Recently, Michigan State became the latest program to offer 2026 wide receiver/tight end Julius Miles.

Miles had been in contact with MSU tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak and student scouting/personnel assistant Carsen Kapilovic (who is the son of former MSU offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic) for quite a while before the offer came through. The Spartans have been using this fall as a time to evaluate prospects, including Miles.

"I know a good bit about Michigan State," Miles said. "It has a great, rich culture. I think I could fit because of my style of play I bring — being able to go get the ball at my position."

Great Lake Regional Championships
Date: Friday, Nov. 15
Time: Women's 6k Race - 11 a.m.
Men's 8k Race - 12 p.m.
All time Eastern
Location: Silver Creek Metro Park (Norton, Ohio)

EAST LANSING, MICH. - Michigan State's cross country teams will travel to Norton, Ohio for the 2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 15, hosted by the Mid-American Conference.

The women's 6k race will begin at 11 a.m. ET, while the men's 10k race will start at 12 p.m. ET. The race will take place at Silver Creek Metro Park, which is the second oldest park district in Ohio. There is no cost for parking.

The top-2 finishers at each of the nine regional races taking place Friday will be granted a bid. Thirteen other teams will be assessed for the remaining at-large bids which will be announced in the selection show Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.

The Spartan women finished sixth in the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Illinois on Nov. 1. Rachel Forsyth finished fourth with a stunning time of 19:26.2. It was the best time for a Spartan in a 6k Big Ten Championship, just besting All-American Leah O'Connor, who ran a 19:26.3 to win the 2014 title. By finishing fourth, the freshman earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. She was later named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

The Ann Arbor native was the first Spartan to win the award since Kaitlyn Hynes in 2021 and Maggie Farrell in 2017. She is only the sixth Michigan State woman to be named the top Big Ten rookie in program history.

In the men's 8k race, Michigan State finished fourth. All five of the Michigan State scorers recorded new personal-best times. For the second-straight season, Andrew Nolan took home first-team All-B1G honors. This season, he finished eighth with a time of 22:59.3, which was a new personal best. Riley Hough crossed the line in 23:08.4, which was good for 18th. For his efforts, Hough was named second-team All-Big Ten.

Last season, the women took third place in the Great Lake Regionals, while the men were fifth. Last year was the second time in the last three years that seven Spartans between both teams claimed the All-Region honors and the 13th time in the last 15 seasons with six plus runners earned the accolade.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Curt Cignetti is signing an 8 year, 72 million dollar extension with IU (per Thamel). He's not going anywhere.

I know you will put up a story on this but both teams did well at regionals. The guys tied for third but we're regulated to 4th through the tie breaker rules. The ladies finished 4th also, just out of 3rd. These were very good efforts based on how young each team is. Great days are ahead. It remains to be seen if either team goes to nationals as 2 teams from each region qualifies automatically with a few at large picks granted. Even so, there should be a handful of kids go as individuals. I am shocked at the incredible times being run this year. With ladies a sub 20 used to get you on the podium but this year in big meet after big meet there are multiple girls running those times. Same is true with the guys and sub 24. I have never seen such great times in the 30 years I have followed the sport and have no explanation for it except the better than usual fall weather for training and competing.

Michigan State and Illinois both enter with two-game losing streaks. Which team will get back on track? Check out our picks and let us know your thoughts!

Full recap of MSU's 8-3 win over Notre Dame.

By @Caden Handwork:

Shooting 3-for-24 from deep against Kansas, MSU had no business being close. It was right there anyways. That could actually be a good sign for the rest of the season.

Read here: https://michiganstate.rivals.com/ne...oes-might-be-a-good-sign-after-loss-to-kansas

Michigan State is fighting to win at least two of its final three regular-season games and reach bowl eligibility. That challenge starts tomorrow afternoon at Illinois.

@KLuce98 previews everything you need to know for the matchup here:

From left to right:
DL Mason Nickel
RB Shawn Foster
QB Atticus Carridine
OL Andrew Dennis (transferred to MSU from ILL)
TE Reeves Taylor
Login to view embedded media

This is the first meeting between the teams.​

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball concludes its four-game, season-opening homestand against Eastern Kentucky University on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center. Matt Merrifield and Joe DesVergnes will be on the call for B1G+.

