EAST LANSING, Mich. – Senior libero Nalani Iosia will travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado after accepting an invite to the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team Open Program, held at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center on February 23-25.
The Women’s National Team Open Program is used for consideration for selection to both the U.S. Women’s National Team and U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team. More than 200 student-athletes are expected to attend, with fewer than that receiving invites directly from USA Volleyball like Iosia did. Michigan State last had a player selected to the Collegiate National Team in 2018 (Meredith Norris).
“We’re incredibly proud of Nalani and the work she has put in throughout her first two years at Michigan State,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “Nalani has been our rock in the back row and is one of the best on-court leaders in college volleyball. This is an amazing development opportunity for her that will allow her to compete against some of the top college players in the country.”
Iosia was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region honorable mention following a 2023 season that saw her finish with a career-best in digs (483) and digs per set (4.16). She was the first Spartan to earn All-Region honors since 2017 and the first libero since Kori Moster in 2014.
Iosia’s 483 digs in 2023 rank No. 8 all-time for a single season at MSU, while her 4.16 digs per set ranks No. 9. A two-time team captain since arriving on campus, Iosia was named as a B1G Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5, 2023, after earning MVP honors at the inaugural Kathy DeBoer Invitational. Iosia twice set a new career-high in single-match digs this past season, recording 27 against both Northwestern (five sets) and Iowa (four sets).
Also attending from Michigan State are assistant coach Maddie Beal and technical coordinator Shea Decker-Jacoby. Beal was selected to be an evaluator during the camp after completing her first season as an assistant coach at MSU in 2023.
More than 45 volleyball coaches will be at the Training Center to help run the program and evaluate the athletes, joining U.S. Women’s National Team staff that includes head coach Karch Kiraly. Representatives from all three U.S. women’s pro volleyball leagues will also be in…
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