Digging In: Spring Scrimmages on Horizon for Spartan Volleyball
3/20/2023 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – 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.
SPARTANS SET SPRING SCHEDULE
Spring scrimmages are right around the corner for Michigan State volleyball as the team is smack dab in the middle of its first true offseason under Johnson. The Spartans will face a total of nine teams on four dates in preparation for the 2023 campaign.
This is a big change for the Spartans, who due to limited spring roster numbers in 2022 were unable to participate in full scrimmages. Michigan State had just eight student-athletes (one setter, one pin, four middles, two DS/Ls) on its roster last spring prior to an influx of newcomers in August.
MSU currently boasts a spring roster of 15 with four additional players set to join over the summer in transfer Amani McArthur and freshmen Makya Clayton, Karolina Staniszewska and Zuzanna Kulig. Three 2023 newcomers opted to enroll prior to the Spring 2023 semester and have already been practicing with the team (junior Kaya Hood and freshmen Taylah Holdem and Cameron Berger).
"This year we'll play nine opponents over four dates, and we have a roster where our student-athletes can play their natural position," Johnson said. "We're building up for a true competitive schedule this spring that will provide our student-athletes a chance to work themselves into competition mode. I'm excited to see the work they've put in and for them to see the transfer of the work they put in."
MSU's spring slate will see them challenge a pair of formidable regional opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in Bowling Green (x2) and Ball State. Both programs were NCAA tournament qualifiers last season. Michigan State will also take on B1G foes Indiana and Michigan. Other regional teams the Spartans will see include Dayton, Oakland, Illinois-Chicago, Toledo and Western Michigan.
"We wanted a tough schedule, as tough as we could get within our region," Johnson said.
2023 Spartan Volleyball Spring Schedule
3/25/2023 – Ball State Spring Open (Muncie, Ind.)
11:35 a.m. – vs. Dayton
12:40 p.m. – vs. Ball State
2:50 p.m. – vs. Indiana
*All matches are two sets
*Not open to the public, family only
4/1/2023 – Bowling Green (Bowling Green, Ohio)
11:00 a.m. – Competitive drills
12:30 p.m. – Full Scrimmage
*Open to the public
4/8/2023 – Team Pineapple Collegiate Volleyball Showcase (Angola, Ind.)
10:00 a.m. – vs. Oakland
12:30 p.m. – vs. Illinois-Chicago
3:30 p.m. – vs. Toledo
*All matches are two sets
*Open to the public
4/15/2023 – Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Showcase (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
11:30 a.m. – vs. Western Michigan (2-3 sets)
12:45 p.m. – vs. Bowling Green (2-3 sets)
5:30 p.m. – vs. Michigan (3-5 sets)
*Public Autograph Session @ 4:30 p.m.
*Open to the Public
COACHES CORNER
Johnson Back in the Gym
Head coach Leah Johnson returned to the Spartan practice gym in late February following the birth of her daughter Rosalind (or Roz for short) in early January. Johnson lauded the leadership of her two captains who helped maintain the culture and drive of the program in her absence. Johnson's leave was also an opportunity for technical coordinator Shea Decker-Jacoby to step into more of an on-court coaching role during the team's 8-hour practice segment.
"I thought Nalani (Iosia) and Julia (Bishop) did a great job taking leadership of the culture of the gym on my behalf," Johnson said. "Now that I'm back it has been awesome to see the gains as well as the comfort the team has built with (assistant coach) Zheng (Xiang), which has allowed him to have a voice and an impact on the program from day one."
The rapport Johnson's staff has established with the student-athletes allowed for Johnson to ease herself back into the gym rather than diving in headfirst.
"At first I came in for two days and just watched practice to see the team and get a sense for where we were," Johnson said. "My first full week back was before spring break and that was when I started implementing things for some trial and error. It took me two weeks to transition back fully, to get my language back, to get my eye back, for the team to get used to hearing my voice again."
Johnson's team has embraced Roz as one of their own and have even learned some life lessons from having her around in the gym over the last few weeks.
