The Support Group of
Michigan State University Women's Volleyball

Note: Because many of the news items on this page link to current-news sites that are updated frequently, some links in the archive may no longer work.

2015 Annual Awards Presented

The following awards were presented at the annual volleyball banquet on January 10, 2016 at the Kellogg Center:

SideOut Club Service Award: Jan Holcomb
Academic All-Conference Selections: Allyssah Fitterer, Alyssa Garvelink, Rachel Minarick, Chloe Reinig, Maggie Halloran, Kristen Muir, and Halle Peterson
Kirkby Scholar-Athlete Award: Maggie Halloran
Most Improved Award: Brooke Kranda
Most Inspirational Award: Halle Peterson
Playmaker Award: Megan Tompkins
Extra Mile Award: Autumn Christenson
MVP Award: Rachel Minarick

The SideOut Club presented Coach George with a check for $9,500 for use by the volleyball program.

Spartans Are In the Tournament!

The MSU volleyball team bounced back from their longest losing streak since 1993 to qualify for the 2015 NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive year. They won the last four matches of the conference season in convincing fashion, including a road win over 14th-ranked Purdue.

The team will travel to Seattle, Washington to play Arkansas State on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. The winner of that match will play the winner of Washington vs. Denver in the second round, Saturday at 10:00 p.m.

Arkansas State stands out in the tournament field for having the best overall record in the country this year, with 28 wins to only one loss. The Sun Belt Conference champions are also ranked number 24 in the Coaches' Poll. However, they have played only one top-50 opponent during the entire season, which resulted in a loss. MSU has much more experience against top teams including five wins. In the Pablo computer rankings, MSU and Arkansas State are essentially even with only 50 points separating them.

Washington is the number five seed in the tournament, but is ranked number one in the country in both the Coaches' Poll and the Pablo computer rankings.

MSU Volleyball Is Tops in Consistency

For the last five years, the Spartan volleyball team has been one of the most consistent performers in the Big Ten Conference. During that period, they have been one of only four teams to finish with a .500 or better conference record every year. The others to do this were Penn State, Nebraska, and Purdue.

In addition, only three teams (MSU, Penn State and Nebraska) have made it to the NCAA tournament each of the last five years. In those tournament appearances the last four years, MSU advanced to the Sweet 16 twice and to the second round twice, with an overall tournament won-loss record of 6-4.

Minarick Honored for Third Time

Rachel Minarick was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week for November 23, tying her with Lauren Carlini at three awards apiece this year. [full story]

Garvelink and Minarick Earn Weekly Awards

Alyssa Garvelink was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for October 19 for her outstanding performance against Maryland and Rutgers, including a .588 hitting percentage for the week. She is the first Spartan to win this award since Lauren Wicinski almost two years ago.

In addition, Rachel Minarick was named Big Ten Setter of the Week for the second time this season. [full story]

Spartans Celebrate 1995 Final-Four Team

For the opening weekend of the 2015 Big Ten season, MSU volleyball revelled in the return of an amazing 17 members of the 1995 volleyball program.

This was an unheralded team that energized the campus and surprised Division I volleyball with their 1995 run to the Big Ten title and then on to the national final four matches in Amherst, MA. It resulted in awards unmatched since that time for Spartan volleyball, including national Coach of the Year and three All-Americans. [full story]

Minarick and Monson Add Player of the Week Honors

For only the second time, two Spartan volleyball players have won Big Ten Player of the Week awards in the same week.

On September 21, 2015, sophomore libero Abby Monson was named co-Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore setter Rachel Minarick was named Setter of the Week. It was the first such award for each of them, and the first Setter of the Week award for any Spartan. [full story]

Megan Tompkins Named Defensive Player of the Week

Sophomore middle blocker Megan Tompkins won her first conference award September 14, 2015, being named the Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week. She averaged 2 blocks per set for the week, but also had a very impressive offensive performance including a .628 hitting percentage. [full story]

Challenging Schedule for 2015

MSU's non-conference volleyball schedule for 2015 is an ambitious one, featuring four opponents who were ranked above the Spartans at the end of 2014. Unfortunately for hometown fans, these premier matches will all occur on the road.

