junior setter Julia Bishop.
Going into the third set MSU had the advantage and they came out with fire. The Spartans held the lead the entire set and built up to a six point lead.
The match closed out with a 25-22 set win for MSU with a service ace from freshman outside hitter Taylah Holder.
Holder finished the match as the kill, attack, and points leader. She had 18 kills, 35 attacks, and 21 points.
“She can be a little reserved about her play and wants to worry about what’s not working versus staying dialed into what is,” said Johnson. “I think she had a transformational week with that and her mental game and showed up today on the floor.”
Up next, the Spartans will stay on the road to play Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 24, with game time set for 2:00 p.m. E.T.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State volleyball hosted Duke University on Friday evening. They recorded a 3-0 loss for their third of the season.
“We’re not a team that’s gonna dwell, I don’t dwell,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “We say our peace, we watch our film, and we have the same kinda conversations if we win or lose.”
MSU entered Friday’s game on a four-game winning streak after facing Belmont and Syracuse in the Kathy DeBoer Invitational. The team recorded consecutive sweeps.
This was MSU’s first faceoff since Nalani Iosia was named B1G Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5, becoming the first Spartan to hold the title since Jamye Cox in 2019.
Duke’s Gacie Johnson served the first ball of the game. The rally resulted in a point for Duke, who maintained the lead the entire first set, maxing out at a seven point lead. The Blue Devils clinched the set 25-19. Freshman outside hitter Tylah Holdem recorded several rally-winning hits in the first period for the Spartans.
Duke opened the scoring in the second set. MSU maintained a much closer point differential, even gaining leading momentum and never trailing behind more than three points until Duke middle blocker Lizzie Fleming pulled the Blue Devils to 19-15 lead. The Spartans held themselves within four points until Duke closed the set 25-22 for their second of the game.
MSU gained new momentum, opening scoring in the third set. Sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur blocked several hits early in the third allowing the Spartans to stay within three points of the Blue Devils. Sophomore Aliyah Moore delivered several impressive spikes to regain Spartan possession, and tips from outside hitter Grace Kelly had Spartans leading 14-13.
Gracie Johnson continued to lead the Blue Devils offensively, but MSU pulled within two points before Duke took the third and final set of the match 25-23.
Johnson was particularly impressed with Moore’s performance tonight.
“She’s been out with injuries, so this is her first true weekend back,” said Johnson. “She hit .500, 10 kills on 18 swings which is phenomenal, so I was excited about that.”
MSU will face off at home against North Carolina at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State, for its second match of the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, hosted Syracuse.
MSU won the match 3-0. The win marked head coach Leah Johnson’s 200th career win.
In the first set, the Orange struggled to keep up with the fast-paced rallies. MSU took the set 25-12.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem was a prominent player and led the set with six kills.
Syracuse continued to trail behind MSU in the second set. MSU won the set 25-13.
Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore made her season debut on the court this season. She recorded two kills for the Spartans.
The third and final set started with Syracuse taking a 2-0 lead after two attack errors from MSU. This gave the Orange new energy, and they kept the Spartans working for it till both teams were 24-24.
MSU outlasted Syracuse and closed out the match with a kill from sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur for a 26-24 win.
Up next, the Spartans will host Delaware State on Sept. 3, with game time set for 1:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State volleyball hosted Belmont for the Kathy DeBoer Invitational Opener on Saturday morning at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans held the lead for the duration of the first set, finishing 25-17. The Bruins had a responsive defense, but struggled with fouls. Senior libero Nalani Iosia closed the set with a service ace.
Belmont struggled to get points on the board in the second set, trailing 6-0. Although the Bruins adjusted and closed the gap to a tie 16-16, they never obtained the lead.
The Spartans closed out the second set 25-19 after an attack error from senior opposite hitter Laura Shoopman and block assists from junior outside hitter Grace Kelly, and sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur.
Despite a rocky start to the third set, the Spartans made adjustments to build their lead. MSU increased its lead to 17, resulting in a 25-7 final score.
Up next, the Spartans will host Syracuse on Sept. 2, with gametime set for 7:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State volleyball team has hired Zheng Xiang as an assistant coach after it was officially announced on Tuesday.
Xiang comes to MSU from Rice where he worked as associate head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. Xiang has also worked at Texas A&M as a volunteer assistant coach, and an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas at San Antonio.
“I am honored and excited to be joining the Spartan family,” Xiang said in a press release. “I can’t wait to meet the team, our alumni and the Spartan fans.”
At Rice, he played a large role in their program. The Owls finished the season ranked No. 19 in 2022 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll with a 27-4 record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Rice went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and 2021.