• MSU has opened 3-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 3-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 2-1 to open the 2014-15 season.

• Eastern Kentucky University is 1-2 this season this season after earning its first win of the season on the road against Southern Illinois, 70-49. The Colonels fell to then No. 7 LSU and Tennessee State to start the season. This is the first-ever meeting between MSU and EKU.

• The Spartan defense also forced 29+ turnovers for the third game in a row, forcing 29 EMU turnovers Monday night, after 31 last time out vs. Yale and forcing Oakland into 33 miscues in the season-opener

• Early on this season, Michigan State is fifth in the nation in assists, averaging 24.7 apg. The Spartans are also seventh in the nation in scoring margin (+55.7). Through three games, MSU is still averaging over 100 points per game.

SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Eastern Kentucky University earned its first win of the season with a 70-49 road victory over Southern Illinois.

The Colonels have one Michigander on the roster in Grand Rapids native Faith Walker. She attended Forest Hills Northern. Abbey Kimball and Theryn Hallock are both from Grand Rapids, attending West Catholic and Forest Hills Central, respectively.

Senior Raphaela Toussaint is approaching the 1,000 point mark. She currently has 997 points during her career. Alice Recanti leads the team in scoring, averaging 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Kaitlyn Costner is second with 9.0 ppg.

Head coach Greg Todd is in his fourth season with the Colonels, holding a 56-44 record. Overall, he is in his 19th season with an overall record of 318-214.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE COLONELS
This is the first-ever meeting between MSU and EKU.

DID YOU KNOW??
MSU has opened 3-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 3-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 2-1 to open the 2014-15 season.

CLOSING IN ON 1,000
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault scored 13 points against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11. It was her third double-digit scoring outing in as many games this season and her 41st career outing with 10+ points. She has scored in double-figures in 16-consecutive games and in 27 of her last 32 games played since the start of the 2023-24 season. With 13 points on Nov. 11, Ayrault now has netted 945 career points, leaving her just 55 away from becoming the 31st Spartan women's basketball player to score 1,000 points in her MSU career.

STINGY DEFENSE
The Spartan defense limited the opposition to single-digit scoring in a quarter for the seventh time in 12 quarters through three games this season after holding EMU to nine points in the third quarter on Monday. MSU held Yale to nine points in both the first and second quarters last time out and to Oakland in the second and fourth quarter.

INCREDIBLE INES
All six of the Spartan freshmen have seen action in all three games, but rookie Inés Sotelo had a standout performance against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11. Sotelo reached double figures for the first time in her MSU career with 13 points against the Eagles, going 5-for-8 from the field. For the season, she is averaging 7.0 points with four steals.

PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Michigan State scored 95+ points for the third-straight game after 107 in last week's season-opener vs. Oakland on Nov. 5 and 100 points vs. Yale on Nov. 8. It marks the first time since the 2017-18 season that MSU has scored 95+ points in its first three games when the Spartans matched this year's scoring with 100 points in the season-opener (100-58 vs. Robert Morris on 11/11/17), 95 in game two (95-63 vs. Oakland on 11/13/17) and 107 in game three (107-43 vs. Charleston).

BLAIR BRINGS THE BOOM
Against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 11, redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair scored in double-figures for the third-straight game with 11 points Monday, after 12 points last time out and 10 points in the season-opener, which was her Green & White debut on Nov. 5, after missing the entire 2023-24 season with an injury. Blair also pulled down seven rebounds, swiped three steals and dished out one assists, new top marks for rebounds and steals.

WATCH OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
Michigan State continues to wrack up the steals early on this season. MSU is eighth in the nation, averaging 19.3 spg. Against EMU, MSU had 18 steals. Graduate guard Nyla Hampton and senior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate are tied for fourth in the Big Ten, averaging 3.0 spg.

