EAST LANSING, Mich. – At long last, the 2024 Michigan State volleyball season has arrived. MSU gets its season started quickly with a trio of formidable opponents this weekend, facing Northern Colorado, Colorado State (receiving votes) and No. 11-ranked Florida on the road.
Action kicks off on Friday, August 30 with an 8:00 p.m. ET first serve against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. The weekend continues in Fort Collins, Colo. on Saturday, August 31 when MSU meets Colorado State at 8:00 p.m., before concluding the trip with a neutral site match in Fort Collins against No. 11-ranked Florida at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 1.
The Spartans haven't traveled to Colorado since 1994 when they played in the Colorado Invitational. MSU defeated No. 13 Notre Dame that weekend before falling to No. 15 Colorado in four.
An online video stream will be provided for Friday's match against Northern Colorado (ESPN+) and Saturday's match at Colorado State (Mountain West Network). All three games will have a live radio broadcast on MSUSpartans.com with John Kreger calling the action in his 20th season.
Makenzie Harris took on the brunt of Northern Colorado's offensive load as a fifth year last season, leading the team with 401 kills on .236 hitting, also contributing a team-best 36 service aces, 249 digs and 41 blocks. Fifth year Cece Huhn was the team-leader in blocks (105.0) and blocks per set (1.02), and fifth year Michaela Boon led the team with 338 digs (2.99 digs/set). The Bears have a lot of production and experience to replace in 2024.
Syd Cole returns at setter after leading the team with 1,121 assists in 2023. Cole was second on the team in aces (34). Gabi Placide (243) and Brynn Reines (234) return over 200 kills each for the Bears offense. Bella LePore is the top returning defensive specialist coming off a 225 dig freshman season. Isabel Bennett posted 66 total blocks last year and returns in the middle.
The Rams return all four of their All-Mountain West performers from a season ago in Emery Herman, Kennedy Stanford, Naeemah Weathers and Malaya Jones. Jones set the single-season kills record at CSU last season with 466, Herman posted 10.39 assists per set en route to being named the 2023 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and Stanford was third on the team with 307 kills, averaging 2.42 kills/set. Weathers hit .426 in the middle for CSU which ranked second in program history and seventh in the country last season.
Also returning for Colorado State are libero Kate Yoshimoto who posted 421 digs (3.31 digs/set) and middle blocker Karina Leber (102.0 total blocks). The Rams will however need to replace the 368.0 point production of outside Annie Sullivan who was second on the team with 344 kills a season ago.
In addition to Stucky, Florida returns preseason All-SEC selection Kennedy Martin who led the Gators with 492 kills (4.35 kills/set) on .298 hitting. AC Fitzpatrick also returns on offense after finishing her fourth season with 298 kills, good for second on the team. On the defensive, libero Elli McKissock is back after recording 444 digs (3.93 digs/set) and Gabrielle Essix returns after finishing third on the team in blocks last season (101.0, 1.23 blocks/set).
Departing 2023 stat leaders include middle blocker Nnedi Okammor (120.0 blocks, 1.29 blocks/set) and setter Kennedy Muff (851 assists, 10.25 assists/set).
- This is the first meeting between MSU and Northern Colorado.
Colorado State
- This is the first meeting between MSU and Colorado State.
Florida
- Michigan State is 0-2 all-time against Florida dating back to 1996. MSU and the Gators have never played at a neutral site, playing once on the road and once at home each.
- MSU first faced Florida on Dec. 13, 1996 in the NCAA Elite Eight, falling to the Gators, 3-1. No. 7-ranked Florida played in East Lansing at the 2016 Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational, defeating the Spartans, 3-0.
Action kicks off on Friday, August 30 with an 8:00 p.m. ET first serve against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. The weekend continues in Fort Collins, Colo. on Saturday, August 31 when MSU meets Colorado State at 8:00 p.m., before concluding the trip with a neutral site match in Fort Collins against No. 11-ranked Florida at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 1.
