Volleyball Earns Big Ten Postseason Honors

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The resurgent Michigan State volleyball program earned three Big Ten postseason honors. Postseason honors are voted on by the league’s head coaches and were announced by the conference on Thursday afternoon.
 
Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur garnered second team honors, and freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem was named to the second team as well as the All-Freshman squad. Junior setter Julia Bishop was MSU’s sportsmanship honoree.
 
It’s Michigan State’s first season with multiple postseason award winners since the 2017 when four Spartans garnered recognition. Holdem is the first MSU first year named to the All-Freshman team since 2014, is one of only three MSU outside hitters to earn the designation all-time and is one of only nine Spartan volleyball players to be named to the All-Freshman team since the honor began in 1999.
 
McArthur finished the season No. 10 in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .346, a mark that ranks also ranks No. 10 all-time in a single season at MSU. With 28 solo blocks this season, McArthur led the B1G in the category. Her 116 total blocks led the Spartans as she finished the season with 1.09 blocks per set. Previously a three-time All-Conference USA selection, McArthur finished fourth on the team in kills (186) and second in points per set (2.43).
 
Holdem enrolled early at Michigan State in January, allowing her to hit the ground running when her freshman season started. Her 399 kills led MSU this past season, while also leading the Spartans in points per set (3.88), kills per set (3.44) and service aces (33). Holdem was a six-rotation player and finished second on the team in digs (238) and digs per set (2.05). The leading scorer among all freshman in B1G play, Holdem posted 4.03 points per set in 20 conference matches.
 
Michigan State wrapped up its season last weekend with an overall record of 17-14, along with a 9-11 mark in B1G play. MSU’s 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 this 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.