The Spartans forced 33 Oakland turnovers, including swiping 22 steals, with 11 of the 14 Spartans posting at least one steal. by The 22 steals were just shy of the school record of 24 set in both 1980 and 1996.

BRINGING THE BOOM
For the 2024-25 season, Michigan State women's introduced its new student section - the Breslin Boom. First introduced by Coach Fralick at Michigan State Madness, Spartan students will be encouraged to yell "BOOM" on any big MSU plays.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Michigan State will play seven teams that are ranked in the preseason top 25 polls (AP/Coaches Poll), led by No. 3/3 USC (Feb. 16) and No. 5/6 UCLA (Feb. 19). At the West Palm Beach Classic, the Spartans will take on No. 24/25 Alabama. Big Ten teams Ohio State (No. 14/14), Maryland (No. 18/18), Nebraska (No. 23/23) and Indiana (No. 25/24) are all ranked in the preseason polls.

AROUND THE NATION
After just three games, the Spartans are fifth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in assists per game, averaging 24.7 apg. MSU is also eighth in bench points with 45.0 per game. Michigan State stands seventh and first in the Big Ten in scoring margin, winning games by 55.7 ppg.

SEASON OPENERS
Michigan State won its 11th-straight season-opener and second in a row under head coach Robyn Fralick. MSU's last season-opening loss was on Nov. 11, 2013 at #6/7 Notre Dame. The Spartans have won 15-consecutive home openers, as their last loss in the first home game of the season was on Nov. 19, 2009 vs. #5/6 Notre Dame.

LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball once again flexed its defensive muscles, forcing 29 turnovers en route to a 95-49 win against Eastern Michigan on Monday night at the Breslin Center. Monday was also the Spartans annual Hoops for Troops to honor Veterans Day.

MSU has opened 3-0 for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Robyn Fralick. Michigan State also started 3-0 for the 10th-straight season since going 2-1 to open the 2014-15 season. Eastern Michigan falls to 0-3 this season. The was the first time that the teams met since 2019.
Junior guard Theryn Hallock scored led the Spartans with 18 points in just over 18 minutes. She also added four assists and two steals. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault and freshman center Inés Sotelo both scored 13 points. The 13 points were the first double-digit scoring game for the freshman. Redshirt-freshman guard Kennedy Blair reached double figures for the third-straight game with 11 points. Graduate guard Jaddan Simmons made her first Spartan start, adding eight points six assists and four steals.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Nyla Hampton as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2024-25 women's basketball team.

This is Ayrault's second season as a captain for the Spartans. She is the first Spartan to be a captain in back-to-back seasons since Jenna Allen during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Hampton is in her first season with the Spartans, but is familiar with head coach Robyn Fralick. She played three seasons with Bowling Green before transferring to Ball State last season.

GUESS WHO'S BACK
Despite losing two of its top three scorers, Michigan State still returns a quite potent offense. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault led the team in scoring with 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Off the bench, junior guard Theryn Hallock scored 12.3 ppg, which was fourth on the team. MSU lost second-leading scorer Moira Joiner (14.7 ppg) to graduation and third-leading scorer DeeDee Hagemann (12.3 ppg) to transfer.

VANSLOOTEN NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Michigan State Women's Basketball junior forward Grace VanSlooten was named to the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

She is one of five Big Ten players on the list along with Indiana's Yarden Garzon, Maryland's Saylor Poffenbarger, Ohio State's Cotie McMahon and UCLA's Angela Dugalić. The award honors the nation's top small forwards.

VanSlooten is in her first season at Michigan State after transferring from Oregon. She averaged 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in two season with the Ducks. In the Spartans 101-40 exhibition win over Wayne State on Oct. 28, Van Slooten tied a team high with 16 points in just 18 minutes.

LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE
For the fourth-straight season, the Big Ten Conference will play an 18-game schedule. MSU also played an 18-game schedule in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. The conference additionally had 18-game schedules in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. This season, the B1G adds four additional teams in Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

Nine of the Spartans' 2024-25 regular-season opponents competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, as MSU will take on either Arizona or Vanderbilt in the Acrisure Classic. From the Big Ten portion of the schedule, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, UCLA and USC reached the NCAA Tournament.

