The Support Group of
Michigan State University Women's Volleyball

First-year middle blocker Lauren Schutter announced on Twitter May 12 her transfer to the University of North Carolina. Along with the departures of Abby Olin to Central Michigan University, and other graduations and transfers, MSU has lost five out of six middle blockers from the 2022 lineup. Nil Okur will return for 2023 in that position, to be joined by Samford University junior transfer Kaya Hood and first-year Zuzanna Kulig. [Schutter story]

Multi-Team Spring 2023 Scrimmage in Grand Rapids

Unfortunately there will be no home spring scrimmage matches for Spartan volleyball this spring, so the closest opportunity to see the team play will be in Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 15. The event will be the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Classic, at Grand Rapids Community College (Ford Fieldhouse). There will be two matches open to the public: Western Michigan vs. Bowling Green State at 4:00 p.m., followed by Michigan State vs. University of Michigan at approximately 5:30. Detiails are at: https://www.grshof.com/volleyball-classic.html.

The Spartans will also have two other public scrimmage days, on April 1 at Bowling Green University in Ohio, and on April 8 for a four-team matchup at the Team Pineapple Volleyball Club in Angola, IN.

Three New Faces to Start 2023, While Three Others Transfer Out

Off-season training began for 2023 with two early-enrollee freshman recruits and a junior transfer added to the Spartan lineup. Cameron Berger is a 5'11" setter from Minnesota, Taylah Holdem is a 6'2" outside hitter from New Zealand, and Kaya Hood is a 6'5" middle blocker transferring from Samford. [full story]

At the same time, the team lost three of last year's members as transfers. Middle blocker Emma Monks will play her final season of eligibility as a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, middle blocker Aubrey O'Gorman has transfered to LSU to play beach volleyball for her junior year, and defensive specialist Gracie Danziger has transfered to Jacksonville State for her junior year. [Danziger story] [O'Gorman story] [Monks story]

Top-20 Recruiting Class for Fall 2023!

MSU volleyball's signing day announcement on November 9, 2022 revealed an incoming class of athletes that is ranked among the top twenty recruiting classes in the nation for 2023. VolleyballMag.com's annual women’s NCAA recruiting-class rankings are out, and the Spartans' class of five recruits earned honorable mention status (just outside the top ten). The Big Ten has four schools in the top ten, and three more (including MSU) in the top twenty. [MSU story] [VolleyballMag.com story]

Spartans to Celebrate the 1995 & 1996 Big Ten Champions plus 50 Years of MSU Volleyball

MSU volleyball matches on November 4 and 5, 2022 will feature very special presentations as part of the volleyball alumni weekend. For the Purdue match on Friday, returning members of the 1995 and 1996 Big Ten championship teams will be recognized for their stellar seasons. On Saturday, hosting Ohio State, more than 60 Spartan volleyball players from the 1970's to the 2020's will be honored. Be sure to come to the matches and welcome our alumni home! [full story]

An Easier Second Half?

With the tougher part of their season complete, MSU volleyball has the opportunity for a stronger second-half finish.

For the first half of the Big Ten season, through October 23, the Spartans played seven matches against teams in the top half of the conference standings, with only three matches against teams in the lower half of the standings.

This gets flipped for the second half of the conference season, where MSU will face only three opponents in the upper half of the standings. This should mean we can look forward to better results to come this year.

The Spartans will also play six of those ten matches at home, so let's be there to support them!

Spartan Volleyball Sets a New Attendance Record

On October 14, 2022, the raucous "Battle at Breslin" vs. University of Michigan set a new MSU volleyball official attendance record of 7,326. The previous record of 6,838 occurred at Jenison Field House in 2016, also vs. UM. And prior to that, the previous record for volleyball at the Breslin Center was the 6,824 for the "Bust Breslin" match vs. the Wolverines in 2010. Let's hope a lot of those fans come back to see the Spartans for the rest of the season!

A Win for the Record Books?

In the fifth set on September 30 at Maryland, the game was not going well, with the Spartans down 5-8 at the mid-game side switch. However, things were about to change. In a fantastic turnaround, Aliyah Moore got a kill for the sideout to make it 6-8. With Julia Bishop at the service line, MSU then ran nine more straight points to win the set and the match! Is this a new category for the record books? The longest fifth-set, come-from-behind, match-winning, point-scoring run? Go Green!