The Spartans haven't traveled to Colorado since 1994 when they played in the Colorado Invitational. MSU defeated No. 13 Notre Dame that weekend before falling to No. 15 Colorado in four.
An online video stream will be provided for Friday's match against Northern Colorado (ESPN+) and Saturday's match at Colorado State (Mountain West Network). All three games will have a live radio broadcast on MSUSpartans.com with John Kreger calling the action in his 20th season.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
Northern Colorado finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 18-12, which included a 12-4 mark in Big Sky matches. The Bears fell to Eastern Washington in the conference quarterfinals before reaching the Round of 16 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) tournament. Northern Colorado finished last year ranked No. 110 in the RPI, with a season-best victory over Colorado State (3-2), who finished No. 64. The Bears faced just one B1G opponent in 2023, falling 3-0 to Northwestern on September 8.Makenzie Harris took on the brunt of Northern Colorado's offensive load as a fifth year last season, leading the team with 401 kills on .236 hitting, also contributing a team-best 36 service aces, 249 digs and 41 blocks. Fifth year Cece Huhn was the team-leader in blocks (105.0) and blocks per set (1.02), and fifth year Michaela Boon led the team with 338 digs (2.99 digs/set). The Bears have a lot of production and experience to replace in 2024.
Syd Cole returns at setter after leading the team with 1,121 assists in 2023. Cole was second on the team in aces (34). Gabi Placide (243) and Brynn Reines (234) return over 200 kills each for the Bears offense. Bella LePore is the top returning defensive specialist coming off a 225 dig freshman season. Isabel Bennett posted 66 total blocks last year and returns in the middle.
ABOUT COLORADO STATE (RV)
Tabbed as the conference favorite in 2024, Colorado State finished 2023 with an overall record of 19-12 along with a 12-6 mark in the Mountain West. The Rams fell to Fresno State in the Mountain West championship match, going to five sets (25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 26-28, 12-15) in a tightly contested final. Colorado State finished the 2023 campaign ranked No. 64 in the RPI, earning a signature victory early with a 3-1 result over Kentucky (RPI No. 8) on August 25, 2023. CSU took down one B1G opponent last season in a 3-2 victory over Michigan on September 2. Colorado State is receiving votes in the first AVCA poll of the season.The Rams return all four of their All-Mountain West performers from a season ago in Emery Herman, Kennedy Stanford, Naeemah Weathers and Malaya Jones. Jones set the single-season kills record at CSU last season with 466, Herman posted 10.39 assists per set en route to being named the 2023 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and Stanford was third on the team with 307 kills, averaging 2.42 kills/set. Weathers hit .426 in the middle for CSU which ranked second in program history and seventh in the country last season.
Also returning for Colorado State are libero Kate Yoshimoto who posted 421 digs (3.31 digs/set) and middle blocker Karina Leber (102.0 total blocks). The Rams will however need to replace the 368.0 point production of outside Annie Sullivan who was second on the team with 344 kills a season ago.
ABOUT #11 FLORIDA
Ranked No. 11 in the first AVCA poll of the season, Florida was picked to finish second in the preseason SEC poll (one first place vote), behind defending national champion Texas. The Gators went 19-10 overall and 10-8 in SEC play last season despite losing preseason All-SEC and 2022 All-American setter Alexis Stucky to a knee injury on September 17. Florida reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being ousted by Georgia Tech, 3-0, to finish No. 20 in the RPI. Prior to Stucky's departure, the Gators had an early season signature sweep over then No. 2-ranked Stanford, also defeating then No. 8-ranked Penn State and No. 5-ranked Minnesota in the month of August.In addition to Stucky, Florida returns preseason All-SEC selection Kennedy Martin who led the Gators with 492 kills (4.35 kills/set) on .298 hitting. AC Fitzpatrick also returns on offense after finishing her fourth season with 298 kills, good for second on the team. On the defensive, libero Elli McKissock is back after recording 444 digs (3.93 digs/set) and Gabrielle Essix returns after finishing third on the team in blocks last season (101.0, 1.23 blocks/set).