"Initially she was certainly the center of attention at practice, but there's something about children that alleviates stress and doesn't allow you to live in your extremes because they require so much of us," Johnson said. "Children inject levity into the situation so you can take a step back and see there's more important things in life and I think that has benefited our program. I know it has benefited me as a coach from the very beginning with my first child, but now the players see we can work our tail off, we can have it out on the court and the next moment we're showing kindness, love and appreciation."
Johnson and Roz even hit the recruiting trail together this past weekend.
Barreau Visits Spartan Signees in Poland
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Jake Barreau spent his spring break in Mielec, Poland, visiting 2023 Spartan volleyball signees Karolina Staniszewska and Zuzanna Kulig. It's the first time Staniszewska and Kulig have met a member of the Spartan coaching staff face-to-face and it was a valuable trip to increase their level of comfort with moving over 4,600 miles from home.
"I spent 10 days there and got to see them compete three times which was awesome," Barreau said. "The most important thing was them getting to put a face to the interactions. They're going to feel much more comfortable coming here having gotten to spend some time with me. I also got to meet both of their parents and some grandparents. Even though they don't speak a ton of English I think they feel more comfortable sending their daughters thousands of miles away. I got a better feel for who they are as leaders and people."
WHO RUN THE WORLD? GIRLS
With March being Women's History Month it's worth noting that Michigan State volleyball boasts a program chock-full of impactful women outside of head coach Leah Johnson.
DeBoer, who was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame last fall, recently retired as executive director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, a position she held since 2006. College volleyball is in a much better place due to the efforts of people like DeBoer, who worked tirelessly to make volleyball matter.
After her retirement from collegiate coaching last winter, George was recently hired as head coach for the Pro Volleyball Federation team based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Read Previous Installments of Digging In
Jan. 27, 2023 – Spartan Volleyball Opens Off-Season Training
Feb. 6, 2023 – Spartan Volleyball Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day
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.
SPARTANS SET SPRING SCHEDULE
Spring scrimmages are right around the corner for Michigan State volleyball as the team is smack dab in the middle of its first true offseason under Johnson. The Spartans will face a total of nine teams on four dates in preparation for the 2023 campaign.
This is a big change for the Spartans, who due to limited spring roster numbers in 2022 were unable to participate in full scrimmages. Michigan State had just eight student-athletes (one setter, one pin, four middles, two DS/Ls) on its roster last spring prior to an influx of newcomers in August.
MSU currently boasts a spring roster of 15 with four additional players set to join over the summer in transfer Amani McArthur and freshmen Makya Clayton, Karolina Staniszewska and Zuzanna Kulig. Three 2023 newcomers opted to enroll prior to the Spring 2023 semester and have already been practicing with the team (junior Kaya Hood and freshmen Taylah Holdem and Cameron Berger).
"This year we'll play nine opponents over four dates, and we have a roster where our student-athletes can play their natural position," Johnson said. "We're building up for a true competitive schedule this spring that will provide our student-athletes a chance to work themselves into competition mode. I'm excited to see the work they've put in and for them to see the transfer of the work they put in."
MSU's spring slate will see them challenge a pair of formidable regional opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in Bowling Green (x2) and Ball State. Both programs were NCAA tournament qualifiers last season. Michigan State will also take on B1G foes Indiana and Michigan. Other regional teams the Spartans will see include Dayton, Oakland, Illinois-Chicago, Toledo and Western Michigan.
"We wanted a tough schedule, as tough as we could get within our region," Johnson said.
2023 Spartan Volleyball Spring Schedule
3/25/2023 – Ball State Spring Open (Muncie, Ind.)
11:35 a.m. – vs. Dayton
12:40 p.m. – vs. Ball State
2:50 p.m. – vs. Indiana
*All matches are two sets
*Not open to the public, family only
4/1/2023 – Bowling Green (Bowling Green, Ohio)
11:00 a.m. – Competitive drills
12:30 p.m. – Full Scrimmage
*Open to the public
4/8/2023 – Team Pineapple Collegiate Volleyball Showcase (Angola, Ind.)
10:00 a.m. – vs. Oakland
12:30 p.m. – vs. Illinois-Chicago
3:30 p.m. – vs. Toledo
*All matches are two sets
*Open to the public
4/15/2023 – Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Showcase (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
11:30 a.m. – vs. Western Michigan (2-3 sets)
12:45 p.m. – vs. Bowling Green (2-3 sets)
5:30 p.m. – vs. Michigan (3-5 sets)
*Public Autograph Session @ 4:30 p.m.