Full Schedule for Green & White Classic Tournament

Check out the schedule page for the details of all six matches of the Spartans' second tournament of the season on September 16 and 17. The first whistle will be at 2:30 pm on Friday September 16 with Chicago State vs. Evansville.

North Carolina and Duke Matches Televised

The road matches at North Carolina and Duke on 9/9 and 9/10 will be televised on the ACC Network which is carried on some cable and satellite services. On East Lansing/Meridian Comcast, it is channel 1325.

Best Start Since 2012

After the first two weekends of the 2022 season, Spartan volleyball is undefeated! It's only six matches, and the competition has not been the strongest, but in the record book 6-0 is the best start for MSU since 2012. Next up on September 9 and 10 is the real test of the pre-conference season, with matches against top-75 opponents North Carolina and Duke.

As would be expected, the starting lineup is in flux, with Coach Johnson using a 5-1 offense the first weekend and then trying out a 6-2 the next. Fifteen athletes have seen action, with eleven of them getting court time in 12 or more of the 25 sets played so far.

Streaming Opportunity for 9/2 match at Navy

Spartan volleyball fans will have a rare chance to watch a broadcast of a non-conference away match on Friday September 2. The 7:00 p.m. match against Navy will be streamed on the ESPN+ service, but a subscription is required (minimum one month for $9.99).

Full Schedule for Auto Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational Tournament

Check out the schedule page for the details of all six matches of the Spartans' home opener tournament on August 26 and 27. The first whistle will be at noon on Friday August 26 with Louisiana playing Eastern Michigan.

First SideOut Club Events of the Season!

August 20 will see three SideOut Club events to start the 2022 season. It will start at 10:00 a.m. in Jenison Field House, which will be open to Club members to watch the volleyball team's morning practice. When practice ends (about 11:30) the annual SideOut Club membership meeting will be held.

At 6 p.m. that evening we'll get together at Reno's East for the First Serve Dinner, a chance to meet the 2022 Spartans and the coaching staff. Hope to see you there!

55 Big Ten Volleyball Matches to be Televised in 2022

The Big Ten Network will carry at least 47 women's volleyball matches during the 2022 season, featuring all 14 teams. ESPN channels will televise an additional six matches and two will be on FS1. All other non-televised conference matches will be streamed on the B1G+ subscription service, completing the 100% video coverage of the Big Ten volleyball season. [full story]

Volleyball to be Played at Breslin This Fall

That's the word from MSU Athletic Director Alan Haller in a story published in The Detroit News on June 6, 2022. In an interview with Matt Charboneau of the paper, Haller is quoted as saying that he will be "making sure the volleyball team is playing and practicing more at the Breslin Center for the 2022-23 season".

This move is part of an effort that Haller describes as preparing all MSU sports to "go after success". Another significant part of the effort for volleyball is "plans to raise anywhere from $12 million to $17 million for [Head Coach] Johnson’s team to have its own space", in other words, a dedicated facility for volleyball.

Volleyball fans have been waiting for this for years. It still seems like a difficult task, so let's hope MSU is able to make it happen! [full story]

Previous 2022 News

First Luncheon with the New Coach

You are invited to join us for a special edition of Inside MSU Volleyball at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13th at Reno’s East, 1310 Abbot Road, East Lansing.

This is your opportunity to meet new Head Volleyball Coach Leah Johnson and the rest of the Spartan staff while enjoying lunch at Reno’s! You will hear from Coach Johnson on how her first few weeks have been in East Lansing, her immediate tasks, and what her vision is for Michigan State Volleyball!

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with a full lunch menu available for your purchase. Bring a friend…bring your family…bring any Spartan fan you know!

Spartans Welcome a Middle Blocker, Lose a DS

Lauren Schutter, a 6' 2" middle blocker from Alma, Kansas has signed to attend MSU in the fall, after initially being recruited to Illinois State by new MSU head volleyball coach Leah Johnson. Lauren was a three-sport star at Wabaunsee High School, excelling at volleyball, basketball and track. [full story]

The same day, Penn State volleyball announced that defensive specialist Gillian Grimes, originally an MSU signee for former head coach Cathy George, will now play as a Nittany Lion instead. [full story]

MSU Adds Two Transfers

The month of March starts off with the fall 2022 volleyball roster increasing by two. Setter Zoe Nunez transfers in as a graduate student from Notre Dame where she was twice named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team. [full story]

Outside hitter Aliyah Moore joins the Spartans from Illinois State, following new MSU head coach Leah Johnson. Aliyah, who will be a sophomore, was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team for 2021. [full story]