Under Xiang, the Owls also went on to win one C-USA regular season title (2018), two C-USA West Division titles (2020, 2021) and two C-USA tournament titles (2018, 2022).
As a recruiter at Rice, Xiang constructed four recruiting classes in the Top 55 and one in the Top 50, as ranked by PrepVolleyball.
Xiang has not only coaching but playing experience as well. He was a member of Indiana’s club team from 1997-2000 and was captain of the squad in his final season. Xiang played for two years at Texas and earned first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association honors in 2006.
“He is a proven winner. He has recruited, developed, and supported student-athletes to perform at the highest level and has demonstrated commitment to the process of building and sustaining a program’s success,” said head coach Leah Johnson. “I am thrilled to add my friend and colleague to the Spartan family.”
Winners and losers from the first weekend of the NCAA volleyball tournamentFive questions ahead of the 2022 NCAA Volleyball TournamentMichigan State volleyball falls to Illinois
Last Sunday, amid the chaos of college basketball’s PK85 invitational in Oregon, collegiate volleyball fans flocked to ESPNU moments after the final whistle to watch ESPN’s selection show for the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. From coaches on their last go-around to returning champions, this year’s bracket has more than enough storylines to keep track of. Here are just five you should be looking at.
1. Will the Badgers Budge?The University of Wisconsin is (not surprisingly) back to defend its title after a stellar regular season run that saw the Badgers go 25-3, including 19-1 and a conference championship in the Big Ten.
At the helm for the Badgers is tenured head coach Kelly Sheffield. He is fresh off winning Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time in his career at Madison. Sheffield and the Badgers will look to make their 10th Sweet Sixteen in a row. Lots of questions loomed over this team before the season, after losing much of their 2021 NCAA Championship team to graduation, some thought it might be time for someone else to take the Badgers’ spot at the top.
Instead, Wisconsin reloaded, utilizing 2021 Final Four MVP and sophomore Anna Smrek, senior Danielle Hart, junior Devyn Robinson and sophomore Julia Orzol in a variety of ways over the course of the season. They also picked up 2021 First-Team All-Big Ten selection Sarah Franklin in the transfer portal from Michigan State and earned a one-seed. The Badgers face MAAC champions Quinnipiac in the first round on December 2.
2. Can McCutcheon Get Over the Hump?On October 17, 2022, Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon announced to StarTribune that his 11th season as head coach of the Golden Gophers would be his last. This comes after a whirlwind 2021 offseason that saw the departure of iconic coaches such as Russ Rose and Cathy George step down after leading their squads for 42 and 17 years, respectively.
Many thought 2021 would be the year for McCutcheon. He had five-time AVCA All-American Stephanie Samedy, Minnesota volleyball legend CC McGraw, slightly seasoned players like Jenna Wenaas and Melanie Schaffmaster and newcomer Taylor Landfair. But unfortunately, they couldn’t last in the war of attrition. After upsetting No. 5 seed Baylor, the Gophers lost to No. 4 seed and eventual National Champions, Wisconsin.
However, this year is different. With a mix of youth and veteran leadership, the Golden Gophers locked up a No. 2 seed going 20-8 overall and finishing third in the conference behind Nebraska and Wisconsin. With 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year Landfair, grad-student McGraw and juniors Wenaas and Schaffmaster leading the squad, it’ll be up to the supporting cast of characters (including freshman middle blocker, Carter Booth, grad transfer middle blocker Naya Gros and some sort of combination of the Wucherer sisters) to get McCutcheon and Gophers over the hump. They’ll start their quest for a ring against Southeastern Louisiana University on December 2.
3. Uh, was San Diego robbed?Per usual, as it happens in every sport, at every level: Somebody got robbed. This year, that somebody was the San Diego Toreros.
The Toreros, who were crowned WCC champions over at-large bid earners BYU, Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine, were given a No. 2 seed by the committee. Could it have been a reflection of their non-conference scheduling and overall schedule?
The Toreros faced only six ranked opponents all year long, winning 5 of those matchups (their one loss was to #1 seed Louisville in four sets). However, if you compare San Diego’s non-conference schedule to – oh, I don’t know – Texas’s schedule, they played the same amount of ranked teams in non-conference play and similarly played one ranked team in conference play.
The difference between the two is that Texas lost at unranked Iowa State and only one other team from the Big 12 with a top-five seed, Baylor, made the tournament. Shouldn’t this mean that San Diego should’ve been given the No. 1 seed over Texas? Or does Texas get extra points for big names and social media following? Just asking questions, here. Regardless, San Diego will match up with Big Sky champs Northern Colorado on December 1.
