Volleyball Set for Split B1G Weekend
9/28/2023
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball program is back in action for a pair of Big Ten conference match-ups this weekend, first traveling to Evanston, Ill. for an 8:00 p.m. ET meeting with Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 29 before returning to East Lansing to face Rutgers at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 inside the Breslin Student Events Center.
Sunday night's match against Rutgers will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network, while Friday's match can be viewed live on B1G+. Connor Onion (PxP) and MSU volleyball alum Elena Shklyar '21 (analyst) have the Sunday night call on BTN. Fans can listen in live via MSUSpartans.com with John Kreger calling the action.
About last night ??
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) September 23, 2023
If you’re like us, you’ll want to relive this match over and over #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/6E3WGLObZ2
NOTES TO KNOW
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern is 6-6 to open the 2023 season and started B1G play 0-2 with losses to Wisconsin and Penn State last weekend. The Wildcats non-conference slate was highlighted by a 3-1 win over San Diego who reached the NCAA Semifinal in 2022.
Northwestern ranks No. 38 nationally in hitting percentage at .262, but No. 246 in opponent hitting percentage at .226. The Wildcats are No. 128 in blocks per set (2.14), No. 269 in digs per set (12.67) and No. 148 in kills per set (12.50).
Leilani Dodson is hitting .426 which ranks No. 23 nationally. Dodson is third on the team in kills with 99, behind Julia Sangiacomo (117) and Maddy Chinn (100). Dodson also leads the team in blocks with 49 on 1.17 per set.
Alexa Rousseau is back this season for Northwestern and leads the team in assists with 384 on 9.14 per set. Rousseau can attack as well with 43 kills on the season. Ellee Stinson is the team dig leader at 181 on 4.31 digs per set, which leads the Big Ten.
ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is 8-5 and has opened the B1G season 0-3 following losses to Penn State, Purdue and Maryland. The Scarlet Knights faced Maryland earlier this week and were defeated by a final score of 3-1. Rutgers opened the season 8-1 with a P5 victory over Virginia, but have fallen in four straight starting with a 3-2 loss to Princeton on Sept. 15
Rutgers went 1-1 against the Spartans in 2022, defeating MSU at Jersey Mike's Arena 3-2 before falling in East Lansing.
Alissa Kinkela leads Rutgers in kills with 157 on .355 hitting, following by Tina Grkovic with 108 kills hitting .359. Alyssa Nayar is the team leader in assists with 357, while Rutgers has flirted with a 6-2 at times using Chelsea Harvey and Georgia Lee who both average over 7.00 assists per set.
Madyson Chitty leads the Scarlet Knights in digs with 165 while Rikki Williams has posted 49 blocks (1.04 per set).
SERIES HISTORY
Northwestern
- Michigan State is 43-37 all-time against Northwestern and has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, including three of the last four.
- The Spartans are on a two-match winning streak against the Wildcats, sweeping Northwestern twice during the 2022 season.
- MSU last defeated Northwestern, 3-0, on Nov. 20, 2022. Emma Monks led with 13 kills and five blocks, while Aliyah Moore had 12 kills and Nalani Iosia had 18 digs. Zoe Nunez posted 35 assists.
Rutgers
- Michigan State is 14-3 against Rutgers all-time and is 8-2 when facing the Scarlet Knights at home. MSU is 7-3 in its last 10 matches against Rutgers.
- The Spartans split a pair of matches against Rutgers last season, losing in Piscataway (3-2) and winning in East Lansing (3-1).
- MSU last defeated Rutgers on Nov. 23, 2022. Rebecka Poljan led the team with 15 kills and eight blocks, while Maradith O'Gorman (12), Emma Monks (11) and Aliyah Moore (11) also had double-digit kills. Nalani Iosia had 20 digs in the match and Zoe Nunez had 41 assists.
HOLDEM HAS BIG WEEKEND
- Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem was among the top contenders for B1G Freshman of the Week after a pair of strong performances against Michigan and Illinois to open conference play.
- Holdem registered 38 kills (4.75 per set) and had 19 kills in each of MSU's matches, hitting a respectable .253 in the process.
- Holdem led the team and tied for the B1G lead in service aces last weekend with six, including four against Michigan.
- Holdem posted her first career double-double with 11 digs and 19 kills at Illinois.
Freshman OH Taylah Holdem had herself a weekend ??
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) September 25, 2023
On Friday she had 19 kills, hitting .417 with 6 digs and 4 aces. Then on Sunday she followed up with 19 more kills, 11 digs and 2 service aces!#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/pQ58NWF81H
LAST WEEK IN SPARTAN VOLLEYBALL
- Michigan State went 1-1 to open B1G action last weekend on the road.
- The Spartans first defeated Michigan, 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-22) on Friday night in Ann Arbor.
- It was MSU's first victory over Michigan since Oct. 18, 2017 and the first win in Ann Arbor for the program since Nov. 27, 2013, which was also the last time the Spartans swept Michigan.
- Michigan State started B1G play 1-0 for the first time since 2017 when the team defeated #5 Wisconsin on Sept. 22, 2017.
LAST WEEK IN SPARTAN VOLLEYBALL
- The Spartans were defeated on Sunday in a tightly contested battle against Illinois, 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 13-15).
- Holdem (19), Aliyah Moore (15) and Grace Kelly (12) all finished with double-digit kills, with Holdem recording a double-double.
- Julia Bishop had a double-double against the Illini with 24 assists and 12 digs.
- Amani McArthur led the Spartans with 10 total blocks over the weekend (3 solo, 7 assisted).
- Nalani Iosia had 27 digs averaging 3.38 per set.
This Sunday we invite all MSU Staff and Faculty to our match against Rutgers. We thank you for all that you do to support the students on campus! #GoGreen | #Honor pic.twitter.com/QfpnpRFvso
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) September 26, 2023
SPARTAN STATISTICAL RANKINGS
- Michigan State ranks No. 36 nationally in team hitting percentage (.264).
- The Spartans have held opponents to .156 hitting, which ranks No. 56 nationally.
- MSU is No. 30 nationally in aces per set at 1.93, ranking No. 3 in the B1G.
- Michigan State is No. 4 in the B1G in assists per set, No. 4 in kills per set and No. 4 in hitting %.
GRACK ATTACK
- Junior outside hitter Grace Kelly, known as Grack among her coaches and teammates, has been a bright spot for the Spartans this season.
- Despite having not started a match for MSU, Kelly ranks second on the team in kills (86), averaging 2.46 kills per set on .295 hitting.
- Kelly saw action in just eight matches as a sophomore.
- Kelly brings a high-energy presence off the bench for MSU and has thrived in Michigan State's higher tempo offense compared to 2022.
We’re back in Breslin during the month of October. Don’t miss out on amazing volleyball and some pretty cool promotions ??#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/Jau8G6iGPh
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) September 25, 2023
WHO'S UP NEXT?
Michigan State remains at the Breslin Center through next weekend when it welcomes No. 2-ranked Nebraska and Northwestern to town. The Spartans will face Nebraska at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 before meeting Northwestern at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7. It's part of back-to-back weekend in which MSU will face the Cornhuskers, who host the Spartans in Lincoln on Friday, Oct. 13.