Sarah Franklin Leaves for Wisconsin

After two seasons playing for the Spartans, outside hitter Sarah Franklin has transferred to the University of Wisconsin. She led the Spartans in kills per set in 2021 and earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. [full story]

Leah Jonson Joins the Spartans as Seventh Head Volleyball Coach

It was announced on February 7, 2022 that Leah Johnson will be the new volleyball coach at Michigan State University. She comes to MSU after five seasons at Illinois State University where she took the Redbirds to the NCAA tournament four consecutive times and was named the 2021 AVCA North Region Coach of the Year. Prior to that she was the head coach a Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville for six seasons. She had a notable career as a defensive specialist at Missouri State from 2000-2003. We look forward to the experience, energy, and enthusiasm she will bring to Spartan volleyball! [full story]

Big Changes Coming for 2022

Following the announced retirement of head coach Cathy George, it appears that 2022 may bring the biggest roster changes in Spartan volleyball history. As of January 22 it's being reported that three of MSU's statistical leaders have put their names in the transfer portal to find a spot at another school. This is in addition to the reports at the beginning of the month that two graduating seniors with remaining eligibility will play elsewhere while pursuing graduate degrees. Talia Edmonds will go to University of Hawai'i with two remaining years of eligibility, while Molly Johnson is going to New Mexico State with one year of eligibility.

Cathy George Retires After 17 Seasons at MSU

On January 14, head volleyball coach Cathy George announced her retirement from Michigan State University. She had been the Spartans' coach since 2005. She was the fifth head coach in the history of Spartan volleyball and also the winningest. The SideOut Club and all volleyball fans will miss her and wish her the best in retirement! [full story]

Volleyball Banquet to be Rescheduled

UPDATE: Due to the ongoing pandemic, the previously announced volleyball banquet has been postponed until a future date, to be determined later.

The 2021 year-end volleyball banquet will be held ~~Sunday, January 9, 2022~~ at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Doors will open at 11 a.m. with the program starting at 11:30. Admission is $35 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. You can buy tickets online until January 5, but seating is limited.

For news from previous years, click on "Archive" in the top menu.

Big Ten and Other News

Pro League Hires Second ex-MSU Coach

On April 27, 2023, the Pro Volleyball Federation announced that Todd Dagenais will coach the Atlanta franchise team. Most recently Todd has been the head coach at the University of Central Florida for 15 years, but before that he was the assistant/associate coach at MSU from 1999 to 2003. [full story]

Cathy George Will Lead Grand Rapids Pro Team

After a year off, former MSU head coach Cathy George has returned to volleyball as part of the new Pro Volleyball Federation. She was introduced on March 13, 2023 as the first head coach of the West Michigan Pro Volleyball franchise that will begin its inaugural season in February 2024. Welcome back, Cathy! [full story]

Kristen Kelsay Hired at Minnesota

On December 30, 2022, new Minnesota head volleyball coach Keegan Cook announced that former Spartan Kristen Kelsay would join him as associate head coach for the Gophers. Kristen was the setter for the Spartans from 2010 to 2013, and followed up as assistant coach from 2014 to 2017. [full story]

Big Ten Leads AVCA Preseason Poll

Nebraska volleyball is number one in the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll, released August 15. Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio State placed third, fifth, and seventh, with Purdue, Illinois and Penn State joining them in the top 20. [full story]

Rules Changes for 2022

There will be minimal changes to NCAA women's volleyball rules for 2022, with none of the changes affecting the play on the court. The most significant one is that teams will have two available challenges per match, down from three. However now if a challenge is upheld, the team will keep that challenge to use again. There are three other minor rules changes. [full story]

2022 Big Ten Preseason Poll

Wisconsin and Nebraska are likely to finish first and second in the conference this season according to Big Ten coaches. MSU appears in eleventh position, the same as last year's finish. [full story]

The coaches also chose a 15-member preseason all-conference team, with no MSU players making the cut.

Franklin Chosen for Collegiate National Team

Former Spartan Sarah Franklin is one of nine Big Ten volleyball players selected for the 2022 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team. These college athletes will train alongside the U.S. Women's National Team in Anaheim, California June 19-25. [full story]

Monson Named Head Coach at Carleton College

Former MSU Spartan Abby Monson has been hired as head volleyball coach for Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Abby was a libero/defensive specialist at MSU from 2014 to 2017. [full story]

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Lauren Schutter Transfers to North Carolina