COASTAL ADVENTURES
The Spartans will play in two tournaments this season. Over Thanksgiving, Michigan State will head to Palm Springs, California for the Acrisure Classic. The Spartans will take on California in their first game on Nov. 26 before facing either Arizona or Vanderbilt in their second game on Nov. 27. Before the Holiday break, MSU will play West Palm Beach Classic. MSU will take on Montana on Dec. 19 and Alabama on Dec. 20.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

What if someone took The Tommy Love Story and added some Bear Bryant fiction and the fairytale caught on with the media to spread nationally? Would Tommy Love be as well-known as Sam Cunningham, the beneficiary of a fabricated Bear Bryant story? That’s the question I raise here after reading – of all books – Al Pacino’s memoir. Read on and you’ll see what I mean.

I cite a national name saying his young audience wouldn't understand Duffy Daugherty's story. Other editors agreed Bear Bryant gets too much credit, but they don't apparently are afraid to take on his legacy. As a consequence, Duffy's true story remains lost in the shadows of Bear Bryant fiction.

The Tommy Love Story is compelling, but ESPN, Sports Illustrated, HBO, Showtime et al aren't buying without adding a Bear Bryant myth - Tom Shanahan Report


Follow me on Twitter @shanny4055

Visit my website home page

Award-winning Sportswriter - Tom Shanahan Report

Michigan State men's basketball has officially signed two top-100 prospects in the 2025 class: Jordan Scott and Cam Ward.

Read head coach Tom Izzo’s thoughts on the Spartan signees and learn more about the prospects here:

Nick Marsh and Courtney Hawkins spoke to the media following the Spartans’ bye week/ahead of Illinois.

“It’s going to take everyone on our football team to pitch in and give energy so we can win out the rest of the season.”

Michigan State (4-5 overall, 2-4 in Big Ten play) travels to Champaign to play Illinois (6-3 overall, 3-3 in Big Ten play) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time/1:30 p.m. Central Time, with the game airing live on FS1. Both teams are coming of a bye week, but riding two-game losing streaks.

Ahead of the matchup, Spartans Illustrated spoke with Doug Bucshon of Orange and Blue News — Rivals' home for all things Illinois — to learn more about the Fighting Illini.

What is the current state of the Illinois football program? How is head coach Bret Bielema perceived by the fan base? Why have the Illini struggled on defense? Doug answers these questions and more.

Fresh off of a bye week, Michigan State football is looking to finish the season strong and become bowl-eligible. MSU's rush ends coach Chad Wilt, linebacker Wayne Matthews III, and defensive back Nikai Martinez spoke about the game this Saturday against Illinois and the team's outlook heading into the rest of the season.

Join Jonah and Abby as they react immediately following Michigan State men's basketball's loss versus No. 1 Kansas, as the Spartans laid brick after brick from 3-point range.

Jonah gives a geometry lesson as they go over the cylinder rule in basketball and what it means. MSU football isn't forgotten about as the final stretch of the season is upon us.

Watch:

Login to view embedded media
Listen on Spotify:

Login to view embedded media

MSU needs to improve drastically in a few key areas, and this Illinois team might be the ideal team to see them materialize. Learn more about it in the 3-2-1 Preview

No more college sports. “Student” athlete? I don’t think so.

Dorian Barney is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound defensive back from 6A Atlanta area powerhouse Carrollton High School. He currently ranks as the No. 10 cornerback, the No. 17 prospect in the state of Georgia and the No. 135 overall recruit in the nation for the 2026 cycle.

Barney was previously a longtime Alabama commit, originally pledging to the Crimson tide in May, but the standout defensive backed off of his commitment on Nov. 10.

One day later, Michigan State offered the Rivals250 prospect a scholarship.

Barney spoke with Spartans Illustrated's @Lee Wardlaw in an exclusive interview to discuss the offer.

More here:

Thanos Qualifying For NCAA Individual Championships Highlights Weekend​

Redshirt junior punches ticket to join fellow Spartan in Waco, Texas.​

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Capping the weekend of play for Michigan State men's tennis at the ITA Sectionals, redshirt junior Aristotelis Thanos punched his ticket to NCAA Individual Championships.

