3&Out: Michigan State volleyball surges, ranked soccer teams face Big Ten tests

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State athletics is entering another important stretch of the fall season, with volleyball building momentum and both soccer programs navigating difficult Big Ten schedules. The Spartan volleyball team continued its strong start with a road sweep of Los Angeles opponents last weekend, while men’s soccer is looking to bounce back from its first Big Ten loss. Michigan State’s No. 2-ranked women’s soccer team, meanwhile, continues to establish itself among the nation’s top teams. Here are my three takeaways from around Michigan State athletics. 1. VOLLEYBALL IS PROVING IT CAN WIN ON THE ROAD Michigan State’s Malaya Long celebrates during her 65-assist performance at USC. | Photo courtesy @MSU_Volleyball on X. Michigan State’s volleyball squad is gaining self-assurance through its performances, yet the surrounding community’s encouragement has also been a hallmark of the Spartans’ latest victories. After securing a major triumph over Penn State, the No. 22-ranked Spartans have achieved three consecutive wins. Michigan State will ride momentum into tonight’s match against No. 13 Oregon (7:30 p.m. at Breslin Center | BTN+) Kristen Kelsay, Michigan State’s second-year head coach, noted that the team’s latest outings have validated the trust she has placed in the players. “They’ve confirmed the belief that I’ve had in them,” Kelsay said. That conviction was evident during a rally against USC which challenged Michigan State’s toughness. Following a first set in which the offense faltered with a .059 hitting percentage, the Spartans rapidly improved their pace, exceeding .600 in the subsequent frame. Michigan State setter Malaya Long (6-1, R-Soph., Lincoln, Neb.) was vital to this reversal, contributing 65 assists. “Yeah, she’s the first setter to have that many assists since pre-me, since 2009,” said Kelsay, who was a two-time team captain and setter for the Spartans from 2010-13. “Which she very much enjoyed.” Long was named AVCA Division I National Player of the Week on Tuesday. “She’s a tough kid and fierce competitor,” Kelsay said.”She holds herself to a very high standard. I can coach her hard and she understands and she knows that relationship, that trust, that love is there.” The cultural identity of the Spartans reaches beyond the volleyball arena. “This week really personified the Spartan family for our program,” Kelsay said. “Friday night, we’re playing UCLA. And probably five points into the first set, the whole men’s soccer team walks in. And they sit about halfway up in Pauley Pavilion. “It’s tight early in the first set, 8-8 or 9-9. And all of a sudden the boys start heckling the UCLA servers, and the kid misses her serve, and the (Michigan State) men’s soccer team goes crazy. And you could see everyone in the arena turning and looking, ‘Where is that coming from?’ “And Saturday night we take the volleyball team to root on the men’s soccer team at UCLA. Just so grateful for the people here, for the support and how special and authentic it is to be a Spartan.” For Michigan State, these recent achievements involve more than just scoreboard results. The focus remains on developing self-belief, overcoming challenges, and acting as ambassadors for a larger cause. “There is belief that is forming, there is confidence that’s forming,” Kelsay said. “But I don’t believe that we are too big-headed. I think we are trying to do some really special things.” 2. MEN’S SOCCER FACES ANOTHER RANKED TEST Michigan State’s Richie Ludwig (10) celebrates with teammates during Michigan State’s 3-0 victory over No. 13 Wisconsin on Sept. 25.| Photo courtesy @MSU_MSoccer Following their first defeat in Big Ten competition this year, the No. 9-ranked Michigan State men’s soccer team is preparing for another demanding task. On Oct. 3, the Spartans lost 3-0 at UCLA. Michigan State fell to 7-2-1 and 3-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State remained in contention for the majority of the match, but the Spartans gave up two goals in the last four minutes. Reflecting on the setback, head coach Damon Rensing remarked that the final tally failed to capture the true intensity of the contest. “At the end of the day, there’s only one stat that really matters, and that’s how many goals you scored and how many you gave up,” Rensing said. The schedule only gets tougher. The Spartans will play at No. 7 Maryland, at 7:30 p.m. tonight (BTN+). With Maryland also holding a 7-2-1 record, Friday’s fixture serves as a fresh chance for Michigan State to gauge its progress against a top-tier program. The Spartans have shown they are capable of holding their own against elite opponents. The current goal is to convert these strong efforts into wins, especially when facing rivals that can take advantage of late-game errors. Given that a rivalry game against Michigan is scheduled for Tuesday at home (7 p.m., BTN), the match at Maryland is a vital chance to rebuild confidence and momentum before they head back to their home field. 3. WOMEN’S SOCCER CONTINUES TO LOOK LIKE A NATIONAL CONTENDER Throughout a significant portion of their season, the Michigan State women’s soccer program has demonstrated its status as a top-tier national contender. Following a dominant opening to their season that featured wins over multiple top-ranked schools, notably their 3-2 victory over No. 12 Colorado on Aug. 30, and their 3-2 victory at No. 6 perennial powerhouse North Carolina on Aug. 23, the Spartans entered the week ranked No. 2 in the coaches’ poll. When ranked No. 1 in the country earlier this season, the Spartans suffered a 3-1 upset loss at home to Michigan on Sept. 20. In the aftermath of that defeat, Michigan State bested Nebraska 3-2, secured a 3-0 clean sheet against No. 18 Washington, and followed up with a 1-0 road victory at Illinois on Oct. 4. Head coach Jeff Hosler praised the combinations between Ava Lutke (Soph., Allendale, Mich.), Bella Najera (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.), Emerson Sargeant (Sr., Hartland, Mich.), and Kayla Briggs (Toronto, Ont.) that helped produce the latest late-game breakthrough. “Perseverance at the end of matches is an incredibly tough thing to do,” Hosler said. A Thursday home fixture against Minnesota served as the Spartans’ subsequent challenge, representing a vital chance to defend their high ranking within the Big Ten. By winning that match 4-0, Michigan State prolonged its impressive streak in conference competition. As the schedule continues, the Spartans must remain steady to achieve their postseason goals. Their blend of veteran leadership, scoring power, and defensive toughness provides the necessary framework to remain competitive with the finest teams in the land. THE BIG PICTURE Across all three programs, Michigan State is entering a stretch in which consistency will matter as much as talent. Volleyball is building confidence through road wins, men’s soccer is trying to respond to its first conference defeat, and women’s soccer is continuing to establish itself as a national contender. Each team faces a different challenge, but the goal is the same: turn a promising start into sustained success as the season moves deeper into Big Ten play. (Denni Andreski is a SpartanMag intern. She grew up in Atlanta, Ga., the daughter of Michigan State graduates, with a dog named Breslin).