Thursday, September 25
Minneapolis, Minn.
8:30 PM ET/7:30 PM CT
Michigan State University
at
Minnesota
Photo by: Maya Kolton
Michigan State Opens B1G Play at No. 12 Minnesota Thursday
9/24/2025 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -Â Michigan State volleyball (10-0, 0-0 B1G) kicks off Big Ten play this week, traveling to Minneapolis to take on No. 12 Minnesota (10-1, 0-0 B1G) on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET inside Minnesota's Maturi Pavilion on the Big Ten Network. Thursday's match will mark the return to Minneapolis for MSU head coach Kristen Kelsay, who spent the previous two seasons as the Gophers' associate head coach before taking over at MSU earlier this year.
Thursday's match will air on Big Ten Network with Sloane Martin (PxP) and Meredith Nelson-Uram (analyst) on the call. Fans can tune into John Kreger's call of the action on MSUSpartans.com or via the Michigan State Athletics app.
The Spartans completed the non-conference portion of their schedule undefeated for the first time since 2012 and fourth time in program history (2001, 2009, 2012) last week with wins over Binghamton, Bowling Green and SIUE at the Kathy DeBoer Invitational inside Jenison Field House. MSU is one of eight undefeated teams in the NCAA this season, joining Texas, West Virginia, BYU, Clemson, Hofstra, Mississippi State and fellow B1G member Nebraska. The Spartans' 10-0 start is the best start for a head coach in their first season at MSU, with Kelsay topping Annelies Knoppers' 7-0 start in 1974.
MSU hit .301 over its three matches last week, including .310 against SIUE and .307 against Binghamton, which were the second and third-best team hitting percentages, respectively, for the Spartans so far this season. Overall in 2025, MSU is hitting .273 and holding its opponents to just a .135 clip, the seventh-best opponent hitting percentage in the NCAA.
Making just her second appearance of the season and first start against Binghamton, sophomore middle blocker Carmen Waye tallied a career-high 14 kills against the Bearcats, doubling her previous career-high set last season. She was one of three Spartans to post double-digit kills against Binghamton, joined by junior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska (11) and freshman opposite Caroline Formankova (10). Staniszewska also added a team-leading 11 digs against Binghamton for her first double-double of the season and followed with her second against Bowling Green with 14 kills and 14 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Bianca Mumcular started in all three matches for the Spartans last week and recorded double-doubles (kills-digs) in MSU's wins over Bowling Green and SIUE. She recorded 12 kills against both the Falcons and Cougars and added 12 digs against Bowling Green and a career-high 14 digs in MSU's win over SIUE.
ABOUT MINNESOTA
Minnesota is 10-1 this season and has won its last 10 matches. The Gophers posted sweeps over Loyola Chicago and Marquette last week, both on the road. Minnesota's only loss this season came in its season opener against then-No. 9 Texas A&M at the 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase.
Thursday will be the 83rd all-time meeting between the Spartans and Gophers. Minnesota leads the series, 63-19, and holds a 32-7 record in Minneapolis. The Spartans have dropped the last 10 contests in the series, with their last win coming in a 3-0 victory against the then-No. 1 ranked Gophers on the road on Sept. 24, 2017. MSU went on to make an NCAA Elite Eight appearance that season.
Minnesota head coach Keegan Cook is in his third season with the Gophers.
UP NEXT
MSU returns to the Breslin Center to host Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. for the Battle at Breslin. The match will air nationally on Big Ten Network.
Thursday's match will air on Big Ten Network with Sloane Martin (PxP) and Meredith Nelson-Uram (analyst) on the call. Fans can tune into John Kreger's call of the action on MSUSpartans.com or via the Michigan State Athletics app.
The Spartans completed the non-conference portion of their schedule undefeated for the first time since 2012 and fourth time in program history (2001, 2009, 2012) last week with wins over Binghamton, Bowling Green and SIUE at the Kathy DeBoer Invitational inside Jenison Field House. MSU is one of eight undefeated teams in the NCAA this season, joining Texas, West Virginia, BYU, Clemson, Hofstra, Mississippi State and fellow B1G member Nebraska. The Spartans' 10-0 start is the best start for a head coach in their first season at MSU, with Kelsay topping Annelies Knoppers' 7-0 start in 1974.
MSU hit .301 over its three matches last week, including .310 against SIUE and .307 against Binghamton, which were the second and third-best team hitting percentages, respectively, for the Spartans so far this season. Overall in 2025, MSU is hitting .273 and holding its opponents to just a .135 clip, the seventh-best opponent hitting percentage in the NCAA.
Making just her second appearance of the season and first start against Binghamton, sophomore middle blocker Carmen Waye tallied a career-high 14 kills against the Bearcats, doubling her previous career-high set last season. She was one of three Spartans to post double-digit kills against Binghamton, joined by junior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska (11) and freshman opposite Caroline Formankova (10). Staniszewska also added a team-leading 11 digs against Binghamton for her first double-double of the season and followed with her second against Bowling Green with 14 kills and 14 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Bianca Mumcular started in all three matches for the Spartans last week and recorded double-doubles (kills-digs) in MSU's wins over Bowling Green and SIUE. She recorded 12 kills against both the Falcons and Cougars and added 12 digs against Bowling Green and a career-high 14 digs in MSU's win over SIUE.
ABOUT MINNESOTA
Minnesota is 10-1 this season and has won its last 10 matches. The Gophers posted sweeps over Loyola Chicago and Marquette last week, both on the road. Minnesota's only loss this season came in its season opener against then-No. 9 Texas A&M at the 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase.
Thursday will be the 83rd all-time meeting between the Spartans and Gophers. Minnesota leads the series, 63-19, and holds a 32-7 record in Minneapolis. The Spartans have dropped the last 10 contests in the series, with their last win coming in a 3-0 victory against the then-No. 1 ranked Gophers on the road on Sept. 24, 2017. MSU went on to make an NCAA Elite Eight appearance that season.
Minnesota head coach Keegan Cook is in his third season with the Gophers.
UP NEXT
MSU returns to the Breslin Center to host Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. for the Battle at Breslin. The match will air nationally on Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballKristen Kelsay Postgame Comments | Chicago State
Sunday, August 31
Kristen Kelsay Postgame Comments | Merrimack
Saturday, August 30
The Next Set | Kristen Kelsay | Spartans All-Access
Monday, August 25
Volleyball B1G Media Day Press Conference | July 29, 2025
Tuesday, July 29