MSU women's volleyball: Tradition-rich program aims to return to elite level

Veronica Bolanos, Lansing State Journal
·4 min read

Title IX, gaining women the right to equal opportunity in sports, was signed into law in 1972. To commemorate the 50-year anniversary, the Lansing State Journal is highlighting all 12 women's sports at Michigan State in a series of articles throughout fall 2022.

More:A closer look at 50 years of Title IX and women's sports at MSU

There have been only six head coaches in the 50 years since the Michigan State volleyball program began in 1972. Coaches such as Annelies Knoppers, Chuck Erbe and Cathy George were prominent in elevating the program to a national level.

There are four former Michigan State volleyball players who have been inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame – Dana Cooke, Valerie Sterk Kemper, Diane Spoelstra and Jenna Wrobel.

MSU student assistant coach Lia Moore emphasizes that current players have a responsibility to the women that paved the path for them.

"It's important to continue the legacy of the women that came before us," Moore said. "We need to do this to show that women belong here, too. Just like men, we're willing to get strong, and work in the gym and have that competitive spirit."

Defining moment

September 1995 — A mere 212 fans gathered to watch the Michigan State Women's volleyball home opener against Baylor. By December, a whopping 4,867 fans would gather in Jenison to watch a surprisingly dominant squad play its last home game of the season. The 1995 Spartans, under Erbe, shocked not just East Lansing, but the NCAA volleyball world, winning the Big Ten with a 19-1 record and reaching the Final Four. The Spartans finished 34-3 overall.

Michigan State's Jamye Cox, right, and the rest of the Spartans stand for the national anthem before the volleyball match against Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at the Jenison Field House in East Lansing. Michigan won the set 25-22.
Michigan State's Jamye Cox, right, and the rest of the Spartans stand for the national anthem before the volleyball match against Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at the Jenison Field House in East Lansing. Michigan won the set 25-22.

Their most notable win came against a historically prominent Hawaii team in the regional final of the NCAA tournament. Coming into the match, Hawaii was 31-0 and was the favorite to win the championship. The Spartans lost the first two sets before rallying to win a five-set thriller. MSU went on to fall to eventual national champion Nebraska in the national semifinals, but the 1995 season marked a turning point for the program, making MSU a volleyball school.

More:Solari: Volleyball stoked MSU’s golden age 20 years ago

By the numbers

  • NCAA tournament appearances: 22

  • Regional semifinal appearances: 7

  • Number of matches in a typical season: 31 (16 at home in 2022)

  • Ticket price: $6 (free for MSU students and youth under eight)

  • Minutes in a regular-season game: 60-90 (best of five sets)

  • Players on the current roster: 18

  • Coaching staff: 3

  • Hours of practice in a typical week:20

  • Number of players who played for USA Volleyball: 14

Where the program is now

Now halfway through the season, a young team is hoping to build on a surprising first half under first-year coach Leah Johnson. Moore, who assists in skills building, entering data and other roles within the team, hopes the team can carve its mark in a competitive Big Ten conference that is loaded with several of the best teams in the nation.

More:MSU's young volleyball team, having shown some teeth on the road, makes its Big Ten debut at Breslin

"We have a young squad, so they've definitely been learning a lot about the game." Moore said. "But they've been holding their own and this definitely isn't the same team that was here in the summer. They've come together and committed to the process as a team."

What the future holds

The MSU volleyball schedule runs from Aug. 26 to Nov. 26. During Big Ten play, the team faces conference opponents twice, one at home and one away.

Unlike several other sports, for volleyball, there is no Big Ten Tournament. The regular season Big Ten champion will get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in December. Of the past 15 NCAA champions, nine of them were Big Ten teams.

Moore just wants the Spartans to continue to improve against some of the toughest competition in the country.

"The hope is to continue to mature and apply what we've working on in the gym," Moore said. "I think most importantly, we wanna bring some wins back to East Lansing and create our own story."

Michigan State players celebrate a play against Nebraska, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan State players celebrate a play against Nebraska, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich.

How to watch

The MSU volleyball team plays its home games at the Breslin Student Events Center. The Spartans' schedule can be found on their website at msuspartans.com/sports/volleyball. Home games can be streamed on BTN+ with a subscription (free if you're on campus).

More:Leah Johnson taking her swing at lifting Michigan State volleyball program

This article is part of a larger project looking back at 50 years of Title IX and what women's sports at MSU look like today. To see the full project, click here.

Veronica Bolanos is a news assistant at the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at VBolanos@lsj.com or 517.267.0460. Follow her on Twitter @BVeronica19.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State volleyball: A look at defining moments