EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball senior libero Nalani Iosia was drafted by the Orlando Valkyries with the seventh pick of the fifth round (39th overall) in Monday’s 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation draft.
Iosia becomes the first Spartan selected in the PVF draft and the third Spartan in three years to move into the professional ranks under head coach Leah Johnson joining Zoe Nunez and Amani McArthur.
“This is a testament to the work Nalani has put in over the last three years,” said Johnson. “Nalani is one of the best liberos in the country and doesn’t always get the recognition that she deserves. This only solidifies what we’ve known since she arrived at Michigan State. We are incredibly proud of her as she reaches her dreams of playing professional volleyball.”
One of just five three-time team captains in program history, Iosia etched her name in the Michigan State record book over her three seasons as a Spartan. Her 4.24 career digs/set ranks third in program history and her 1,429 total digs reached fourth-most by a Spartan last weekend against Maryland. With two matches left to play, Iosia could finish with the third-most digs by a Spartan currently held by Jill Krumm (1,466) set from 1986-89.
Entering 2024 Iosia already owned two of the top 10 total dig and digs/set seasons in program history and will add a third once the season in completed. Her 34 digs against Ohio State on November 3, 2024 is the program record for digs in a four-set match and is the third-most single-match digs in program history. To date Iosia has played in 337 of a possible 339 total sets over her three seasons as a Spartan, a testament to her tireless commitment to the program.
This season Iosia leads the Big Ten conference in digs (479) and digs/set (4.56) and has twice been named the B1G Defensive Player of the Week. Iosia became the first player in program history to earn three B1G Defensive Player of the Week awards since it originated in 2005. In 2023 Iosia was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region honorable mention.
Iosia also excelled in the classroom at MSU earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and Academic All-B1G honors in 2023.
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