Thanos will join fellow Spartan, junior Ozan Baris in Waco, Texas at the NCAA Individual Championships, Nov. 19-24 at Baylor's Hurd Tennis Center.

Baris earned his spot at the NCAA Individual Championships by winning the ITA Midwest Regionals on Oct. 14, becoming the first Michigan State men's tennis player to win the ITA Regional Singles Championship.

Thanos started out the weekend action playing against Preston Stearns from Ohio State. In a back-and-forth match, Thanos def. Stearns 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. Another quick match win against William Mroz from Illinois, Thanos won 6-3, 6-3. In the QF Playoffs, Thanos defeated Calvin Mueller of Nebraska, 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 to advance to NCAAs.

Friday match play started early as freshman Matthew Forbes took down Togan Tokac from Texas A&M, 7-5, 7-5. His next singles match was against Oskar Brostrom Poulsen from Baylor. Forbes fought hard but fell, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6.

His next match was a doubles match with partner, senior Max Sheldon. Forbes/Sheldon def. Alemany/Kouame from Memphis, 6-3, 5-7, 12-10. The Spartan pair then took on Young/Swenson from Michigan. They lost that match 6-7, 5-7.

In a tough battle in his first singles match, Sheldon lost to Gavin Young from Michigan, 6-7, 6-2, 5-7. Sheldon went on to def. Miguel from Tulsa, 6-1, 6-2 in his next match.

In Wisconsin at the Big Ten Indoors, freshman Danial Rakhmatullayev put up a good fight for the Spartans going 3-2 on the week. In his first match, Rakhmatullayev def. Sachiv Kumar (WIS), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 10-6. Following that win, Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) def. Rakhmatullayev 6-2, 6-3. Looking to continue his momentum from his first match, Rakhmatullayev def. Nick Herdoiza (NU) 6-2, 6-0. A quick win against Henrik Villanger (PUR), 6-4, 6-4, helped Rakhmatullayev continue his fight. In his final match of the weekend, Max Bengtsson (NU) def. Rakhmatullayev, 6-4, 7-6.

More information on Thanos and Baris at the NCAA Individual Championships will be announced at a later date.

Singles Results:

ITA Sectionals

Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Preston Stearns (OSU) 6-7, 7-6, 6-4

Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. William Mroz (ILL) 6-3, 6-3

Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Calvin Mueller (NEB) 6-4, 0-6, 7-5

Oskar Brostrom Poulsen (BU) def. Matthew Forbes (MSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Togan Tokac (TAMU) 7-5, 7-5

Gavin Young(MICH) def. Max Sheldon (MSU) 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 7-5

Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Luis Felipe Miguel (TUL) 6-1, 6-2


B1G Indoor Championships

Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Sachiv Kumar (WIS), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 10-6

Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) 6-2, 6-3

Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Nick Herdoiza (NU) 6-2, 6-0

Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Henrik Villanger (PUR) 6-4, 6-4

Max Bengtsson (NU) def. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) 6-4, 7-6


Double Results:

ITA Sectionals

Forbes/Sheldon (MSU) def. Alemany/Kouame (MEM), 6-3, 5-7, 12-10

Young/Swenson (MICH) def. Forbes/Sheldon (MSU) 6-7 (5-7), 5-7

Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson announced the third signing class of her tenure Wednesday on National Signing Day. The Spartans covered all of their bases in the Class of 2025 signing a setter, libero, middle blocker and outside hitter. MSU once again tapped into its overseas contacts with the additions of setter Kalea Norton (Auckland, New Zealand) and outside hitter Caroline Formankova (Slany, Czech Republic), in addition to domestic signees libero Olivia Durst (Brookfield, Wis.) and middle blocker Leela Ormsby (Billings, Mont.).
Olivia Durst
5'9" | Libero | Brookfield, Wis. | Milwaukee Sting


Durst is a three-time Wisconsin state champion at Divine Savior Holy Angels, a two-time All-State honoree, a two-time All-State tournament selection and a three-time Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association academic honoree … Durst was named All-Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2024 … Ranked as the No. 3 player in Wisconsin for 2025.
“Liv is such a fun athlete," said Johnson. "She’s played most of her career as an outsider hitter while playing competitive soccer, so she’s got fast feet and makes pretty spectacular defensive moves. We knew pretty quickly when she made the transition to libero that she was going to be elite. She’s won at the highest level every step of her career, a mentality that will serve her well.”

