Michigan State volleyball gets Kristen Kelsay her first win as head coach

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan State volleyball got its first win of the Kristen Kelsay era to kick off the 2025 season, posting a 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-16) sweep of Merrimack Saturday night inside the Breslin Center.

MSU starts the year at 1-0, while Merrimack falls to 1-1 after a 3-0 victory over Chicago State earlier in the day at the Breslin Center.

The Spartans hit .253 in the match and held the Warriors to .085 hitting, including .097 hitting in the first set and –.095 hitting in the second. MSU outpaced Merrimack in digs (42-to-28), services aces (15-3), kills (46-16) and blocks (6-5).

Senior opposite Evie Doezema and junior outside hitter Taylah Holdem led the Spartans in kills with nine each. Doezema hit 0.333 for the match and .667 in the final set. Junior outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska added seven kills, a pair of blocks, and team highs in digs (9) and service aces (4). Sophomore middle blockers Mia Hood and Breccan Scheck and freshman outside hitter Bianca Mumcular tallied five kills, while Scheck also led the Spartans in total blocks with five.

In her collegiate debut, redshirt freshman setter Malayah Long just missed a double-double with a team-leading 31 assists and eight digs. Long also provided a trio of service aces and blocks.

Redshirt sophomore transfer libero Sarah Vellucci added seven digs.

Up next, the Spartans host Chicago State inside the Breslin Center on Sunday, August 31 at 2 p.m. on B1G+.

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