Volleyball Set for Senior Weekend Celebration
11/22/2023
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball wraps up the regular season from Breslin Center to kick off the holiday season this weekend, first hosting Indiana at 1:00 p.m. on Friday November 24 before turning around to face No. 13-ranked Purdue to conclude the regular season at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 25. The Spartans will honor fifth-year middle blocker Amani McArthur, along with other senior student support staff members following the conclusion of Saturday's match.
Both matches will be streamed live on B1G+. Fans can also tune in via the Spartan Media Network on MSUSpartans.com where John Kreger will have the call.
Handled our business and got the reverse sweep on the road ????#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/uf1oyIKUIw
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 19, 2023
NOTES TO KNOW
ABOUT INDIANA
Indiana is 19-12 overall and is tied with MSU in the B1G standings at 9-9. Last week the Hoosiers split a pair of matches, defeating Maryland, 3-1, and falling to Wisconsin, 3-0. Indiana has split each of its past three weeks of competition.
The Hoosiers ranks No. 63 in aces per set (1.73), No. 87 in assists per set (12.15), No. 52 in blocks per set (2.43), No. 225 in digs per set (13.59), No. 77 in hitting percentage (.237), No. 58 in kills per set (13.35) and No. 100 in opponent hitting percentage (.191).
Camryn Haworth is one of the best servers in the country averaging 0.58 aces per set and is No. 3 in total aces with 66. Haworth is also one of the top setters in the country ranking No. 55 in assists per set (10.2). A unique setter, Haworth also takes swings on offense with 105 kills this season.
Ramsey Gary leads the B1G in total digs (505) and is No. 2 in digs per set (4.43) as a freshman.
Candela Alonso-Corcelles leads IU with 320 kills hitting .177. Kaley Rammelsberg (0.97) and Savannah Kjolhede (0.95) lead the team in blocks per set and are heavily involved on the offensive side as well.
ABOUT #13 PURDUE
Purdue is 19-8 overall and 13-5 in the B1G coming off of a 2-0 weekend after defeating then No. 3-ranked Wisconsin in West Lafayette, 3-2. The Boilermakers previously defeated MSU, 3-1, at home this season after the Spartans took set one.
The Boilermakers rank No. 325 in aces per set (1.01), No. 74 in assists per set (12.25), No. 31 in blocks per set (2.56), No. 148 in digs per set (14.50), No. 62 in hitting percentage (.243), No. 66 in kills per set (13.29) and No. 208 in opponent hitting percentage (.215).
Eva Hudson (470 kills) and Chloe Chicoine (417 kills) are among the top six rotation outside hitters in the conference due to their immense attacking volume. Hudson ranks No. 11 nationally in attacks per set (11.83) and Chicoine is No. 52 (10.59).
Raven Colvin is one of the top blockers in the country averaging 1.37 blocks per set which ranks No. 15. Colvin's 149 total blocks rank No. 6 nationally.
Maddie Schermerhorn leads the B1G in digs per set at 4.46 and is No. 2 in total digs (486).
Taylor Anderson has primarily been the setter for Purdue, averaging 9.65 assists per set. Lorrin Poulter saw action against MSU earlier this season and averages 7.72 assists per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Indiana
- Michigan State is 53-34 all-time against the Hoosiers and 29-8 when playing Indiana in East Lansing.
- The Spartans dropped a pair of five set heartbreakers to Indiana last season as the sides have split the last 10 matches, 5-5.
- MSU last defeated Indiana, 3-1, on Nov. 30, 2019 in Jenison Field House to close out the season. Michigan State was led by 10 kills for Biamba Kabengele and 10 from Molly Johnson. Maggie Midgette and Audrey Alford each had 20 assists and Lauryn Gibbs led with 17 digs. Naya Gros had seven blocks.
Purdue
- Michigan State is 33-57 all-time against Purdue and 16-24 when playing in East Lansing.
- The Boilermakers defeated MSU earlier this season season, 3-1, at Holloway Gymnasium.
- MSU last defeated Purdue on Oct. 20, 2021, a 3-2 victory over the then No. 7-ranked Boilermakers. It also marked Cathy George's 300th career coaching victory. Sarah Franklin had 25 kills and Cecilee Max-Brown added 17 for MSU. Max-Brown led the team with 18 digs and Emma Monks posted five blocks. Julia Bishop (28 assists) and Celia Cullen (27 assists) shared the setting duties.
