Thursday, September 11
Kennesaw, Ga.
6:30 PM
Michigan State University
at
Kennesaw State
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Spartans Head South for Kennesaw State Invitational
9/10/2025 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
KENNESAW, Ga. -Â Michigan State volleyball (5-0, 0-0 B1G) wraps its five-match road stretch this week at the Kennesaw State Invitational, taking on Kennesaw State on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. and Appalachian State in a neutral-site match on Friday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. inside Kennesaw State's VyStar Arena.
Thursday's match against Kennesaw State will stream on ESPN+. MSU's match against Appalachian State on Friday will not have a live stream.
The Spartans are coming off a 3-1 win at Western Michigan on Monday, Sept. 8. MSU hit .251 in that match and held the Broncos to .128 hitting while posting a season-high 68 kills.
Four Spartans registered career highs in MSU's win at Western Michigan. Junior outsite hitter Taylah Holdem totaled a career-high 26 kills on .375 hitting and added a season-high 11 digs to record her first double-double of the season, while senior opposite Evie Doezema tied a career-high 16 kills.Â
Redshirt sophomore libero Sarah Vellucci shattered her previous career high in digs (13) against the Broncos with 31, posting the third-best dig total in a four-set match in program history and the sixth-best total overall.Â
Redshirt freshman Malayah Long joined Holdem as the second Spartan to record a double-double against the Broncos, her second of the season and second in as many matches, with a career-high 56 assists and a career-high 14 digs. Her 56 assists were the most in a match by a Spartan since  Elena Shklyar tallied 58 against Maryland on Oct. 12, 2018.Â
ABOUT KENNESAW STATEÂ Â Â Â
Thursday will be the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and Owls. Kennesaw State is 4-1 this season and has won three straight, its only loss coming in a 3-1 decision against Arkansas on Aug. 30. The Owls return 2024 First Team All-Conference USA Selection Manu Johnsen to this year's team.
Keith Schunzelis in his 13th season leading the Owls.
ABOUT APP STATE
Friday's match will also be the first-ever in the series between MSU and App State. The Mountaineers are 6-0 this season after most recently defeating VCU and Virginia in five-set matches at Virginia's Cavalier Classic.
Head coach Chad Sutton is in his first season at App State.
UP NEXT
MSU returns home to host the Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto Owners Insurance in Jenison Field House from Sept. 18-20. The Spartans take on Binghamton in the first match of the invitational on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. All matches will stream on ESPN+.
Thursday's match against Kennesaw State will stream on ESPN+. MSU's match against Appalachian State on Friday will not have a live stream.
The Spartans are coming off a 3-1 win at Western Michigan on Monday, Sept. 8. MSU hit .251 in that match and held the Broncos to .128 hitting while posting a season-high 68 kills.
Four Spartans registered career highs in MSU's win at Western Michigan. Junior outsite hitter Taylah Holdem totaled a career-high 26 kills on .375 hitting and added a season-high 11 digs to record her first double-double of the season, while senior opposite Evie Doezema tied a career-high 16 kills.Â
Redshirt sophomore libero Sarah Vellucci shattered her previous career high in digs (13) against the Broncos with 31, posting the third-best dig total in a four-set match in program history and the sixth-best total overall.Â
Redshirt freshman Malayah Long joined Holdem as the second Spartan to record a double-double against the Broncos, her second of the season and second in as many matches, with a career-high 56 assists and a career-high 14 digs. Her 56 assists were the most in a match by a Spartan since  Elena Shklyar tallied 58 against Maryland on Oct. 12, 2018.Â
ABOUT KENNESAW STATEÂ Â Â Â
Thursday will be the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and Owls. Kennesaw State is 4-1 this season and has won three straight, its only loss coming in a 3-1 decision against Arkansas on Aug. 30. The Owls return 2024 First Team All-Conference USA Selection Manu Johnsen to this year's team.
Keith Schunzelis in his 13th season leading the Owls.
ABOUT APP STATE
Friday's match will also be the first-ever in the series between MSU and App State. The Mountaineers are 6-0 this season after most recently defeating VCU and Virginia in five-set matches at Virginia's Cavalier Classic.
Head coach Chad Sutton is in his first season at App State.
UP NEXT
MSU returns home to host the Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto Owners Insurance in Jenison Field House from Sept. 18-20. The Spartans take on Binghamton in the first match of the invitational on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. All matches will stream on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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