Category: Volleyball

Michigan State volleyball earned its second sweep of the weekend on Saturday night, defeating Iowa in straight sets, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-22), from the Breslin Center. “I was very proud of our point management, we were very low error tonight,” Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson said. “I challenged the team to get 16 kills per set tonight and the team got close to that. It kept us aggressive to have that kind of output expectation.”

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball had six service aces in set two and eight in the match on Friday night, defeating Maryland 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-22) inside the Breslin Center. Junior setter Rachel Muisenga had a career-high four aces and freshman outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska tied her season-high of three.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball defeated No. 13-ranked Penn State on Saturday night in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-19, 11-25, 16-25, 25-18, 18-16), snapping a 13-game losing streak against the Nittany Lions that dated back to Nov. 2, 2013. The Spartans showed resilience down 2-1 and took the final two sets of the match to stun Penn State inside the Breslin Center.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

For the first time since 2006, the Michigan State volleyball program has swept the season series against Michigan, winning 3-1 (20-25, 28-26, 25-13, 25-16) on Wednesday night to stake claim of the State Pride Flag from inside the Breslin Center.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball returns to the Breslin Center on Wednesday night when the University of Michigan comes to town for a 6:00 p.m. contest. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to ensure they receive a Battle at Breslin t-shirt while supplies last. Wednesday night’s match will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network with Sloane Martin (play-by-play) and Michigan State volleyball alum Elena Shklyar ’21 (analyst) calling the action.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball returned to its winning ways on Saturday night, defeating Iowa 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 30-28, 25-23) from inside Xtream Arena. Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem crossed the 20-kill threshold for the third time this season and senior libero Nalani Iosia tied her career-high in digs with 27.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball battled on the road at No. 2-ranked Nebraska on Friday night, taking a set late but dropping a 3-1 (12-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-25) decision from inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Spartans move to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in B1G action heading into Saturday night’s match against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Coralville, Iowa. Nebraska remains unbeaten at 16-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball played the No. 2-ranked team in the country tough on Friday night, falling to Nebraska 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 15-25, 25-11) from the Breslin Center. With 8,789 fans in attendance the Spartans set a new program attendance record to break the previous mark of 7,326 set against Michigan on Oct. 14, 2022.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball will host a pair of B1G matches inside the Breslin Students Events Center this weekend, first hosting No. 2-ranked Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7:00 p.m. before a quick turnaround to face Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m. The Spartans recently faced Northwestern last weekend, defeating the Wildcats, 3-2, at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State battled through a slow start on Sunday to defeat Rutgers in four sets, 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-23), from the Breslin Center. Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur had eight blocks and 10 kills, while freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem recorded her third consecutive double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

The Michigan State volleyball program played a three-hour marathon in Evanston on Friday night, defeating a tough Northwestern squad in five sets, 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 15-13), from Welsh-Ryan Arena. Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem continued her torrid stretch of matches posting 25 kills and 14 digs for the Spartans.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

The Michigan State volleyball program battled to a five-set loss against Illinois on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 13-15), from Huff Hall. MSU trailed 12-6 in the fifth set before battling back within one point twice, 13-12 and 14-13, before Illinois found the match-winning kill. Sunday’s game featured 14 lead changes and 37 tied scores, a testament to the back-and-forth nature of the contest.

Source: Michigan State Athletics

Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem posted 19 kills on Friday night as the Michigan State volleyball program defeated Michigan, 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-22), to open B1G play from the Crisler Center. It was Michigan State’s first victory over Michigan since Oct. 18, 2017, and the first win in Ann Arbor since Nov. 27, 2013, which was also the last time the Spartans swept Michigan

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

The Michigan State volleyball program is set to kick-off Big Ten action this weekend, first traveling down the road to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a 7:00 p.m. match against Michigan on Friday, Sept. 22. MSU will then head to Champaign, Illinois for a 2:00 p.m. ET match against Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 24. Friday’s match against Michigan will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network, while Sunday’s match can be viewed live on B1G+.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

The first third of the 2023 volleyball season has come and gone as the Michigan State volleyball program wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule last weekend in Storrs, Conn. While the team has its eyes firmly set on its upcoming B1G opening weekend, we’ll take a look back at the first four weeks of the season to break down how the Spartans fared.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Amani McArthur was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Big Ten Conference on Monday afternoon. Along with senior libero Nalani Iosia’s honor on Sept. 5, it marks the first time the Spartans have earned two B1G Defensive Player of the Week honors in a season since 2015 (Megan Tompkins – Sept. 14, Abby Monson – Sept. 21).

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

The Michigan State volleyball program earned the 2023 Dog Pound Challenge crown on Sunday afternoon defeating Binghamton, 3-1 (25-12, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19), from the UConn Volleyball Center. MSU wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule with an overall record of 8-3 heading into B1G play next weekend.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Michigan State volleyball snapped the unbeaten streak of Brown on Saturday night at the 2023 Dog Pound Challenge, defeating the Bears 3-1 (29-31, 25-21, 25-13, 25-21) from the UConn Volleyball Center. MSU improves to 7-3 overall heading into its final non-conference match of the season against Binghamton on Sunday.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Behind a career night from junior Grace Kelly, Michigan State swept UConn, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-23), on Friday to kick off the 2023 Dog Pound Challenge from the UConn Volleyball Center. Michigan State improves to 6-3 overall having won six of its last seven matches and five by way of a sweep.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics

Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem deposited 21 kills on Sunday afternoon as the Michigan State volleyball program dispatched North Carolina in four sets, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-17, 25-15), from the Breslin Student Events Center. Holdem’s 21 kills are the most by an MSU freshman since Jenilee Rathje’s 24 against Cal Poly in 2008. Rathje’s mark came during a five-set match, while Holdem reached 21 kills in four.

Source: Michigan State University Athletics