Michigan State University Athletics
Long Honored as AVCA Division I Women’s Player of the Week
10/6/2026 12:30:00 PM | Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Michigan State redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long has been named the Division I Women's Player of the Week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the organization announced Tuesday.
Long is the first Michigan State volleyball player to be recognized with the award since Lauren Wicinski on Oct. 1, 2013, and seventh overall. She was named Big Ten Setter of the Week on Monday.
The Lincoln, Nebraska native helped MSU to a 2-0 showing on the road last week in Big Ten play with a sweep of UCLA on Oct. 2 and five-set win at USC on Oct. 4. Long set the Spartans to a combined .316 hitting efficiency across their two matches, including a .333 clip against the Trojans, which ranked second in the conference last week. MSU also ranked third in the B1G in kills per set with 14.75.
Individually, Long averaged 12.13 assists per set across last week's matches to rank second in the conference. At USC, she posted a career-best 65 assists, the most by a Spartan since Natalie Emro during the 2009 season, and just missed a double-double with nine digs while adding three kills and a service ace. She tallied 32 assists, five digs and a pair of blocks and kills in MSU's sweep at UCLA. Her 65 assists at USC are the most in a single match by a player in the B1G this season and tie for the sixth-best in the NCAA.
Long is one of three MSU players to start in all 14 matches this season and has played in 47 out of 49 possible sets. She is averaging 10.19 assists per set in 2026 and leads MSU in total assists (479) and service aces (22).
The Spartans came in at No. 22 in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll for their first national ranking since the 2018 season.
Up next, MSU hosts No. 13 Oregon on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The match will stream on B1G+.
All-time Michigan State AVCA National Players of the Week
Dana Cooke (Oct. 23, 1995)
Val Sterk (Nov. 20, 1995)
Jenna Wrobel (Oct. 14, 1996)
Jenna Wrobel (Oct. 26, 1998)
Angela Morley (Nov. 19, 2001)
Nikki Colson (Sept. 22, 2003)
Lauren Wicinski (Oct. 1, 2013)
Malayah Long (Oct. 6, 2026)