4. Can Stanford emerge from its brutal quarter?Another No. 1 seed that could’ve potentially switched places with San Diego is Stanford. The Cardinal only suffered one conference loss, way back in September to Oregon. However, Stanford’s reward for outlasting the other five Pac-12 teams that made the tournament is… the toughest quarter in this year’s tournament.
Not only do they have presumably-pissed-off San Diego as their No. 2 seed, but they also have SEC champion Kentucky, Big West champion Hawaii and AAC champion Houston in their quarter. Now, Stanford will only be forced to play either Kentucky OR San Diego should both teams make it that far, but that’s only if they make it past the first two rounds.
The Cardinal get a balanced Pepperdine team on December 2 that boasts WCC Freshman of the Year outside hitter Emily Hellmuth and 2021 WCC Freshman of the Year outside hitter Grace Chillingworth.
With Hellmuth and Chillingworth (along with all-conference selections Meg Brown and Riley Patterson), the Waves will look to knock off the Cardinal in the first round. If they get past that, they’ll face a Hawaii team with two-time Big West offensive player of the week Amber Igiede. No easy pickings. This Cardinal team, however, has the strength to make it to the Final Four, it’ll just take a little elbow grease.
5. Need a sleeper team? Georgia Tech.Hidden among the absolute slugfest between Louisville and Pitt for rights to the ACC Championship (which ended in a tie, by the way), is a lesser-known team that hung around the 10-15 mark all year, the Georgia Tech Hornets. Led by 6-foot-5 outside hitter, Julia Bergmann, the Hornets quietly surprised teams all year.
Taking care of business, the Hornets’ only conference loss against teams not named Louisville and Pitt, came to Miami on the road. While its stats don’t jump off the page (Tech ranks anywhere from 25-50 in Kills Per Set, Opponent Hitting % and Assists Per Set), this Georgia Tech team faces Wright St. in the first round on December 1 and the winner of Marquette and Ball State in the round of 32.
If the Hornets can continue to take care of business as they have done all year, that sets them up for an Elite Eight matchup with Texas, where anything can happen.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State has ended its 12-match losing streak after a clean, three-set sweep over Northwestern.
MSU is now 42-37 in the all-time series against Northwestern.
The first set began in Northwestern’s favor. The Spartans had a slow start and were down eight points at one time. But after a long rally that ended with a kill from freshman outside hitter Evie Doezema, MSU was fired up.
MSU then tied it 22-22, after trailing the entire set, with a block from freshman outside hitter Maradith O’Gorman and senior middle blocker Emma Monks. MSU closed out the set with a handling error from junior libero Grace Reininga. The Spartans won the set 25-23.
“We were able to pull that tight finish which was the first time we’ve done that,” said head coach Leah Johnson.
After the first set win, MSU was ready. The Spartans began the second set 8-0 and had strong defense over the Wildcats. MSU built up nine-point leads over Northwestern. Northwestern didn’t have the lead once, and graduate student setter Zoe Nunez got MSU to set point. The Spartans took the set 25-16.
In the third and final set, MSU started shakily with a service error from freshman defensive specialist Jayhlin Swain. The Spartans were able to slide right back into their rhythm and built up a ten-point lead on the Wildcats, 24-14.
Monks swung for a kill in the last play of the set, but it was called in Northwestern’s favor. MSU challenged the call for a touch and won the challenge, and match, 25-14.
“We’ve been training and getting better and better so that the win should be ours now,” Johnson said. “But we weren’t letting ourselves trip over our own toes in certain situations. And so to get out of your own way. Now, you’ve climbed to this point to earn a win. And I was excited to see them let themselves succeed.”
The Spartan’s next match is at Illinois on Nov. 18 at 8:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State and Illinois met at the Breslin Center Friday night for a Veterans Day matchup. MSU lost its 10th game of the season against the Fighting Illini.
Head coach Leah Johnson said, “We’ve got that seat for missing in action and prisoners of war…all fallen and lost soldiers and so we’re certainly here to pay tribute.”
Illinois won the three-set match and walked away with a now four-match win streak against the Spartans.
The match began competitively, with multiple lead trade-offs. Neither team truly held a large lead in the opening set.
Illinois Senior middle blocker Ryle Hinton got the Illini to set point and would close the set with a kill for Illinois, 25-23.
At the start of set two, Illinois took control and built a lead over MSU. The Spartans responded willfully as sophomore outside hitter Aliyah Moore kept MSU alive. MSU was able to build a lead over Illinois by as much as eight points thanks to a kill from fifth-year senior middle blocker Rebecka Poljan. After a timeout, Illinois came out and earned points to close the gap.
Aliyah Moore spikes the ball during Michigan State’s match against Illinois on November 11, 2022. / Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBM (Jack Moreland)A block from redshirt freshman setter Brooke Mosher and senior middle blocker Kennedy Collins vaulted Illinois to tie it 21-21. The teams remained level, but MSU ultimately fell short with an attack error from freshman outside hitter Maradith O’Gorman.
