Sarah Vellucci Returns Home to Michigan State

By: Thomas Cobb

Sarah Vellucci opened Instagram last winter and boldly sent a direct message that reshaped her college volleyball career.

The redshirt sophomore libero and communication major from Novi was in the transfer portal, after two seasons at Long Beach State. She took a chance, reaching out to Michigan State's new head coach, Kristen Kelsay, in late December.

Kelsay was still packing up her place in Minneapolis when Vellucci's message came through. Vellucci said it was late in her transfer process, and she had been leaning toward other schools, but still contacted Kelsay directly.

A phone call followed, then a visit. Vellucci was committed to MSU by the time the visit ended.

"It was very fast, but we made a really good connection," Vellucci said.

This is a homecoming for Vellucci, back within an hour's drive of her family after two years on the West Coast, where her parents could only make it to one or two matches each season — and her grandparents had never seen her play in person.

The decision also marked a beginning for Kelsay. Her first commitment as head coach was a Michigan native returning to her roots: the kind of player and person she hopes to build a program around, and now an early contributor to a team off to its best start in more than a decade.

Vellucci's moment of bravery, to slide into Kelsay's DM's, even seems more significant now.

"She DM'ed me," said Kelsay, a two-time captain for MSU volleyball from 2010-13, "which I love, because if you know Sarah, that's not her."

Kelsay quickly confirmed what she'd heard from Vellucci's former coaches: she was an adept, reliable passer with sharp instincts and a steady presence to match. Vellucci was on campus in East Lansing within days, and the connection turned into Kelsay's first commitment as head coach.

Her decision came during an MSU hockey game at Munn Ice Arena, where Vellucci and Kelsay sat in the stands. It was a fitting backdrop for someone raised in a hockey family - her uncle, Mike Vellucci, played and coached in the NHL, and the sport had always been part of her life.

Committing to MSU that night brought two of her worlds together: volleyball and family. At Long Beach State, her parents had to alternate cross-country trips, and her grandparents never got the chance to see her play.

Now, they're regularly in the stands.

That connection has shown up in Vellucci's consistency, both on the court and in the locker room.

"She's able to see her brother grow up and see her grandparents, who she was only able to see maybe twice a year before," Kelsay said. "I know one of her values is her family, so I think it's really special for her to have that close-knit, and now, also close in proximity."

Kelsay saw Vellucci's commitment as the first step in a straightforward blueprint: keep Michigan talent home, then build outward regionally and nationally. Landing an in-state libero as her first addition fit that plan, filling back-row depth after the graduation of program mainstay Nalani Iosia.

The Spartans opened the season 10-0, closing non-conference play unbeaten for the first time since 2012 — and just the fourth time in program history — before falling at No. 12 Minnesota in their Big Ten opener.

Vellucci splits time at libero for MSU, having previously played in a two-libero system at Long Beach State. Her 73 digs rank fourth on the team — highlighted by a career-best 31 digs in a Sept. 8 win at Western Michigan, the third-highest four-set mark in program history.

Whether it was that career outing in Kalamazoo or her stabilizing presence in the locker room, Vellucci has already left a mark on the Spartans' 11-1 start, doing it just over 60 miles from where she grew up.

Her two years at Long Beach State, and the distance from her family, gave her the perspective that makes being back home feel special.

"I would definitely not be the same person if I hadn't done that [at Long Beach State]," Vellucci said. "Appreciate your family. You don't realize how much you missed it until you're quite far."

Players Mentioned

Nalani Iosia

Sarah Vellucci

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