It’s been just over a month since the last check-in with the Michigan State volleyball program and a lot has happened in that time. The team moved into its 20-hour practice allotment, spring scrimmages were set in stone, head coach Leah Johnson returned to the practice gym and assistant coach Jake Barreau spent his spring break visiting a pair of Spartan signees in Poland.
Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson announced the addition of former First Team All-Conference USA middle blocker Amani McArthur on Monday. McArthur joins the Spartans as a graduate transfer from Charlotte.
Michigan State volleyball extended its winning streak to two games on Wednesday night as the Spartans avenged an early season loss to Rutgers in four sets, 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-20). It’s the first time an MSU team has won back-to-back conference matches since the abbreviated 2020 season.
After splitting a pair of matches last weekend, the Michigan State volleyball team will conclude its season at home this week with matches against Rutgers and Iowa. The Spartans get the week started on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when it welcomes the Scarlet Knights to the Breslin Center at 6:00 p.m. MSU will put a bow on its 2022 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 26 when Iowa comes to town for a 2:00 p.m. match.
Michigan State volleyball completed the season sweep of Northwestern on Sunday afternoon, taking down the Wildcats 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 29-27). The Spartans didn’t drop a set to Northwestern all season, sweeping the Wildcats in each match-up. MSU earned its 12th win of the season to improve upon last season’s win total of 11.
After splitting a pair of matches last weekend, the Michigan State volleyball team will once again meet Illinois and Northwestern this week, this time in the Land of Lincoln. MSU travels to Champaign, Ill. for an 8:00 p.m. ET match against the Fighting Illini on Friday, Nov. 18 before traveling north to face Northwestern at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 20. Illinois has won four of its last six matches, including wins over then #11 Penn State and a Michigan team that was receiving votes. Northwestern is on a four-match losing skid.
Michigan State volleyball broke back into the win column on Saturday night in the Breslin Center, defeating Northwestern, who is receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, by a final score of 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-14). Senior middle blocker Emma Monks had a career night with a career-best 11 kills.
Source: Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State volleyball Head Coach Leah Johnson announced the addition of five newcomers on Wednesday, November 9 during National Signing Day. Joining the Spartans in 2023 will be Cameron Berger (Setter/Eden Prairie, Minn.), Makya Clayton (DS/Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Zuzanna Kulig (Middle Blocker/Chrzanów, Poland), Karolina Staniszewska (Outside Hitter/Marki, Poland) and Taylah Holdem (Outside Hitter/Christchurch, New Zealand).
Michigan State returns to the friendly confines of the Breslin Student Events Center for a pair of matches this weekend, hosting #14 Purdue on Friday, Nov. 4 and #6 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Spartans are set to welcome back over 60 program alumni and their families over the weekend as the team celebrates its 50-year history. Additionally, Michigan State volleyball will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX on Saturday. Head Coach Leah Johnson will sport a custom Nike shoe for the match in commemoration.
Michigan State volleyball returns to the court this week, opening the second half of B1G competition with a Wednesday, Oct. 26 mid-week match at No. 9-ranked Minnesota before wrapping up the season slate of rivalry matches against Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 30. The Spartans wrap up a stretch of three matches in six days when it meets the Golden Gophers on Wednesday night in Maturi Pavilion.
Michigan State volleyball is geared up for another split B1G weekend, first traveling to Madison, Wisconsin for a matchup with the No. 5-ranked Wisconsin Badgers at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 21 before returning to the Breslin Center for a rematch against Indiana at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23. Sunday afternoon’s match against the Hoosiers is MSU’s Breast Cancer Awareness match, presented by Sparrow Health System.
Michigan State volleyball played in front of the largest crowd in Spartan volleyball history on Friday night with 7,326 fans in attendance at the Breslin Center. Friday night’s crowd breaks the mark of 6,838 set at the Jam Jenison match in 2016. The Spartans were defeated by No. 24-ranked Michigan, 3-0 (25-17, 30-28, 25-22), but the overall score doesn’t accurately depict just how close the match.
Michigan State volleyball is back in action this weekend for a pair of matches. First hosting No. 24-ranked Michigan in the Breslin Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14 before traveling to Bloomington, Ind. for a 1:00 p.m. matchup with Indiana on Sunday, October 16. The first 500 fans in attendance on Friday will receive an exclusive ‘Battle at Breslin’ t-shirt. Parking on Friday is complimentary in Lot 63 and Ramp 7, while the lot in Jenison has a $5 charge due to a home event in Munn Ice Arena.
Michigan State returns to the Breslin Center for the first time in Big Ten play this week, hosting No. 3-ranked Nebraska and No. 11-ranked Minnesota. The Spartans square off against the Cornhuskers on the Big Ten Network on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 8:00 p.m. Sloane Martin (PxP) and Emily Ehman (Analyst) have the call for BTN, while John Kreger will be the home radio host on the Spartan Media Network for both matches this week. Michigan State has a two-day break before welcoming Minnesota to East Lansing for a 2:00 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Michigan State took a set off of No. 12-ranked Penn State on Sunday, but ultimately fell to the Nittany Lions, 3-1 (17-25, 25-22, 22-25,16-25) at Rec Hall.
Source: Michigan State Athletics
The Michigan State volleyball program earned its fourth five-set victory on Friday, defeating Maryland, 3-2 (25-18, 15-25, 25-19, 16-25, 15-8) in alternating sets. The Spartans went on a 10-0 run to close out set five and earn the team’s first Big Ten win of the season.