Long Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
9/15/2025 4:00:00 PM | Volleyball
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Michigan State volleyball setter Malayah Long was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.Â
The Lincoln, Nebraska, native is the first Spartan to earn Freshman of the Week honors since current junior Taylah Holdem on Nov. 6, 2023, and the first freshman setter from MSU to win the award since Julia Bishop on Nov. 8, 2021.Â
Long helped MSU to a 3-0 week last week with road wins over Western Michigan and Kennesaw State and a neutral-site victory over previously unbeaten Appalachian State. She totaled a conference-leading 147 assists and averaged 11.31 assists per set over MSU's three matches, posting a double-double (assists-digs) in each contest. Overall, Long has recorded four double-doubles this season, all coming in MSU's last four matches.Â
Against Western Michigan, Long tallied a career-high 56 assists, the most in a match for a Spartan since Elena Shklyar (58) against Maryland on Oct. 12, 2018, and added a then-career high 14 digs and four total blocks. She followed that up with a 41-assist and 10-dig performance while adding a career-high six blocks at Kennesaw State and wrapped up the week with 50 assists and a career-high 16 digs in a five-set win over Appalachian State.Â
Long currently ranks second in the conference in assists per set (10.85) and sixth in total assists (282). Â
MSU (7-0) is off to its best start since 2012 and hosts the third annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance this week (Sept. 18-20) inside Jenison Field House to close non-conference play. The Spartans begin play on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m, hosting Binghamton on B1G+.Â
