Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, September 18
East Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Drake
Photo by: Ynhi Le
Volleyball Hosts Fourth Annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance This Weekend
9/17/2026 3:15:00 PM | Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. -Â Michigan State wraps up its final week of non-conference play this weekend with the fourth annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance inside the Breslin Center. MSU will host Drake on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. before hosting Wright State on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Raiders will play in a neutral-site match inside the Breslin Center on Friday at 1 p.m.
All KDI matches will stream on B1G+. Fans can tune into John Kreger's call of the action on MSUSpartans.com or via the Michigan State Athletics app for both MSU matches.
The Spartans are 9-0 after kicking off the week with a four-set win over Oakland at home on Tuesday. MSU had its consecutive-set winning streak snapped in the second set against the Grizzlies, but finished its streak at 24-straight sets to post the second-longest streak in program history. After a 10-0 start in 2025, MSU is 9-0 to start the season in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1975-76.Â
MSU is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll, its first time receiving votes this season since the preseason poll. Prior to this season's preseason poll, the Spartans had not received votes in the national poll since the 2018 season.
MSU hit .247 against Oakland and held the Golden Grizzlies to just .082 hitting on Tuesday. The Spartans remain first in the country in team hitting efficiency (.336) and rank third in opponent hitting efficiency (.118).
Individually, junior middle blocker Carmen Waye had a standout performance in MSU's win over Oakland, posting her first-career double-double with career-highs in kills (16) and total blocks (10) while hitting at a .552 clip without an error. She just missed a triple-double with a career-best seven digs. Waye's 10 blocks were the most by an MSU player in a single match since Zuzanna Kulig posted 12 against Illinois during the 2024 season. She is hitting at a .552 clip this season to rank first in the country.Â
Senior middle blocker Zora Hardison posted six blocks and nine kills for a .333 hitting efficiency against Oakland.
Sophomore outside hitter Bianca Mumcular also posted double-digit kills against the Golden Grizzlies with a season-high 12 and added six digs. Senior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska recorded nine kills and 12 digs.
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long, who has helped set MSU to its NCAA-leading efficiency, put up her second-best assist total of the season on Tuesday with 46 and posted eight digs. She ranks seventh in the conference with 10.14 assists per set this season.
Senior libero Lia Schneider recorded a season-high 17 digs against Oakland, her fourth match overall this season and third in MSU's last four matches with double-digit digs.
About the Kathy DeBoer Invitational
This weekend marks the fourth edition of the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, which was named after the MSU Athletics Hall of Famer after her induction in 2022. DeBoer was a two-sport athlete at MSU, helping the Spartans to an 82-13 record and a pair of AIAW Tournament appearances in two seasons on the volleyball team (1975-76) while also playing three seasons for the women's basketball team. On the basketball court, she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy in 1978 and ranks No. 4 all-time at MSU in career rebounding average.
DeBoer served as the Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association for 17 years before retiring from her post in 2023. Before taking her position with the AVCA, she coached volleyball at Ferris State and Kentucky, winning four SEC titles and earning both SEC and National Coach of the Year honors.Â
In 2024, DeBoer earned the USA Volleyball Harold T. Friermood "Frier" Lifetime Achievement Award, considered USA Volleyball's highest honor which recognizes longtime significant contributions to the sport of volleyball.
About Drake
Drake is 5-5 overall this season and will play its fourth match of the week on Friday against the Spartans. The Bulldogs fell to Omaha (3-2) at home and Iowa on the road (3-0) earlier this week. Senior libero Jasmine Dulan leads the country in digs per set (5.59) this season.
MSU leads the all-time series against the Bulldogs, 1-0. The two teams last met in a 3-0 home sweep for MSU on Sept. 5, 1997.
Head coach Darrin McBroom is in his 14th season with the Bulldogs in 2026.
About Wright State
The Raiders are 4-5 in 2026, most recently dropping contests to Jacksonville (3-0) and Pitt (3-0) last week after a four-set win over High Point at the Pittsburgh Invitational. Wright State won the Horizon League tournament crown last season.
The teams sit at an even 2-2 all-time record in the series, with Wright State winning the last two contests in five-setters. MSU and Wright State last met on Aug. 28, 2021 in East Lansing.
