Volleyball Preps for Jam-Packed Opening Week

EAST LANSING, Mich. – A new era of Michigan State volleyball gets underway on Tuesday night as the Spartans host the annual Green & White scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. in the Breslin Students Events Center. Admission is free to fans, with complimentary parking available in Breslin lots 63 and 126. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday night's Green & White scrimmage marks the first collegiate volleyball event held in the Breslin Center since Michigan State defeated Michigan, 3-0, on November 24, 2010. Michigan State is 6-2 inside Breslin all-time.

After kicking off the season in style, Michigan State is set to host the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational over the weekend, featuring matches against Louisiana, Eastern Michigan and Fairfield. MSU opens the weekend against Louisiana at 7 p.m. on Friday night, before facing EMU at noon and Fairfield at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is complimentary in Breslin lot 63 for the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational.

John Kreger returns behind the mic to call the action for Michigan State volleyball on the Spartan Sports Network. He will call Michigan State's matches against Louisiana and Fairfield this weekend. Joining the broadcast team this season is Jeremy Otto, who will make his debut on the airwaves on Saturday against Eastern Michigan.

On Saturday, Michigan State's match against Fairfield will be simulcast internationally on Volleyball World thanks to a new partnership between Volleyball World and the Big Ten.

THE OPPONENTS

MSU opens the season against Louisiana, who finished the 2021 season with a 15-11 overall record and a 9-7 mark in conference action. The Ragin' Cajuns were picked fourth in the 2022 preseason Sun Belt poll. Louisiana returns a pair of All-Conference selections in Kelsey Bennett and Coco Gillett. Both were selected to the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt team. Bennett and Gillett were the lead point producers for the Ragin' Cajuns offense in 2021 that set the program's rally-scoring era record with a .230 hitting percentage.

Eastern Michigan went 9-20 overall in 2021 and 4-14 in MAC action. EMU returns four players that started in 18 or more matches last season, including its top three in kills Samantha Basham, Raeven Chase and Krista Blakely. Chase and Blakely also finished 2021 as the team's top two in blocks. The Eagles lost setter Jayden Otto who contributed 1,092 assists last season. Eastern is coached by Darcy Dorton in her fourth season at the helm.

Fairfield went 24-9 overall with a 16-2 record in MAAC play in 2021, winning a 12th MAAC trophy. The Stags were selected atop the MAAC preseason poll receiving nine of 10 first-place votes. KJ Johnson was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. The Baylor transfer was the 2021 MAAC POTY and was named the MAAC Championship MVP. She was named AVCA All-Region and was an honorable mention All-American. Ella Gardiner was also named Preseason All-MAAC. The Stags are coached by Todd Kress who is in his 13th overall season at Fairfield and ninth in his second stint.

MICHIGAN STATE NOTES

Michigan State boasts one of the youngest teams in the country with just four total upperclassmen (Nalani Iosia - Jr., Emma Monks - Sr., Rebecka Poljan - Grad, Zoe Nunez - Grad). The Spartans roster seven sophomores and six freshmen. The Spartans hail from seven different states and two countries, with eight calling Michigan home. California, Illinois, Michigan, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and Virginia are all represented. Selin Aslayan and Nil Okur are natives of Turkey.

MSU heads to Annapolis, Md. next weekend for the Kristen Dickmann Invitational where they'll meet UAlbany, Navy and VCU. After travelling to the Naval Academy, the Spartans will head to North Carolina to face North Carolina and Duke. Michigan State rounds out its non-conference schedule hosting the Green & White Classic. The Spartan will host Oakland, Chicago State and Evansville.

Setter Zoe Nunez is approaching several career milestones this weekend, entering the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational with 3,997 career assists and 975 career digs. Rebecka Poljan led the Spartans in attacking percentage last season with a .357. Emma Monks was second in total blocks (61) and blocks per set (1.05) last season.

BRESLIN CENTER BAG POLICY

Fans, be aware of the new bag policy for athletic events in the Breslin Center for the 2022 season. Clear bags will now be allowed for athletic events. In accordance with Michigan State Athletics security guidelines, the only bags, packages or containers permitted to be carried by fans as they enter the venue are the following:

Bag that is clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and does not exceed 12" x 6" x 12"
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
Small clutch bag, camera and binocular cases, not exceeding 4.5" x 6.5", with or without a handle or strap

Exceptions can be made for medically necessary, childcare or dietary items after proper inspection.

Clear bags are available for sale at shop.msuspartans.com and will also be available for purchase on game days at most venues.

Michigan State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Selin Aslayan

Nalani Iosia

Emma Monks

Zoe Nunez

Nil Okur

Rebecka Poljan

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