Spartans Set to Open Season in Arkansas
8/22/2023
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball enters its second season under the direction of head coach Leah Johnson in 2023 looking to build upon the foundation that was set in 2022.
The Spartans are faced with a tough test right out of the gate as MSU takes on No. 25-ranked Arkansas at the Razorback Classic on Friday, August 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET inside Barnhill Arena. MSU takes on Tulsa at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 in its second of two matches in Fayetteville, Ark. Before heading home the Spartans travel southeast to Conway, Ark. where they'll meet Central Arkansas at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 27.
Our team can't wait to get on the court and show off what we've been working on all off-season. We've been working really hard in practice and have a lot to prove opening the season against a quality ranked opponent.Junior Setter Julia Bishop
NOTES TO KNOW
ABOUT #25 ARKANSAS
Arkansas opens the 2023 season ranked #25 in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Coaches Poll after finishing the 2022 campaign 21-9 with an 11-7 mark in the SEC. The Razorbacks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2022 after defeating Utah State in round one. Arkansas was defeated by future B1G foe Oregon in round two, 3-1.
Arkansas returns starting outside hitters Taylor Head, Jillian Gillen and Maggie Cartwright, the three finished as the Top 3 in kills for Arkansas last season. Hannah Hogue returns at setter after starting 17-of-30 matches a year ago and leading the team in assists. Libero Courtney Jackson is also back for the Razorbacks after leading the team in digs. Starting middles Tatum Shipes and Abigail Archibong each departed after last season. Incoming transfers Sania Petties and Laura Ehieze will look to pick up where they left off.
I'm super excited to play this weekend. I've waited so long to play in my first official game as a Spartan and I can't believe it's finally here. I'm excited to travel with my teammates and get my first taste of what the college volleyball atmosphere is like in America.Freshman Outside Hitter Taylah Holdem (Christchurch, New Zealand)
ABOUT TULSA
Tulsa finished 2022 with the same record as the Spartans, 13-18, going 6-13 in conference play. Tulsa was 0-1 against Big Ten opponents in 2022, falling to then No. 1 Nebraska, 3-0. Tulsa was ranked fifth of seven team in the West Division in the Preseason American Coaches Poll.
The Golden Hurricanes return all seven starters from last season, including fifth year Kayley Cassaday who was tabbed a Preseason All-AAC selection. Cassaday earned First team All-Conference honors last season after posting 525 kills and 251 digs. Both setters return for Tulsa, with Avery Kalsu and Brayden Hipp combining for 1,153 assists last season. Marta Pecalli, who averaged 4.90 digs per set for the Golden Hurricanes a year ago also returns. Middle blocker Arianna Mongare (60 blocks, team high) and outsides Bailey Rowe (225 kills) and Lauren Eitler (182 kills) also return.
ABOUT CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Central Arkansas went 19-11 overall and 11-5 in ASUN play in 2022, falling to Lipscomb in the ASUN Tournament quarterfinals. UCA was picked to finish fourth in the 2023 Preseason Coaches Poll. Central Arkansas won 12 of its final 16 games last season after a 7-7 start to the season. Sunday's game against MSU will be the first time UCA has hosted a Power Five team in a stand-alone match.
UCA returns a majority of its lineup from 2022 minus just Kendall Haywood (77 blocks, team high) and Alexis Stumbough (226 kills, 259 digs). Setter Caylan Koons returns after an All-ASUN Freshman Team honor in 2022. Koons posted a team-high 890 assists as a freshman. Jamiryana Hall, Mackenzie Vernon, Macy Blackburn, Laci Bohannan and Alexis McDaniel are among other key returners.
SERIES HISTORY
ARKANSAS
Michigan State leads the all-time series, 1-0
MSU defeated Arkansas, 3-1, on Sep. 10, 2004 at the Green Mill Restaurant Classic in Wichita, Kan.
