Digging In: Spartan Volleyball Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day
2/6/2023 1:00:00 PM | Volleyball
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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Last Wednesday marked the 37th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), a day that inspires girls and women to play, be active and realize their full potential. What began in 1987 as a day in our nation's capital to recognize women's sports has become much more as we unite to celebrate the achievements of women in sports while pushing for further advancements in equity.
Michigan State's NGWSD celebration has become a week-long event with the Spartans hosting home events for three women's sports last week (women's tennis, gymnastics, women's basketball). Michigan State's volleyball program attended all three events, cheering on their peers from the stands.
Throughout the week, MSU volleyball had the opportunity to exercise the serve portion of its core team values (Serve, Grow, Honor) among the greater Lansing community by setting up at a pair of NGWSD youth clinics. Along with other women's sports on campus, volleyball's student-athletes interacted with hundreds of kids from Ingham County and beyond to sign autographs and teach basic volleyball skills like setting and passing.
We had so much fun meeting so many young Spartans and cheering on our fellow female athletes at this past weekend's National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrations 🟢⚪️#GoGreen | #SpartanFamilypic.twitter.com/JPUNx7OCkU
Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson has been an advocate for women's empowerment throughout her career and instills those values in her student-athletes and staff. Johnson's one-year anniversary with the Spartan volleyball program is coming up on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
"I want to continue to be someone who provides space for women, empowers them, reminds them to find their strengths and lean in, that they deserve a seat at every table," Johnson said at her introductory press conference last February.
WEEKLY PRACTICE CHECK IN
In week two of off-season training, MSU volleyball continued working on the offensive side of the net with an emphasis on tempo and timing. As a reminder, outside of the declared playing season student-athletes are limited to eight hours of athletic activities each week and no more than four of those eight hours can be dedicated to skill instruction.
The Spartans training focus will shift to the defensive side of the net in week three. Michigan State's coaching staff features three former liberos, so it should be an exciting week of practice.
Head coach Leah Johnson was a standout at Missouri State from 2000-03
MEET THE SPARTANS
One of Michigan State's three newcomers during the spring semester is freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem from Christchurch, New Zealand. Holdem is one of two early enrollees for the Spartans joining freshman setter Cameron Berger.
"In New Zealand we graduate from high school in November so I jumped at the opportunity to enroll at Michigan State ahead of when freshmen would typically join the team," Holdem said. "This will put me at an advantage when it comes to adjusting to life in America and learning our systems before the season starts."
Holdem takes a swing at practice on Jan. 26, 2023
Holdem has used her first month on campus to adjust after making a big life change. Prior to her official visit, Holdem had never been to the United States. As spring scrimmages draw near, Holdem is most excited to travel with the team and see more parts of the US. Information on MSU's spring scrimmages will be announced at a later date.
"The lifestyle of going to practice first and then going to class later has been the biggest adjustment so far. In New Zealand school started at 8 a.m. and we practiced after classes ended. The team has been amazing helping me adjust and are always checking in on me to see how I'm doing."
Digging In is a notebook for the Michigan State volleyball program written by assistant director of athletic communications Austin Overmann, who is entering his second season as primary contact for the team.
