Sunday, August 27
Conway, Ark.
6 PM
Michigan State University
1-2,0-0Big Ten
3
at
0
Central Arkansas
1-3,0-0ASUN
1
2
3
F
Michigan St.
25
25
25
3
Central Ark.
7
18
19
0
Kelly’s Career Night Sparks Spartan Volleyball Past Central Arkansas
8/27/2023 8:46:00 PM | Volleyball
CONWAY, Ark. – Michigan State volleyball got back on track Sunday night defeating Central Arkansas from the compact and chaotic Prince Arena, 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-19), to wrap up its season-opening road trip down south.
Junior Grace Kelly came off the bench with energy depositing a career-high 12 kills for the Spartans. Sophomore Evie Doezema joined her in the career-best club with five blocks while making her first start of the season.
MSU newcomers freshman Cameron Berger and fifth-year Amani McArthur also had key performances for Michigan State on Sunday night. Berger made her first career start and showed up with 26 assists, allowing Spartan attackers to hit .448 off her sets. McArthur posted five blocks in big moments for MSU.
Michigan State out-hit the Sugar Bears .398 to .047, posting 39 kills to just 23 for Central Arkansas. The Spartans made the most of their size, out-blocking UCA 10-0. It was Michigan State's first match without its opponent scoring via block since September 1, 2012 in a 3-0 win over Dartmouth.
Other key performances came from freshmen Karolina Staniszewska and Taylah Holdem, and senior Nalani Iosia. All three finished with a match-high eight digs, while Staniszewska added eight kills to narrowly miss out on her second double-double of the weekend. Iosia added three service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michigan State led by as many as 18 points in the first set as the Spartans went on to win, 25-7. Five of Central Arkansas' seven points came by way of MSU service error as Michigan State continued to serve aggressively. Berger connected well with MSU's hitters in the first with 12 assists on Michigan State's 13 kills. The Spartans hit a blistering .867 in the first with no attacking errors.
The Spartans led 12-3 to open the second set, but a lengthy 15-6 run by the Sugar Bears brought UCA back into the mix down one at 18-17 heading into the later portion of the set. Michigan State got back on track out of a timeout however ending the set on a 7-1 run to take the second. MSU still hit .419 in the much closer second frame with 14 kills and just one attacking error on 31 attempts. Kelly had a whopping six kills for the Spartans in the second bringing big energy off the bench.
Set three was close early as Michigan State led just 12-10 before calling a timeout. MSU used that timeout to stop Central Arkansas' momentum, going on a 6-1 run out of the break to lead 18-11. UCA's Gabby Tuiaana took matters into her own hands though, scoring three straight to force MSU's second timeout of the set with the Spartans leading 18-14. Kelly once again came up big for the Spartans with three key kills down the stretch to help Michigan State take set three, 25-19.
UP NEXT
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.
Junior Grace Kelly came off the bench with energy depositing a career-high 12 kills for the Spartans. Sophomore Evie Doezema joined her in the career-best club with five blocks while making her first start of the season.
MSU newcomers freshman Cameron Berger and fifth-year Amani McArthur also had key performances for Michigan State on Sunday night. Berger made her first career start and showed up with 26 assists, allowing Spartan attackers to hit .448 off her sets. McArthur posted five blocks in big moments for MSU.
Michigan State out-hit the Sugar Bears .398 to .047, posting 39 kills to just 23 for Central Arkansas. The Spartans made the most of their size, out-blocking UCA 10-0. It was Michigan State's first match without its opponent scoring via block since September 1, 2012 in a 3-0 win over Dartmouth.
Other key performances came from freshmen Karolina Staniszewska and Taylah Holdem, and senior Nalani Iosia. All three finished with a match-high eight digs, while Staniszewska added eight kills to narrowly miss out on her second double-double of the weekend. Iosia added three service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michigan State led by as many as 18 points in the first set as the Spartans went on to win, 25-7. Five of Central Arkansas' seven points came by way of MSU service error as Michigan State continued to serve aggressively. Berger connected well with MSU's hitters in the first with 12 assists on Michigan State's 13 kills. The Spartans hit a blistering .867 in the first with no attacking errors.
The Spartans led 12-3 to open the second set, but a lengthy 15-6 run by the Sugar Bears brought UCA back into the mix down one at 18-17 heading into the later portion of the set. Michigan State got back on track out of a timeout however ending the set on a 7-1 run to take the second. MSU still hit .419 in the much closer second frame with 14 kills and just one attacking error on 31 attempts. Kelly had a whopping six kills for the Spartans in the second bringing big energy off the bench.
Set three was close early as Michigan State led just 12-10 before calling a timeout. MSU used that timeout to stop Central Arkansas' momentum, going on a 6-1 run out of the break to lead 18-11. UCA's Gabby Tuiaana took matters into her own hands though, scoring three straight to force MSU's second timeout of the set with the Spartans leading 18-14. Kelly once again came up big for the Spartans with three key kills down the stretch to help Michigan State take set three, 25-19.
UP NEXT
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.
Team Stats
MSU
UCA
Kills
40
23
Errors
6
19
Attempts
83
86
Hitting %
.410
.047
Points
56.0
24.0
Assists
31
15
Aces
6
1
Blocks
10
0
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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