I chose Michigan State because the coaches and players treat me like family and not just a volleyball player. Stepping on campus felt natural and like home. I love that this program pushes you to be your best but also understands your limits.

Click to expand...

Olivia Durst
Kalea Norton
5'10" | Setter | Auckland, New Zealand | Rengitoto College


Norton was the U19 Player of the Year in New Zealand is 2023-24 … Played with the New Zealand Junior Women's National Team … At 16 years old played with the top women's team in New Zealand “Volley Ferns” on an international tour in Chile … Also an accomplished beach volleyball player in New Zealand in the same mold as current Spartan Taylah Holdem … Played for the New Zealand A Women's beach volleyball squad and on the New Zealand women's pro tour.
“We first heard about Kalea through our current Spartan Taylah Holdem,” said Johnson. "She was playing in high-level women’s leagues at the age of 15 in New Zealand. She’s a superb athlete, having played a variety of sports throughout her career. Kalea is a fast mover and competitive as can be. She does all the little things you need to do to be great.”

I chose MSU because they believed in a girl from New Zealand and offered me an incredible opportunity. Right from our first conversation I felt their passion and dedication to volleyball. The MSU volleyball culture thrives on excellence, growth and unity which is exactly where I want to be. Surrounded by people who push each other to improve.

Click to expand...

Kalea Norton
Leela Orsmby
6'3" | Middle Blocker | Billings, Mont. | Big Sky VBC


Ormsby is the all-time record holder in Montana for career blocks with 421 as of Oct. 31 breaking a record that stood since 2003 … Finishes interscholastic career as the all-time leader in blocks and hitting percentage at Billings Senior High School … A two-time first team All-State selection (with 2024 All-State teams yet to be announced) … Led Billings Senior to a state champion ship in 2022 … Four-time blocks per set leader in Montana … Invited to the USA Volleyball National Development program on four occasions as one of three players from the state of Montana to ever attend.
“Leela is one of the most natural blockers I have recruited," said Johnson. "She’s got great instincts at the net. She’s played just about every position along the net. She’s going to bring a heavy arm and versatility to the gym. Leela has an elite maturity and mindset about her that’s going to make adapting to the B1G a smoother transition for her.”

I chose MSU because of the immediate connection I felt to the entire coaching staff. I'm beyond excited for the program being built with them and I can't wait to be a part of it. I believe in this program and feel blessed because they believe in me. The campus already feels like home, and I'm ready to serve for these coaches, grow with my future teammates and honor MSU.

Click to expand...

Leela Orsmby
Caroline Formankova
6'3" | Outside Hitter | Slany, Czech Republic | VK Dukla Liberec


Formankova played with the Czech Republic U20 and U23 teams at the 2024 European Championships where she played against current Spartan Karolina Staniszewska at U23s … Currently playing for VK Dukla Liberec in the Czech Republic Extraliga … Also played for VK Selmy Brno.
“Caroline bleeds green," said Johnson. "She’s a dual citizen, with her mother being from right here in East Lansing. She’s played on the international scene for quite some time and is strong, fiery and powerful. She’s got a ton of experience at the opposite position and puts up a big block. This has been a long time in the making and we are so excited to officially welcome her to the Spartan family.”

It has always been my dream to play college volleyball and ever since I first talked to the coaching staff I knew I was going to choose MSU. Stepping on campus felt like coming home, just on the other side of the world.

Click to expand...

Caroline Formankova

Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Uniforms for Saturday’s game at Illinois.

Login to view embedded media

I personally feel like this assessment of MSU basketball is correct and on-point. The only omission is that MSU was a pretty realistic FF team in 2020 if not for COVID.