EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball program is back in action for a pair of Big Ten conference match-ups this weekend, first traveling to Evanston, Ill. for an 8:00 p.m. ET meeting with Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 29 before returning to East Lansing to face Rutgers at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 inside the Breslin Student Events Center.
Sunday night's match against Rutgers will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network, while Friday's match can be viewed live on B1G+. Connor Onion (PxP) and MSU volleyball alum Elena Shklyar '21 (analyst) have the Sunday night call on BTN. Fans can listen in live via MSUSpartans.com with John Kreger calling the action.
Northwestern ranks No. 38 nationally in hitting percentage at .262, but No. 246 in opponent hitting percentage at .226. The Wildcats are No. 128 in blocks per set (2.14), No. 269 in digs per set (12.67) and No. 148 in kills per set (12.50).
Leilani Dodson is hitting .426 which ranks No. 23 nationally. Dodson is third on the team in kills with 99, behind Julia Sangiacomo (117) and Maddy Chinn (100). Dodson also leads the team in blocks with 49 on 1.17 per set.
Alexa Rousseau is back this season for Northwestern and leads the team in assists with 384 on 9.14 per set. Rousseau can attack as well with 43 kills on the season. Ellee Stinson is the team dig leader at 181 on 4.31 digs per set, which leads the Big Ten.
Rutgers went 1-1 against the Spartans in 2022, defeating MSU at Jersey Mike's Arena 3-2 before falling in East Lansing.
Alissa Kinkela leads Rutgers in kills with 157 on .355 hitting, following by Tina Grkovic with 108 kills hitting .359. Alyssa Nayar is the team leader in assists with 357, while Rutgers has flirted with a 6-2 at times using Chelsea Harvey and Georgia Lee who both average over 7.00 assists per set.
Madyson Chitty leads the Scarlet Knights in digs with 165 while Rikki Williams has posted 49 blocks (1.04 per set).
SERIES HISTORY
Northwestern
- Michigan State is 43-37 all-time against Northwestern and has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, including three of the last four.
- The Spartans are on a two-match winning streak against the Wildcats, sweeping Northwestern twice during the 2022 season.
- MSU last defeated Northwestern, 3-0, on Nov. 20, 2022. Emma Monks led with 13 kills and five blocks, while Aliyah Moore had 12 kills and Nalani Iosia had 18 digs. Zoe Nunez posted 35 assists.
Rutgers
- Michigan State is 14-3 against Rutgers all-time and is 8-2 when facing the Scarlet Knights at home. MSU is 7-3 in its last 10 matches against Rutgers.
- The Spartans split a pair of matches against Rutgers last season, losing in Piscataway (3-2) and winning in East Lansing (3-1).
- MSU last defeated Rutgers on Nov. 23, 2022. Rebecka Poljan led the team with 15 kills and eight blocks, while Maradith O'Gorman (12), Emma Monks (11) and Aliyah Moore (11) also had double-digit kills. Nalani Iosia had 20 digs in the match and Zoe Nunez had 41 assists.
Sunday night's match against Rutgers will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network, while Friday's match can be viewed live on B1G+. Connor Onion (PxP) and MSU volleyball alum Elena Shklyar '21 (analyst) have the Sunday night call on BTN. Fans can listen in live via MSUSpartans.com with John Kreger calling the action.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern is 6-6 to open the 2023 season and started B1G play 0-2 with losses to Wisconsin and Penn State last weekend. The Wildcats non-conference slate was highlighted by a 3-1 win over San Diego who reached the NCAA Semifinal in 2022.Northwestern ranks No. 38 nationally in hitting percentage at .262, but No. 246 in opponent hitting percentage at .226. The Wildcats are No. 128 in blocks per set (2.14), No. 269 in digs per set (12.67) and No. 148 in kills per set (12.50).
Leilani Dodson is hitting .426 which ranks No. 23 nationally. Dodson is third on the team in kills with 99, behind Julia Sangiacomo (117) and Maddy Chinn (100). Dodson also leads the team in blocks with 49 on 1.17 per set.
Alexa Rousseau is back this season for Northwestern and leads the team in assists with 384 on 9.14 per set. Rousseau can attack as well with 43 kills on the season. Ellee Stinson is the team dig leader at 181 on 4.31 digs per set, which leads the Big Ten.
ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is 8-5 and has opened the B1G season 0-3 following losses to Penn State, Purdue and Maryland. The Scarlet Knights faced Maryland earlier this week and were defeated by a final score of 3-1. Rutgers opened the season 8-1 with a P5 victory over Virginia, but have fallen in four straight starting with a 3-2 loss to Princeton on Sept. 15Rutgers went 1-1 against the Spartans in 2022, defeating MSU at Jersey Mike's Arena 3-2 before falling in East Lansing.
Alissa Kinkela leads Rutgers in kills with 157 on .355 hitting, following by Tina Grkovic with 108 kills hitting .359. Alyssa Nayar is the team leader in assists with 357, while Rutgers has flirted with a 6-2 at times using Chelsea Harvey and Georgia Lee who both average over 7.00 assists per set.
Madyson Chitty leads the Scarlet Knights in digs with 165 while Rikki Williams has posted 49 blocks (1.04 per set).
SERIES HISTORY
Northwestern- Michigan State is 43-37 all-time against Northwestern and has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, including three of the last four.
- The Spartans are on a two-match winning streak against the Wildcats, sweeping Northwestern twice during the 2022 season.
- MSU last defeated Northwestern, 3-0, on Nov. 20, 2022. Emma Monks led with 13 kills and five blocks, while Aliyah Moore had 12 kills and Nalani Iosia had 18 digs. Zoe Nunez posted 35 assists.
Rutgers
- Michigan State is 14-3 against Rutgers all-time and is 8-2 when facing the Scarlet Knights at home. MSU is 7-3 in its last 10 matches against Rutgers.
- The Spartans split a pair of matches against Rutgers last season, losing in Piscataway (3-2) and winning in East Lansing (3-1).
- MSU last defeated Rutgers on Nov. 23, 2022. Rebecka Poljan led the team with 15 kills and eight blocks, while Maradith O'Gorman (12), Emma Monks (11) and Aliyah Moore (11) also had double-digit kills. Nalani Iosia had 20 digs in the match and Zoe Nunez had 41 assists.
HOLDEM HAS BIG WEEKEND
- Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem was among the top contenders for B1G Freshman of the Week after a pair of strong performances against Michigan and Illinois to open conference play.
- Holdem registered 38 kills (4.75 per set) and had 19 kills in each of MSU's matches, hitting a respectable .253 in the process.
- Holdem led the team and tied for the B1G lead in service aces last weekend with six, including four against Michigan.
- Holdem posted her first career double-double with 11 digs and 19 kills at Illinois.