Illinois, again, began to dominate in set three. MSU was able to pull into the reach of Illinois’s lead and tied it at 11 with a kill from senior middle blocker Emma Monks. Back-to-back errors from the Spartans allowed the fighting Illini to regain control. Illinois gained a match point after a service error from Poljan, but a call reversal kept MSU alive.
The Spartans fought to the wire but Illinois ultimately took the third set and match 25-22.
“It’s the most consistent three sets we’ve played to date,” Johnson said. “The errors came from us, not points earned from them.”
The Spartans will play Northwestern on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
MSU volleyball travels to Michigan with hopes to end eight-match losing streakMichigan State volleyball falls to IllinoisMichigan State volleyball looks to get back to winning ways
EAST LANSING – Michigan State and Illinois met at the Breslin Center Friday night for a Veterans Day matchup. MSU lost its 10th game of the season against the Fighting Illini.
Illinois won the three-set match and walked away extending their four-match win streak over the Spartans.
Head coach Leah Johnson said, “We’ve got that seat for missing in action and prisoners of war…all fallen and lost soldiers and so we’re certainly here to pay tribute.”
The match began competitively, with multiple lead trade-offs. Neither team truly held a large lead in the opening set.
Illinois Senior middle blocker Ryle Hinton got the Illini to set point and would close the set with a kill for Illinois, 25-23.
At the start of set two, Illinois took control and built a lead over MSU. The Spartans responded willfully as sophomore outside hitter Aliyah Moore kept MSU alive. MSU was able to build a lead over Illinois by as much as eight points thanks to a kill from fifth-year senior middle blocker Rebecka Poljan. After a timeout, Illinois came out and earned points to close the gap.
A block from redshirt freshman setter Brooke Mosher and senior middle blocker Kennedy Collins vaulted Illinois to tie it 21-21. The teams remained level, but MSU ultimately fell short with an attack error from freshman outside hitter Maradith O’Gorman.
Illinois, again, began to dominate in set three. MSU was able to pull into the reach of Illinois’s lead and tied it at 11 with a kill from senior middle blocker Emma Monks. Back-to-back errors from the Spartans allowed the fighting Illini to regain control. Illinois gained a match point after a service error from Poljan, but a call reversal kept MSU alive.
The Spartans fought to the wire but Illinois ultimately took the third set and match 25-22.
“It’s the most consistent three sets we’ve played to date,” Johnson said. “The errors came from us, not points earned from them.”
The Spartans will play Northwestern on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State lost to No. 14 Purdue three sets to one on Friday.
The Spartans started the match strongly in set one and took an early lead. MSU found holes in Purdue’s defense and took advantage of them. The Spartans looked comfortable and had great rhythm. MSU claimed set one with a kill from freshman outside hitter Selin Aslayan.
Going into set two, MSU looked energized.
Both teams struggled to serve during the beginning of the second set. Four straight service errors mercifully ended with an ace from Purdue’s Eva Hudson. Hudson was also credited with a kill that tied the second-set score at 24. The Boilermakers won set two 26-24.
Michigan State jumped out to an early third-set lead. MSU took the first point of set three with a kill from freshman outside hitter Maradith O’Gorman and began to dominate. Purdue immediately responded and closed the gap in MSU’s lead. The Boilermakers took the lead with a kill from redshirt-junior setter Megan Renner and pulled away from the Spartans. Purdue took the set with a senior outside hitter Madeline Koch kill.
Purdue now had an advantage over the Spartans after winning two sets. MSU started the fourth set strong and kept up with Purdue. The Boilermakers maintained control of the set and created separation from the Spartans. Purdue held its lead and took the fourth set 25-16.
MSU head coach Leah Johnson recognized that the team is competing at a high level, they just need to be able to mentally sustain it. Johnson said,
“When they put that run together, that’s when I saw our mental game get small,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of some experience, continuing to battle through those tough stretches and recognizing just because they made one good play or two good plays doesn’t change how we should play automatically.”
MSU will play No. 6 Ohio State on Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Breslin Center.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State volleyball is preparing to play its rival Michigan on the road. The Spartans are 1-9 in Big Ten play and are seeking to end their eight-match losing streak. Michigan has lost three straight matches as the second half of conference play is underway. The Wolverines are 4-6 in conference play. MSU...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State Volleyball is back on the road to face No. 9 Minnesota. In the last match between the Spartans and the Golden Gophers, Minnesota swept MSU in a three-set match. The Spartans look to get back to .500 with a win over Minnesota. They are 10-11 on the season and...
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