Head coach Travers Green is in his fifth season at Wright State.Â
Up Next
MSU opens Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 25th against Washington at 6 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The match will stream on B1G+.
All KDI matches will stream on B1G+. Fans can tune into John Kreger's call of the action on MSUSpartans.com or via the Michigan State Athletics app for both MSU matches.
The Spartans are 9-0 after kicking off the week with a four-set win over Oakland at home on Tuesday. MSU had its consecutive-set winning streak snapped in the second set against the Grizzlies, but finished its streak at 24-straight sets to post the second-longest streak in program history. After a 10-0 start in 2025, MSU is 9-0 to start the season in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1975-76.Â
MSU is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll, its first time receiving votes this season since the preseason poll. Prior to this season's preseason poll, the Spartans had not received votes in the national poll since the 2018 season.
MSU hit .247 against Oakland and held the Golden Grizzlies to just .082 hitting on Tuesday. The Spartans remain first in the country in team hitting efficiency (.336) and rank third in opponent hitting efficiency (.118).
Individually, junior middle blocker Carmen Waye had a standout performance in MSU's win over Oakland, posting her first-career double-double with career-highs in kills (16) and total blocks (10) while hitting at a .552 clip without an error. She just missed a triple-double with a career-best seven digs. Waye's 10 blocks were the most by an MSU player in a single match since Zuzanna Kulig posted 12 against Illinois during the 2024 season. She is hitting at a .552 clip this season to rank first in the country.Â
Senior middle blocker Zora Hardison posted six blocks and nine kills for a .333 hitting efficiency against Oakland.
Sophomore outside hitter Bianca Mumcular also posted double-digit kills against the Golden Grizzlies with a season-high 12 and added six digs. Senior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska recorded nine kills and 12 digs.
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long, who has helped set MSU to its NCAA-leading efficiency, put up her second-best assist total of the season on Tuesday with 46 and posted eight digs. She ranks seventh in the conference with 10.14 assists per set this season.
Senior libero Lia Schneider recorded a season-high 17 digs against Oakland, her fourth match overall this season and third in MSU's last four matches with double-digit digs.
About the Kathy DeBoer Invitational
This weekend marks the fourth edition of the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, which was named after the MSU Athletics Hall of Famer after her induction in 2022. DeBoer was a two-sport athlete at MSU, helping the Spartans to an 82-13 record and a pair of AIAW Tournament appearances in two seasons on the volleyball team (1975-76) while also playing three seasons for the women's basketball team. On the basketball court, she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy in 1978 and ranks No. 4 all-time at MSU in career rebounding average.
DeBoer served as the Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association for 17 years before retiring from her post in 2023. Before taking her position with the AVCA, she coached volleyball at Ferris State and Kentucky, winning four SEC titles and earning both SEC and National Coach of the Year honors.Â
In 2024, DeBoer earned the USA Volleyball Harold T. Friermood "Frier" Lifetime Achievement Award, considered USA Volleyball's highest honor which recognizes longtime significant contributions to the sport of volleyball.
About Drake
Drake is 5-5 overall this season and will play its fourth match of the week on Friday against the Spartans. The Bulldogs fell to Omaha (3-2) at home and Iowa on the road (3-0) earlier this week. Senior libero Jasmine Dulan leads the country in digs per set (5.59) this season.
MSU leads the all-time series against the Bulldogs, 1-0. The two teams last met in a 3-0 home sweep for MSU on Sept. 5, 1997.
Head coach Darrin McBroom is in his 14th season with the Bulldogs in 2026.
About Wright State
The Raiders are 4-5 in 2026, most recently dropping contests to Jacksonville (3-0) and Pitt (3-0) last week after a four-set win over High Point at the Pittsburgh Invitational. Wright State won the Horizon League tournament crown last season.
The teams sit at an even 2-2 all-time record in the series, with Wright State winning the last two contests in five-setters. MSU and Wright State last met on Aug. 28, 2021 in East Lansing.
Head coach Travers Green is in his fifth season at Wright State.Â
Up Next
MSU opens Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 25th against Washington at 6 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The match will stream on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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OH/OPP
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