Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, September 11
Morehead, Ky.
4 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Cincinnati
Photo by: Ynhi Le
Volleyball Travels to Kentucky for Morehead State Invite this Weekend
9/10/2026 12:44:00 PM | Volleyball
MOREHEAD, Ky. -Â Michigan State volleyball heads south for a pair of matches at Morehead State's Johnson Arena this weekend, taking on Cincinnati on Friday, Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. before facing host Morehead State on Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.Â
Both of this weekend's matches will stream on ESPN+.
The Spartans are 6-0 and on a 17-set winning streak after a straight-set home victory over Western Michigan on Tuesday this week. MSU hit .345 in that match and held the Broncos to .138 hitting, marking the Spartans' fifth match this season with a hitting clip of .300 or better. The Spartans currently lead the country in hitting efficiency with a .354 clip across their six matches.
After a 10-0 start in 2025, MSU is 6-0 to start the season in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011-12. The Spartans' 17-set winning streak is their longest since winning 23-straight sets during the 2018 season from Sept. 1 (at UNC, 3-1) to Sept. 15 (vs. Western Michigan, 3-1). MSU has not lost a set since dropping the third set against Miami in its season opener on Aug. 28.
Individually, senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston led MSU in kills for the third-straight match against WMU with 10, posting a team-high fourth match this season with double-digit kills. Bankston is averaging an efficient .464 hitting percentage across MSU's last three matches. She also tied a career-high three total blocks in MSU's win over the Broncos.
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long, who has helped set MSU to its NCAA-leading efficiency, provided a team-best 34 assists against WMU and is averaging 10.11 assists per set to rank sixth among setters in the conference this season.
Junior middle blocker Carmen Waye led MSU in total blocks against WMU with four, while senior middle Zora Hardison added two while posting nine kills on 12 swings without an error (.750). Hardison and Waye are averaging 1.16 and 1.13 blocks per set, respectively, this season, while Waye leads the team in hitting percentage (.519) and Hardison ranks second (.492).
Senior libero Lia Schneider put up her best defensive showing of the season so far against WMU with a team and season-high 14 digs. She leads the Spartans with 2.55 digs per set this season and surpassed the 1,000-career digs mark during MSU's win at Central Michigan on Sept. 5 this season.
About Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 4-2 this season after most recently posting sweeps of Valparaiso and Oakland while falling to Michigan in straight sets last weekend at the Valpo Popcorn Classic. The Bearcats will face Morehead State on Thursday before playing the Spartans on Friday.
The Spartans lead the all-time series, 7-2-1, and have won the last three meetings between the two schools. MSU and Cincinnati last met in a 3-1 win in East Lansing for MSU on Sept. 6, 2019. The Bearcats have not won a contest in the series since a 3-1 neutral-site win on Oct. 19, 1990.
Head coach Danijela Tomic is in her second season with the Bearcats.
About Morehead State
Morehead State is 4-2 this season, dropping a pair of contests against Tennessee and Colgate last week after a win over Fairfield in Knoxville. The Eagles won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season crown last season.
Saturday's meeting will be the second all-time between the two schools and first since a 2-1 win for the Eagles on Sept. 16, 1978.
Morehead State is led by fourth-year head coach Kyrsten Becker-McBride.
Up Next
MSU hosts Oakland on Tuesday, Sept. 15 inside the Breslin Center at 6 p.m. The match will stream on B1G+.
Both of this weekend's matches will stream on ESPN+.
The Spartans are 6-0 and on a 17-set winning streak after a straight-set home victory over Western Michigan on Tuesday this week. MSU hit .345 in that match and held the Broncos to .138 hitting, marking the Spartans' fifth match this season with a hitting clip of .300 or better. The Spartans currently lead the country in hitting efficiency with a .354 clip across their six matches.
After a 10-0 start in 2025, MSU is 6-0 to start the season in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011-12. The Spartans' 17-set winning streak is their longest since winning 23-straight sets during the 2018 season from Sept. 1 (at UNC, 3-1) to Sept. 15 (vs. Western Michigan, 3-1). MSU has not lost a set since dropping the third set against Miami in its season opener on Aug. 28.
Individually, senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston led MSU in kills for the third-straight match against WMU with 10, posting a team-high fourth match this season with double-digit kills. Bankston is averaging an efficient .464 hitting percentage across MSU's last three matches. She also tied a career-high three total blocks in MSU's win over the Broncos.
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long, who has helped set MSU to its NCAA-leading efficiency, provided a team-best 34 assists against WMU and is averaging 10.11 assists per set to rank sixth among setters in the conference this season.
Junior middle blocker Carmen Waye led MSU in total blocks against WMU with four, while senior middle Zora Hardison added two while posting nine kills on 12 swings without an error (.750). Hardison and Waye are averaging 1.16 and 1.13 blocks per set, respectively, this season, while Waye leads the team in hitting percentage (.519) and Hardison ranks second (.492).
Senior libero Lia Schneider put up her best defensive showing of the season so far against WMU with a team and season-high 14 digs. She leads the Spartans with 2.55 digs per set this season and surpassed the 1,000-career digs mark during MSU's win at Central Michigan on Sept. 5 this season.
About Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 4-2 this season after most recently posting sweeps of Valparaiso and Oakland while falling to Michigan in straight sets last weekend at the Valpo Popcorn Classic. The Bearcats will face Morehead State on Thursday before playing the Spartans on Friday.
The Spartans lead the all-time series, 7-2-1, and have won the last three meetings between the two schools. MSU and Cincinnati last met in a 3-1 win in East Lansing for MSU on Sept. 6, 2019. The Bearcats have not won a contest in the series since a 3-1 neutral-site win on Oct. 19, 1990.
Head coach Danijela Tomic is in her second season with the Bearcats.
About Morehead State
Morehead State is 4-2 this season, dropping a pair of contests against Tennessee and Colgate last week after a win over Fairfield in Knoxville. The Eagles won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season crown last season.
Saturday's meeting will be the second all-time between the two schools and first since a 2-1 win for the Eagles on Sept. 16, 1978.
Morehead State is led by fourth-year head coach Kyrsten Becker-McBride.
Up Next
MSU hosts Oakland on Tuesday, Sept. 15 inside the Breslin Center at 6 p.m. The match will stream on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
MB
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DS/L
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MB
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