Volleyball to Honor Seniors Against Northwestern
11/26/2024
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball will celebrate its senior class on Wednesday night following the conclusion of its 6:00 PM match against Northwestern. The Spartans are back in action later in the week for a 9:00 PM ET match at No. 7-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday, November 30.
Wednesday's match will be streamed live on B1G+ while Saturday's will be televised nationally on Big Ten Network. Fans can tune into John Kreger's call of the action on MSUSpartans.com or via the Michigan State Athletics app for Wednesday's match.
Tomorrow we celebrate our senior class!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 26, 2024
The impact this class has had on Michigan State Volleyball will be felt for years to come. The hard-work and dedication that they have shown over their time at MSU is the perfect example of the Will of a Spartan! #GoGreen |… pic.twitter.com/62B9G5l34k
A Saturday sweep for the Spartans! #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/nZVQnwZdeA
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 24, 2024
NOTES TO KNOW
SERIES HISTORY
Northwestern
- Michigan State is 44-38 all-time against Northwestern including 24-14 in East Lansing. This is the first meeting against the Wildcats this season.
- The Spartans have won six of the last 10 meetings with Northwestern including a three-match winning streak in 2022 through 2023. Northwestern won the last meeting on Oct. 7, 2023 in five sets.
- MSU defeated Northwestern in Evanston last year, 3-2. Taylah Holdem paced the Spartans with 25 kills and 14 digs in the victory.
Wisconsin
- Michigan State is 28-58 all-time against Wisconsin and 7-30 when playing the Badgers in Madison.
- Wisconsin has won nine straight against MSU with the Spartans last win coming on Oct. 7, 2017 in East lansing, 3-1.
- MSU then took down the No. 7-ranked Badgers behind 16 kills each from Autumn Bailey and Holly Toliver. Bailey added 13 digs for the double-double and Rachel Minarick had 52 assists.
IOSIA SELECTED IN PVF DRAFT
Senior libero Nalani Iosia was selected in Monday's 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation draft.
Iosia was selected with the seventh pick of the fifth round (39th overall) by the Orlando Valkyries.
Iosia becomes the third Spartan to go pro under head coach Leah Johnson, and the first to get drafted by the PVF, joining Zoe Nunez ('23) and Amani McArthur ('24).
Iosia was one of 16 B1G players selected and four liberos taken.
Orlando is coached by former USC associate head coach Amy Pauly.
Iosia's cousin, USC setter Mia Tuaniga, was also selected in the PVF draft at pick 27 by the Atlanta Vibe.
Orlando finished 8-16 in the league's inaugural season in 2024.
IT’S OFFICIAL!!!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 25, 2024
Nalani is going pro ??
Read more here: https://t.co/4tbqaFWE3z#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/FXPMJVgTZS
IN THE B1G RANKINGS
Nalani Iosia is #1 in digs/set in the B1G at 4.56 and ranks #1 in total digs with 479. Iosia is #1 in B1G only matches with 4.65 digs/set on 302 total digs. Last week Iosia ranked #1 in digs/set with 5.67 on 34 total digs.
Zuzanna Kulig ranks #2 in the B1G in blocks thus far at 1.45 blocks/set, only behind Purdue's Raven Colvin (1.58). Kulig's total blocks (146) rank second in the conference behind Colvin's 160, and her solo blocks (26) lead the league. In B1G only matches Kulig ranks #3 in blocks/set with 1.42. Kulig is #9 in the B1G in overall season hitting at .350 (134-25-311).
Aliyah Moore was #3 in hitting last week with a .560 hitting percentage (16-2-25).
Michigan State was #2 in aces per set in the B1G last week at 2.00 (12 total) with three Spartans ranking in the individual Top 10 led by Rachel Muisenga's 0.67 aces/set.
KASH MONEY
Over her last 12 matches junior right side hitter Akasha Anderson leads MSU with 4.95 kills/set and 4.39 points/set on .252 hitting.
Anderson has posted 10 or more kills in nine of her last 12 matches, with a career-high tying 26 kills in a win over #16 USC and 24 kills in a four set match against Ohio State on Nov. 3. Anderson tallied a career-best 30.5 total points against USC.
Anderson hit .400 on 20 attempts against Maryland on Nov. 23 with 11 kills and just three errors.
Anderson is much improved as a blocker this season averaging a career-best 0.61 blocks/set and 0.69 blocks/set since moving to the right side.
LAST ONE, BEST ONE
Fifth-year libero Nalani Iosia saved her best for last, averaging a career-high 4.56 digs per set. Her previous career-high was 4.16 in 2023.
Iosia posted a career-best 34 digs against Ohio State on Nov. 3, the most digs by a B1G libero this season. It's the most digs by an MSU player ever in a four set match and the third-most digs in a match at MSU all time.
If the season ended today, Iosia's 4.56 digs/set would rank No. 6 in the program history book for a single season.
Iosia's 4.24 career digs/set at MSU is good for third all-time in the Green & White.
Iosia is No. 4 in career digs at MSU and now has 1,429 in a Spartan jersey. Jill Krumm is No. 3 with 1,466 career digs from 1986-89.
Iosia ranks No. 25 in active career dig leaders among all DI players with 1,983. Iosia is one the most experienced players in DI ranking No. 1 in matches played (149) and No. 13 in sets played (530). Iosia is the career digs leader among active B1G players that have played at least one season in the conference (1,983).
KULIG AS A CUCUMBER
Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig inserted herself into the conversation as one of the best in the country.
Kulig ranks No. 13 nationally and No. 3 in the B1G in blocks per set (1.45).
Kulig's 146 total blocks rank No. 16 nationally and No. 2 in the B1G.
Kulig posted a new career-high 12 blocks against Illinois on Oct. 12, 2024.
12 blocks in a match is the fourth-most single match blocks in program history and was last accomplished by Alexis Mathews on Nov. 24, 2010 against Michigan.
Kulig's 1.45 blocks/set would rank No. 7 in program history for a single season. No Spartan has posted 1.40 blocks/set since 2016 (Alyssa Garvelink, 1.40).
Kulig's current career 1.28 blocks/set would rank No. 3 in program history.
Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson announced the third signing class of her tenure last week on National Signing Day. The Spartans covered all of their bases in the Class of 2025 signing a setter, libero, middle blocker and outside hitter. MSU once again tapped into its overseas contacts with the additions of setter Kalea Norton (Auckland, New Zealand) and outside hitter Caroline Formankova (Slany, Czech Republic), in addition to domestic signees libero Olivia Durst (Brookfield, Wis.) and middle blocker Leela Ormsby (Billings, Mont.).
New Zealand ?? East Lansing
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 13, 2024
Kalea Norton is a Spartan! A true competitor, we cannot wait to see Kalea step in to the Big Ten Conference! #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/3sKo0hez2Z
A defensive burst from Durst!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 13, 2024
No stranger to winning at the highest levels, we are so excited to get Olivia in the gym. #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/tXSbnZNquG
Montana’s all-time block record holder is officially a Spartan!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 13, 2024
Welcome home, Leela!#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/7CLrpXZNYA
Strong. Fiery. Powerful.
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 14, 2024
3 words that coach Johnson has used to describe the final piece of our 2025 Spartans puzzle!
Welcome home, Caroline!#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/5PjoFHwdK9
Plenty more is happening in Breslin this month! We're excited to be back playing in front of you all! #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/z7J2xUgX14
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 31, 2024
