After starting Big Ten play winless against now No. 25 Washington and No. 11 Oregon last weekend, Indiana volleyball looks to even its conference record during its Big Ten home opening weekend.
Indiana will first host Michigan State on Friday, followed by a match against Ohio State on Sunday.
The Spartans ended up 17-14 overall and 9-11 in conference play last season. Indiana and Michigan State met one time last year in East Lansing, where the Hoosiers won in four sets. Indiana has also built a small winning streak against Michigan State, taking the past four matches, which date back to 2021.
This year, the Spartans are 7-6 and 0-2 in Big Ten play, picking up losses on the road to Michigan and No. 3 Penn State on Sept. 27 and 29, respectively. Friday’s matchup is the only time the two teams are scheduled to face off against each other this season.
Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson is a key offensive threat for Michigan State. Anderson transferred from Auburn University ahead of this season, where she ranked second on the team with 356 kills. She has continued to showcase her dominant arm for the Spartans, currently leading the team with 151 kills.
Senior defensive specialist Nalani Iosia is a crucial part of Michigan State's defense. Her determination to keep the ball off the ground has earned her 200 digs, the most on the team. Iosia is also the only Spartan to surpass 100 digs this season.
Ohio State went 11-18 last year, its first time going below .500 since the 2019 season when the Buckeyes finished 15-17. The two teams matched up twice last season, and both teams won at home, with Indiana winning in five sets and Ohio State winning in four sets.
The Buckeyes are currently 7-5, but are also 0-2 in Big Ten play, losing to USC and UCLA. Ohio State does have a top 25 win when it swept the University of Miami on Sept. 13. This is the first of two meetings between Indiana and Ohio State this season, as both teams meet again in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 24 for the Hoosiers’ final regular season road game.
Graduate student outside hitter Emily Londot returned to Ohio State this season, using her extra year of eligibility, as the team’s only unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection and a three-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree. She’s vital to the Buckeyes' success on both sides of the court this season.
Offensively, she leads the Big Ten with 209 kills and leads the Buckeyes tallying 16 service aces. On defense, her impact is just as crucial, ranking second on the team with 114 digs and adding 47 blocks at the net. Her all-around performance makes her an indispensable asset on both sides of the court.
The Hoosiers’ match against Michigan State is at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Ohio State at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both contests will be at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington and can be viewed on Big Ten+.
Follow reporter Parker Rodgers (@parrod153) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