The matches against #17 Kentucky and #24 Arkansas-Little Rock are part of the season opener tournament in Lexington, Kentucky, while the visits to #7 North Carolina and #25 Duke complete the non-conference season just before the Spartans return home to start the Big Ten season. In between, MSU will host one tournament and travel to another in New Hampshire.

The Big Ten schedule will be nearly identical to last year's, except that the location of every match will be switched between home and away. One result of this is that we will have only a single Friday match in East Lansing. The remaining nine Big Ten matches at home will be played on Wednesdays and Saturdays. [full schedule]

Live Stream for Washington Matches

The Spartans' first-round NCAA Tournament game against Arkansas State will be streamed live from Seattle Friday at 8:00 p.m. EST. The second-round game on Saturday at 10:00 p.m. will be streamed from the same address [Washington Live Stream]

MSU Volleyball Apparel from Nike Available for a Limited Time

Johnny Mac's Sporting Goods will be taking orders online until September 1, 2015 for Nike-branded MSU Volleyball shirts in several styles. These are different than what is currently being sold at the SideOut Club merchandise table. Visit the special website to see what is offered and to place an order. [Visit the website]

Annual Meeting in Jenison April 25

The SideOut Club’s Annual Meeting will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015 in Jenison Field House, during the spring tournament (see below). The meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. which corresponds to one of the time slots in the tournament when the Spartans are not scheduled to play. It will be held in one of the classrooms in Jenison.

All members are encouraged to attend. The Club’s annual financial statement will be presented and there will be an election for the Board of Directors. The Annual Meeting also serves as a forum for members to voice any suggestions or concerns. Hope to see you on the 25th.

Spring Tournament April 25

The Spartans will host a six-team spring tournament in Jenison Field House on Saturday, April 25, 2015. Teams will include MSU volleyball alumni, IPFW, Wright State, Ferris State, and Northwood. [tournament schedule]

The spring schedule will open five weeks earlier on March 21 with the Grand Rapids Hall of Fame Volleyball Showcase at Aquinas College. MSU will play Michigan at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

On March 28, the Spartans will be at the KIVA Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. Participating teams will include Indiana, Louisville, Western Kentucky, Lipscomb, Dayton, Illinois State, Cincinnati, Ohio, Memphis, Xavier, Austin Peay, and Morehead State.

For the last spring road trip, on April 18, MSU will be one of 19 teams competing at the Academy Collegiate Tournament in Indianapolis. Other teams will include Ball State, Butler, Illinois State, Indiana, Indiana State, IUPUI, Lipscomb, Purdue, Ohio University, Ohio State, Dayton, Illinois, Indianapolis, Louisville, Valparaiso, Western Kentucky, and Xavier.

(Note: because of the nature of spring scheduling, all times are subject to change, but will be more firm as the events get closer.)

Big Ten and Other News

Big Ten Sets Record for Tournament Teams

The Big Ten has a record number of nine teams in the 2015 NCAA tournament, more than any other conference, including five of the 16 seeded teams as well as four of the top seven seeds.

Big Ten Volleyball Adds Instant Replay

For fall 2015 conference matches, the NCAA will allow experimental use of video instant replay by referees, and the Big Ten will be one of three conferences to use it. Coaches will be allowed three challenges per match on certain types of referee calls. So far it's reported that at least Wisconsin and Minnesota expect to have the equipment and personnel to utilize the rule. [full story]

Big Ten Announces Inaugural Volleyball Foreign Tour

The Big Ten conference announced the start on June 13, 2015 of the first Volleyball Foreign Tour, to Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy. This year's team will be coached by Keylor Chan of Northwestern University and will consist of one player from each Big Ten school. Setter Halle Peterson represents MSU. [full story]

Ebony Scott Joins Elon Phoenix

MSU outside hitter Ebony Scott has transferred to Elon University with two years of eligibility remaining. Elon is in North Carolina, much closer to Ebony's home in Powhatan, Virginia. [full story]

The Support Group of Michigan State University Women's Volleyball

2015 Season Results

News Links

2015 News Archive