Michigan State volleyball closes its first Big Ten weekend with a heavyweight test Sunday afternoon, hosting No. 14 Penn State at 2 p.m. inside the Breslin Center on the Big Ten Network.
The Spartans enter at 10-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play after dropping their league opener to Washington in four sets on Sept. 25. Even with that setback, MSU’s early-season resume still stands out: the Spartans ran through non-conference play at 10-0 for the second straight year, and it marked the fifth undefeated non-conference season in program history.
Michigan State is also getting national attention again. The Spartans are receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll for the second straight week and for the third time this season. Before earning a spot in the preseason poll, MSU had not received votes in the national rankings since 2018.
Against Washington, senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston once again carried a big load offensively, finishing with 14 kills. That gave her a seventh straight match and eighth overall this season with double-digit kills. She’s averaging 3.77 kills per set, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten.
Freshman outside hitter Madi Andrews matched her career high with seven kills in just two sets, while senior middle blocker Zora Hardison added six kills and shared team-high honors with junior middle blocker Carmen Waye with three total blocks. Both middles have been efficient at the net all season: Waye is hitting .481, good for second in the conference, and Hardison sits seventh at .418.
Redshirt sophomore setter Malayah Long handled the offense with 26 assists against Washington and was one of four Spartans to record a service ace. Senior defensive specialists Ky Clayton and Taylah Holdem led the way there with two aces apiece.
On the back line, senior libero Lia Schneider posted a team-high 12 digs. It was her fifth match this season with double-digit digs and her third in MSU’s last four outings.
Penn State comes to East Lansing ranked 14th in the AVCA Poll and at 9-2 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten play after opening conference action with a 3-1 win at Michigan on Friday night.
The Nittany Lions own the all-time series, 57-8, and have been especially tough on the road in this matchup with a 26-5 record in East Lansing. Michigan State’s last win in the series came in a five-set thriller at home on Oct. 28, 2023, which was the Spartans’ first victory over Penn State since 2013 and their first home win in the series since 2002.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley is in her fifth season as Penn State’s head coach.
In Other News...
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Cam Edwards Question Fans Feared
The sight was as jarring as it was sudden in Nebraska: Cam Edwards went down after a tackle in the first quarter and had to leave on a medical cart, a scene that quickly shifted the focus away from the game itself. Michigan State had been counting on Edwards to be part of its offensive rhythm, and losing him so early left the Spartans scrambling to adjust on the fly.
What comes next is the part Michigan State cannot fully answer yet. The immediate concern is the extent of the leg injury, but the larger question is how much his absence could change the look and production of an offense that was built with him in mind. Until there is more clarity, the Spartans are left waiting on the one update that matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Former Spartans Keep Making Michigan State Fans Feel The Loss
Indianas trip through Big Ten play brought another reminder of how much roster movement has reshaped the conference, and it came with two familiar names for Michigan State fans. Nick Marsh and Aidan Chiles, both former Spartans now playing elsewhere, were part of a game that had the look of a showcase for players who once wore green and white before moving on.
Marsh made his mark with a touchdown grab and another productive afternoon as he topped 50 receiving yards for the third straight game, while Chiles was sharp in defeat despite Northwesterns loss. The quarterback put together one of his better outings of the season, and the way both players are performing now only adds to the lingering sense in East Lansing that the Spartans are watching their former pieces thrive in new places. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious After This Loss
Michigan States home loss to Nebraska came with the kind of frustrating backdrop that tends to linger long after the final whistle. Injuries had already thinned the Spartans at key spots, and the game felt like it kept tilting away from them with every controversial call, every stalled drive, and every chance that slipped through their hands. Even so, Michigan State managed to put together a spirited second-half push and made enough notable plays to keep the night alive deep into the fourth quarter.
But the comeback never fully took hold, and the details of how it unraveled will sting. Nebraska kept extending possessions, the Spartans were hurt by turnovers, and late touchdowns ended up putting the result out of reach despite the effort to rally. For a fan base already bracing for a long night, the mix of injuries, officiating gripes, and missed opportunities made this one feel especially hard to swallow. [Read more 🡒]