*Open to the Public
Spring is here 🟢⚪️
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) March 20, 2023
We are back in action over the next few weeks as we continue to build on our spring training.
For more information head over to our website for the newest installment of Digging In! #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/W9zYoDpQWr
COACHES CORNER
Johnson Back in the Gym
Head coach Leah Johnson returned to the Spartan practice gym in late February following the birth of her daughter Rosalind (or Roz for short) in early January. Johnson lauded the leadership of her two captains who helped maintain the culture and drive of the program in her absence. Johnson's leave was also an opportunity for technical coordinator Shea Decker-Jacoby to step into more of an on-court coaching role during the team's 8-hour practice segment.
"I thought Nalani (Iosia) and Julia (Bishop) did a great job taking leadership of the culture of the gym on my behalf," Johnson said. "Now that I'm back it has been awesome to see the gains as well as the comfort the team has built with (assistant coach) Zheng (Xiang), which has allowed him to have a voice and an impact on the program from day one."
The rapport Johnson's staff has established with the student-athletes allowed for Johnson to ease herself back into the gym rather than diving in headfirst.
"At first I came in for two days and just watched practice to see the team and get a sense for where we were," Johnson said. "My first full week back was before spring break and that was when I started implementing things for some trial and error. It took me two weeks to transition back fully, to get my language back, to get my eye back, for the team to get used to hearing my voice again."
Johnson's team has embraced Roz as one of their own and have even learned some life lessons from having her around in the gym over the last few weeks.
"Initially she was certainly the center of attention at practice, but there's something about children that alleviates stress and doesn't allow you to live in your extremes because they require so much of us," Johnson said. "Children inject levity into the situation so you can take a step back and see there's more important things in life and I think that has benefited our program. I know it has benefited me as a coach from the very beginning with my first child, but now the players see we can work our tail off, we can have it out on the court and the next moment we're showing kindness, love and appreciation."
Johnson and Roz even hit the recruiting trail together this past weekend.
Mother AND Head Coach 💚
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) March 18, 2023
Coach Johnson (and Roz) are on the recruiting trail this weekend. #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/ph4c5moHaF
Barreau Visits Spartan Signees in Poland
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Jake Barreau spent his spring break in Mielec, Poland, visiting 2023 Spartan volleyball signees Karolina Staniszewska and Zuzanna Kulig. It's the first time Staniszewska and Kulig have met a member of the Spartan coaching staff face-to-face and it was a valuable trip to increase their level of comfort with moving over 4,600 miles from home.
"I spent 10 days there and got to see them compete three times which was awesome," Barreau said. "The most important thing was them getting to put a face to the interactions. They're going to feel much more comfortable coming here having gotten to spend some time with me. I also got to meet both of their parents and some grandparents. Even though they don't speak a ton of English I think they feel more comfortable sending their daughters thousands of miles away. I got a better feel for who they are as leaders and people."
WHO RUN THE WORLD? GIRLS
With March being Women's History Month it's worth noting that Michigan State volleyball boasts a program chock-full of impactful women outside of head coach Leah Johnson.
- Julee Burgess - Associate AD/Director of Sport Administration
- Shea Decker-Jacoby – Technical Coordinator
- Brittney Kimball – Brand Ambassador
- Dr. Jill Moschelli – Team Physician
- Shanteisha Pruitt – Athletic Trainer
- Casey Akenberger – Strength & Conditioning
- Madison Yourstone, RDN – Registered Dietician
- Meredith Norris – Academic Coordinator
- Lia Moore – Student Assistant Coach
- Lauren Rozelle – Team Manager
DeBoer, who was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame last fall, recently retired as executive director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, a position she held since 2006. College volleyball is in a much better place due to the efforts of people like DeBoer, who worked tirelessly to make volleyball matter.
After her retirement from collegiate coaching last winter, George was recently hired as head coach for the Pro Volleyball Federation team based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Read Previous Installments of Digging In
Jan. 27, 2023 – Spartan Volleyball Opens Off-Season Training
Feb. 6, 2023 – Spartan Volleyball Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day
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.
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