MOORE AMONG TOP OPPOSITES
- Big Ten Network analyst Emily Ehman ranked MSU's Aliyah Moore as the No. 5 opposite hitter in the conference last week.
- Moore has been a consistent force for the Spartans on the right side this season, hitting .252 on 2.56 points per set.
- Moore has finished with double-digit kills six times in B1G play and has hit over .380 in each of her last three matches heading into Friday.
- Moore posted a career-best 25 kills against Brown earlier this season, when she hit .667 on 36 attempts at the Dog Pound Challenge.
As a thank you to all of our amazing fans, general admission tickets for this weekend’s matches are on sale for $3!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 20, 2023
To purchase your discounted tickets, visit the website link in our bio and use code: SPARTANVBFAN at checkout #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/PJ7xLKlMPw
Dear Spartan Nation…
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 20, 2023
A message from Nalani Iosia ????#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/Nsa8vHJXTv
IOSIA ANNOUNCES RETURN FOR FIFTH SEASON
- Senior libero Nalani Iosia will return to the Spartans next season, announcing that she will take her fifth year of eligibility in 2024.
- Iosia is currently having the best season of her career, posting a personal best 4.17 digs per set, and is on pace to set a new career-high in total digs (currently has 454).
- Iosia ranks No. 4 in the B1G in digs per set and in total digs.
McARTHUR MAKING HER MARK
- Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur is making the most of her first and only season in the Big Ten after transferring to Michigan State from Charlotte last summer.
- McArthur ranks No. 5 in the conference in hitting percentage at .362 this season and ranks No. 9 in blocks per set during B1G play at 1.12.
- McArthur's .362 hitting currently ranks 7th all-time by a player in a Spartan uniform.
- McArthur leads the conference with 27 total solo blocks this season, with 19 coming against B1G opponents.
KULIG KILLING IT IN RETURN FROM INJURY
- Freshman middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig missed the first half of the season due to injury, but has returned to the rotation in a major way making nine starts in B1G play to date.
- Kulig ranks second on the team in hitting percentage at .345 and set a new season-high in kills against Rutgers with 12.
- Kulig has been a formidable blocker as well, posting 0.94 blocks per set on 33 total blocks in 35 sets played.
Amani McArthur has made a MAJOR impact since arriving in East Lansing!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 21, 2023
- Leads the B1G in solo blocks (27)
- .362 hitting ranks 7th all-time by a Spartan in a single season#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/Bo6xuNJ3Mo
SPARTANS TAKE LEAP IN YEAR TWO
- The Michigan State volleyball program is known to take a leap forward in its second season under a new head coach.
- From 1993 to 1994, the Spartans improved from 9-22 (5-15 B1G) to 17-15 (9-11 B1G) under Chuck Erbe.
- From 2005 to 2006, the Spartans improved from 12-18 (5-15 B1G to 19-12 (10-10 B1G) under Cathy George.
- From 2022 to 2023, the Spartans thus far have improved from 13-18 (4-16 B1G) to 17-12 (9-9 B1G) under Leah Johnson.
- In Erbe's third season, the team went to the Final Four. In George's third season, the team went to the Sweet 16. What is in store for the Spartans in 2024?
HOLDEM AMONG BEST IN B1G
- In B1G play, Holdem ranks No. 8 in kills per set (3.64) and No. 8 in points per set (4.10). Both marks lead all freshman in conference matches.
- Holdem ranks No. 9 in the B1G in kills per set (3.48) and No. 9 in points per set (3.92) in the season-long leaderboard.
- Holdem had a season-high 25 kills against Northwestern on 9/29, the most single match kills by an MSU freshman since 1998 (Erin Hartley, 28).
- If the season ended today, Holdem's 3.48 kills per set would rank third all-time by an MSU freshman behind Veronica Morales (5.06) and Jenna Wrobel (4.59).
Taylah Holdem is making a name for herself as a freshman!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 21, 2023
- Leads all B1G freshmen in kills per set (3.64) and points per set (4.10) through 18 B1G matches
- Ranks #3 all-time in kills (379) and kills per set (3.48) by an MSU freshman#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/ge3d2cdjhe
