Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, October 2
Los Angeles, Calif.
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Photo by: Ynhi Le
Volleyball Heads to Los Angeles to Take on UCLA, USC This Weekend
9/30/2026 3:39:00 PM | Volleyball
LOS ANGELES -Â Michigan State volleyball heads to Los Angeles for its first Big Ten road matches of the season this weekend, taking on UCLA on Friday, Oct. 2 at 10 p.m. ET inside Pauley Pavilion before visiting USC at the Galen Center on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. ET.Â
Both matches will stream on B1G+.
MSU is 11-1 (1-1 B1G) after splitting its B1G opening weekend at home last week, falling to Washington in four sets on Sept. 25 before bouncing back with an upset win over then-No. 14 Penn State in four sets on Sept. 27. The Spartans' win over Penn State was their first top-15 victory since defeating the Nittany Lions in East Lansing on Oct. 28, 2023. Â
MSU is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll for the third-straight week and fourth time overall this season. Prior to being ranked in this season's preseason poll, MSU had not received votes in the national poll since the 2018 season. The Spartans were the first team out of this week's top 25 with 139 points, sitting just behind 25th-ranked North Carolina (165 points).Â
The Spartans were led in total kills last week by senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston, who posted a team-best 14 kills against Washington and added eight against Penn State. Bankston also recorded a career-high 11 digs in MSU's win over the Nittany Lions, while her 14 kills against Washington marked her team-leading eighth match of the season with double-digit kills.
Freshman outside hitter Madi Andrews had a breakout weekend for the Spartans, posting a team-high 3.33 kills per set across MSU's two matches and tallying a career and team-high 13 kills against Penn State in her first-career start. She also added a career-best nine digs on against the Nittany Lions, just missing a double-double. Junior opposite Hayley Ogden tied Andrews with 13 kills against Penn State on a .400 clip.
MSU's middle blockers Carmen Waye and Zora Hardison totaled nine and seven total blocks, respectively, across last weekend's matches, with Waye posting a team-high six with three solo stuffs against the Nittany Lions. Hardison also tallied a season-high 10 kills in the win over Penn State on .562 hitting.Â
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long led MSU in assists with 66 across last weekend's matches, including 40 against Penn State, while also adding a season-high 11 digs against Penn State for her first double-double of the season.
Senior libero Lia Schneider ranked fifth in the conference in last week's matches with a combined 4.13 digs per set. She posted a team-best 12 against Washington and recorded a season-high 21 against Penn State and has tallied double-digit digs in five of MSU's last seven matches.
About UCLA
UCLA is 10-3 overall and 1-1 in the B1G after falling in straight sets to then-No. 18 Indiana and sweeping Northwestern to open the conference season on the road last week. Friday's match against the Spartans will be just the Bruins' second home match of 2026 and first since Aug. 29 against Long Beach State. UCLA is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Poll alongside MSU.
The Bruins lead the all-time series, 6-1, including a 4-1 record in Pauley Pavilion. MSU's last and only win in the series came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles in 2012, where MSU upset the defending national champion Bruins to advance to the Sweet 16 during Kristen Kelsay's junior season. MSU fell to the Bruins in a close five-setter last season in East Lansing in the teams' last matchup.
Head coach Matt Werle is in his first season at UCLA.
About USC
USC also went 1-1 in its opening B1G weekend on the road, sweeping Northwestern before falling to Illinois in straight sets. The Trojans are 7-5 overall this season. USC is receving votes in the AVCA Poll after dropping out of the top 25 this week.
The Trojans lead the all-time series, 8-2, including a 2-1 record in Los Angeles, and won last year's contest in a sweep in East Lansing. MSU's last win came in a reverse sweep during the 2024 season at the Galen Center.
Head coach Brad Keller is in his seventh season at USC.
Up Next
MSU hosts Oregon on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The match will stream on B1G+.
Both matches will stream on B1G+.
MSU is 11-1 (1-1 B1G) after splitting its B1G opening weekend at home last week, falling to Washington in four sets on Sept. 25 before bouncing back with an upset win over then-No. 14 Penn State in four sets on Sept. 27. The Spartans' win over Penn State was their first top-15 victory since defeating the Nittany Lions in East Lansing on Oct. 28, 2023. Â
MSU is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll for the third-straight week and fourth time overall this season. Prior to being ranked in this season's preseason poll, MSU had not received votes in the national poll since the 2018 season. The Spartans were the first team out of this week's top 25 with 139 points, sitting just behind 25th-ranked North Carolina (165 points).Â
The Spartans were led in total kills last week by senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston, who posted a team-best 14 kills against Washington and added eight against Penn State. Bankston also recorded a career-high 11 digs in MSU's win over the Nittany Lions, while her 14 kills against Washington marked her team-leading eighth match of the season with double-digit kills.
Freshman outside hitter Madi Andrews had a breakout weekend for the Spartans, posting a team-high 3.33 kills per set across MSU's two matches and tallying a career and team-high 13 kills against Penn State in her first-career start. She also added a career-best nine digs on against the Nittany Lions, just missing a double-double. Junior opposite Hayley Ogden tied Andrews with 13 kills against Penn State on a .400 clip.
MSU's middle blockers Carmen Waye and Zora Hardison totaled nine and seven total blocks, respectively, across last weekend's matches, with Waye posting a team-high six with three solo stuffs against the Nittany Lions. Hardison also tallied a season-high 10 kills in the win over Penn State on .562 hitting.Â
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long led MSU in assists with 66 across last weekend's matches, including 40 against Penn State, while also adding a season-high 11 digs against Penn State for her first double-double of the season.
Senior libero Lia Schneider ranked fifth in the conference in last week's matches with a combined 4.13 digs per set. She posted a team-best 12 against Washington and recorded a season-high 21 against Penn State and has tallied double-digit digs in five of MSU's last seven matches.
About UCLA
UCLA is 10-3 overall and 1-1 in the B1G after falling in straight sets to then-No. 18 Indiana and sweeping Northwestern to open the conference season on the road last week. Friday's match against the Spartans will be just the Bruins' second home match of 2026 and first since Aug. 29 against Long Beach State. UCLA is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Poll alongside MSU.
The Bruins lead the all-time series, 6-1, including a 4-1 record in Pauley Pavilion. MSU's last and only win in the series came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles in 2012, where MSU upset the defending national champion Bruins to advance to the Sweet 16 during Kristen Kelsay's junior season. MSU fell to the Bruins in a close five-setter last season in East Lansing in the teams' last matchup.
Head coach Matt Werle is in his first season at UCLA.
About USC
USC also went 1-1 in its opening B1G weekend on the road, sweeping Northwestern before falling to Illinois in straight sets. The Trojans are 7-5 overall this season. USC is receving votes in the AVCA Poll after dropping out of the top 25 this week.
The Trojans lead the all-time series, 8-2, including a 2-1 record in Los Angeles, and won last year's contest in a sweep in East Lansing. MSU's last win came in a reverse sweep during the 2024 season at the Galen Center.
Head coach Brad Keller is in his seventh season at USC.
Up Next
MSU hosts Oregon on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. The match will stream on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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