Tulsa
Saturday marks the first ever meeting between Michigan State and the Golden Hurricanes.
Central Arkansas
Sunday marks the first ever meeting between MSU and the Sugar Bears.
SPARTANS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
- Friday, Aug. 25 marks the first time Michigan State has opened the season with a ranked opponent since 2015 (excluding shortened 2020 B1G season). In 2015 the Spartans opened at No. 15 Kentucky.
- Michigan State last defeated a ranked opponent on Oct. 20, 2021, defeating No. 7 Purdue on the road, 3-2.
- The Spartans have 101 all-time victories over ranked opponents.
- Head Coach Leah Johnson last led a team to a road win over a ranked opponent on Jan. 23, 2021 as her Illinois State squad defeated No. 20 Marquette, 3-2.
WHO'S BACK?
- Michigan State returns 11 players in 2023, ranking third-most in the Big Ten behind Indiana and Wisconsin (12).
- Six of those returners started in 10 or more matches for MSU in 2022, including Maradith O'Gorman, Nil Okur, Evie Doezema, Aliyah Moore, Jayhlin Swain, Julia Bishop. Nalani Iosia also returns for the Spartans.
- O'Gorman, Okur and Doezema all started in 20+ matches for the Spartans in 2022. Jayhlin Swain was the only Spartan to play in every set last season, while Iosia missed just one.
- Doezema played on the outside in 2022, but will transition to middle blocker in 2023.
- Avery Horejsi and Selin Aslayan also made starts for the Spartans in 2022 and are joined by Grace Kelly and Rachel Muisenga as other returners.
THE NEWCOMERS
- Amani McArthur joins the Spartans after playing four seasons at Charlotte. McArthur was a First Team All-C-USA selection and averaged 2.00 kills and 1.20 blocks per set over her final three years at Charlotte while hitting .372 in the middle.
- Karolina Staniszewska arrives from Poland after being named the Best Outside Hitter at the 2022 U19 European Championships.
- Setter Cameron Berger ranked as a Top 100 incoming recruit in the Class of 2023 by PrepDig.
- Outside hitter Taylah Holdem brings strong passing skills and a wicked serve to the team utilizing her beach volleyball background.
- Middles Kaya Hood (6-5) and Zuzanna Kulig (6-4) add size to the 2023 Spartan squad.
PLAYER NOT A PIECE
- MSU volleyball is partnering with renowned mindset and peak performance coach Seth Makowsky in 2023, adding another wrinkle to the program's mental training regimen.
- Makowsky uses chess as a vehicle to help top performers throughout the world get better at what they do, with his client list including NFL quarterbacks, MVP baseball players, Olympians, Fortune 500 CEO's and NCAA champions.
- Makowsky's training is geared towards transforming how athletes think and make decisions in real time, helping the team make quicker decisions, implement game plan and in-game adjustments faster and communicate in match under pressure.
Put the jerseys on and got after it this past weekend. Can’t wait to do this in front of you all soon ??#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/NA6Wd8pGml
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) August 22, 2023
WHO'S UP NEXT?
Following the conclusion of Michigan State's road trip to Arkansas, the Spartans will return home for the inaugural Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance. Belmont, Syracuse and Delaware State will arrive on the Banks of the Red Cedar next week for two days of volleyball action inside the Breslin Student Events Center. The KDI-AOI is named after the recently retired executive director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), women's sports pioneer and Michigan State Athletics Hall of Famer, Kathy DeBoer.
DeBoer was a dual-sport star at MSU on the women's basketball and volleyball teams. Arriving on campus in 1975, DeBoer captured back-to-back Big Ten titles with the volleyball program in 1975 and 1976. On the basketball court she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy in 1978 and ranks No. 4 all-time in career rebounding average. After graduation, DeBoer went on to coach collegiate volleyball at Ferris State and Kentucky, winning four SEC titles and earning both SEC and National Coach of the Year honors before taking her position with the AVCA.
