EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson and the Big Ten Conference revealed the complete 2024 schedule on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to a highly competitive 20-match B1G slate, the Spartans will play an 11-match non-conference schedule that features the second annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, and three out-of-conference opponents that reached the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
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2023 was a year of growth for our program and we’ll continue to raise our standard of excellence in 2024. Not only did we see an improvement in our play, but we also saw an increase in support from our loyal fan base setting multiple program attendance records. We’ll be challenged both in and out of conference this season as we look to set that new standard.
Head Coach Leah Johnson
Michigan State’s volleyball program enjoyed a resurgent 2023 season that saw the program produce a pair of All-B1G student-athletes for the first time since 2017, with outside hitter Taylah Holdem and middle blocker Amani McArthur earning second team honors. Holdem was named to the All-Freshman team as the first Spartan to do so since 2014. Libero Nalani Iosia earned AVCA All-Region honorable mention honors, a first for the program since 2017.
MSU wrapped its season with an overall record of 17-14, along with a 9-11 mark in B1G play. Its 17 victories were the most by the program since 2018 and its nine conference wins were the most since 2017. Michigan State set new program bests in attendance last season with over 61,000 fans attending matches at the Breslin Center, ranking No. 6 nationally in cumulative home attendance with an average of 4,090 fans per match.
The Spartans kick off their 2024 campaign on the road at Northern Colorado on Friday, August 30 before heading to Fort Collins, Colorado on August 31-September 1 where they’ll meet Colorado State and Florida. It’ll be Michigan State’s first-ever meetings with Northern Colorado and Colorado State. All three opponents are primed to be among the best in their respective conferences in 2024, with Florida coming off an appearance in the Round of 32 at the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
MSU opens the Breslin Center doors for the first time on September 6-8 for the second annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, welcoming Western Kentucky, Marist and Loyola (Chicago) to the banks of the Red Cedar River. Western Kentucky finished last season as the No. 22-ranked team in the country after advancing to the Round of 32 at the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Marist and Loyola were each among the best in their respective conferences in 2023, with Loyola finishing 16-2 season in the A10 last season.
Western Michigan and Michigan State will square off for the first time since 2021 on Wednesday, September 11 in East Lansing. MSU is 23-9-1 all-time against the Broncos including an 11-2-1 mark at home. WMU is coming off a historic 2023 season that saw the program finish 31-3 along with a first round upset over No. 7-seeded Auburn in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Staying in state, the Spartans travel to Ypsilanti, Michigan to face Eastern Michigan on Monday, September 16. MSU is 28-8-1 against the Eagles all-time including a 7-5 mark on the road. It’ll be the first time the Spartans have traveled for a match in Ypsi since 2007. Michigan State takes on Purdue Fort Wayne in East Lansing on Tuesday, September 17 before starting a six-match road stretch. The Spartans are 3-0 all-time against the Mastodons and will face PFW for the first time since 2013.
Wrapping up the non-conference schedule, MSU takes on ACC opponents Duke and North Carolina for a third-straight season, making a return trip to North Carolina to face the Blue Devils on Friday, September 20 and the Tar Heels on Sunday, September 22. Michigan State is 2-1 all-time against UNC on the road and 1-1 against Duke. It’s the fourth year of a four-year series between the programs.
Big Ten competition kicks off for the Spartans on Friday, September 27 as MSU starts conference play with a road rivalry match-up at Michigan for the second-straight season.
With the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington to the league in 2024, teams have 14 single-play opponents and three two-play opponents based on geography and competitive balance. MSU's two-play opponents (home and away) include Maryland, Michigan and Penn State. There are seven returning NCAA Tournament teams in the B1G this season with all seven reaching the Round of 32, five reaching the Sweet 16, three reaching the Elite Eight and two reaching the Final Four. Nebraska was the 2023 National Runner-up.
The additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington to our league further cement it as the premier place to play collegiate volleyball. The Big Ten is the deepest conference in the country which will challenge our program to be at its best on a nightly basis.
Head Coach Leah Johnson
The first weekend of conference action continues Sunday, September 29 when MSU travels to Penn State. Michigan State remains on the road in the second weekend of competition facing Indiana on Friday, October 4 and Purdue on Sunday, October 6.
MSU opens the Breslin Center for its first home B1G weekend on Friday, October 11 when Penn State makes a return trip to East Lansing. This weekend features the only back-to-back competition of the conference slate for the Spartans who take on Illinois at home on Saturday, October 12. Michigan State stays at home the following weekend, hosting Nebraska on Friday, October 18 and Washington on Sunday, October 20 during MSU’s homecoming weekend. Last season, Michigan State set a new program attendance record against the Cornhuskers with 8,789 fans packing the Breslin Center.
Michigan State heads west to take on newly minted B1G opponents USC and UCLA the following weekend. The Spartans look to take over the City of Angels when they face USC on Thursday, October 24 and UCLA on Saturday, October 26. MSU last traveled to UCLA in 2012 and USC in 2007.
MSU returns home for matches against Minnesota and Ohio State on Friday, November 1 and Sunday, November 3. Hitting the road, Michigan State heads east to face Maryland and Rutgers on Thursday, November 7 and Saturday, November 9.
The third annual Battle at Breslin is slated for Friday, November 15 when Michigan arrives in East Lansing. Each of the last two seasons have featured stellar crowds for the Battle at Breslin with both ranking in the program Top 10 for single-game attendance. A then record 7,326 fans attended the match in 2022 and over 6,000 fans were in attendance in 2023.
Michigan State plays a single road match at Iowa on Sunday, November 17 before returning to the Breslin Center for three-straight home matches. Oregon takes on the Spartans in East Lansing for the first time since 2013 on Thursday, November 21. Maryland and Northwestern wrap up Michigan State’s home schedule on Saturday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 27 respectively.
MSU’s regular season efforts conclude with a road match at Wisconsin on Saturday, November 30.
Times and television selections will be announced at a later date along with a comprehensive schedule of fan engagement opportunities and promotions surrounding the program's core values of serve, grow and honor.