Departing 2023 stat leaders include middle blocker Nnedi Okammor (120.0 blocks, 1.29 blocks/set) and setter Kennedy Muff (851 assists, 10.25 assists/set).
SERIES HISTORY
Northern Colorado- This is the first meeting between MSU and Northern Colorado.
Colorado State
- This is the first meeting between MSU and Colorado State.
Florida
- Michigan State is 0-2 all-time against Florida dating back to 1996. MSU and the Gators have never played at a neutral site, playing once on the road and once at home each.
- MSU first faced Florida on Dec. 13, 1996 in the NCAA Elite Eight, falling to the Gators, 3-1. No. 7-ranked Florida played in East Lansing at the 2016 Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational, defeating the Spartans, 3-0.
IOSIA AND BISHOP NAMED CO-CAPTAINS
- For the third consecutive season, senior setter Julia Bishop and fifth year libero Nalani Iosia have been named team captains for the Spartans.
- Bishop and Iosia are the fourth and fifth players in the program history to be named three-time captains joining Nikki Colson (01-03), Katie Johnson (05-07) and Kori Moster (12-14).
HOLDEM A RETURNING ALL-B1G SELECTION
- Sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem is Michigan State's lone returning All-B1G selection from 2023, aiming to improve upon her second-team designation from a year ago.
- Holdem also earned All-Freshman honors from the conference, the first MSU rookie to earn that honor since 2014 and one of nine all-time.
- Holdem finished last season ranked No. 9 in the B1G in kills/set (3.44) and No. 8 in kills (399). Holdem was No. 9 in points per set at 3.88.
- The leading scorer among all freshmen in B1G play, Holdem posted 4.03 points per set in 20 conference matches.
- Holdem's 25 kills on Sept. 29, 2023 were the most in a match by an MSU freshman since Erin Hartley (28, 1998).
SPARTANS GAIN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Sophomore outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska (Poland) and freshman middle blocker Carmen Waye (Canada) each had the opportunity to represent their home countries over the summer playing with their age level national team programs.
- Staniszewska played with the U22 Polish National Team at the U22 European Championships, falling in the bronze medal match to Turkiye.
- Waye played with the U19 Canadian National team at the U19 NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Continental Championship, falling to the United States in the gold medal match.
- Waye led Team Canada with 16 points (12 kills, match-high four blocks) in the championship match despite the loss.
IOSIA AIMING TO MAKE MOST OF FIFTH YEAR
- Fifth-year libero Nalani Iosia enters the season ranked second in the B1G in career digs among active players with 1,504. Only Maryland's Lilly Gutner (1,611) has more career digs.
- Iosia ranked fifth in the B1G last season in digs/set at 4.16.
- Iosia was an AVCA All-North Region honorable mention following the conclusion of the 2023 season, the first Spartan to earn a regional honor since 2017 and the first libero since 2014.
- Iosia's 483 digs last season ranked No. 8 all-time for a single season at MSU. She will start the season with 950 digs as a Spartan, 50 away from 1,000.
- Iosia twice matched a career-best 27 digs in a match in 2023.
DOEZEMA DOES IT ALL
- Entering her third year with the program, junior middle blocker Evie Doezema has played every front row position for the Spartans.
- Doezema started her career as a six-rotation outside as a freshman, before playing middle and settling in on right side during her sophomore campaign. Now a junior, Doezema will move back inside and play middle for the Spartans in 2024.
- Head Coach Leah Johnson has lauded Doezema's willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team, and her drive to be the best at whatever position she is playing.
- Doezema's sophomore season saw her make drastic improvements as a player, hitting .257 with 143 kills. Doezema's 57 blocks ranked second on the team, good for .56 blocks per set in 102 sets played.
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