Michigan State University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Bankston, Hardison to 2026 Roster
1/9/2026 11:00:00 AM | Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball head coach Kristen Kelsay announced the signing of transfers Alanna Bankston and Zora Hardison Friday.
Hardison, a 6-2 middle blocker who hails from Palm Bay, Florida, spent the last three seasons at Rutgers and has one year of eligibility remaining. She played in 265 sets across 81 matches in three seasons with the Scarlet Knights, making 70 starts.
The newest member in our Spartan Family!
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) December 19, 2025
Welcome to the 517 Zora! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/gOCRCVAQpG
In 2025, Hardison led Rutgers in total blocks (104) and blocks per set (0.99) while adding 217 kills on .312 hitting. She posted a team-best 27 solo blocks, the most by a Scarlet Knight in a single season since 1999, to set a rally-scoring era single-season record in the Rutgers record book. Hardison set single-match career bests in kills (15, twice) in 2024 and total blocks (9) last season.
Hardison earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2025 and played club volleyball for Cape Coast Volleyball Club.
Bankston, an Omaha, Nebraska native and 6-1 outside hitter, joins the Spartans after three seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances at Louisville. She appeared in 32 sets across 25 matches in three seasons with the Cardinals and posted a single-match career-best eight kills against Northern Kentucky during the 2024 season.
It's official! ✍️ @AlannaBankston
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) January 9, 2026
Welcome to East Lansing Alanna! pic.twitter.com/wgJ7nWE5CR
Bankston played club volleyball at Premier Nebraska VBC and was named to PrepVolleyball's Top 150 Class of 2023 at Millard West High School.
The pair joins incoming freshmen Madi Andrews (OH, Happy Valley, Oregon), Colbie McKenna (OH, York, Pennsylvania) and Alana Whitfield (DS/L, Normal, Illinois) to make up MSU's five-member newcomer class. The Spartans return 11 letterwinners from last season.
