Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's senior libero, Nalani Iosia, has achieved a significant milestone by being named to the First Team All-Big Ten. This honor was announced by the conference on Tuesday and is decided by votes from the league's head coaches.

Iosia led the Big Ten in digs per set with 4.57 and total digs at 516. She is the first libero in Michigan State history to receive first-team honors and marks the program's first selection since 2021.

Throughout her season, Iosia made notable achievements including setting a record for digs in a four-set match against Ohio State on November 3, 2024. Her performance of 34 digs is now a program record for such matches and ranks as the third-highest single-match dig count in Michigan State history.

In addition to her individual accolades, Iosia recorded her 2,000th career dig against Northwestern and became Michigan State's first player to earn three B1G Defensive Player of the Week awards in one season.

Her career statistics are impressive; she ranks third all-time at Michigan State with an average of 4.25 digs per set over her career and has amassed a total of 1,466 digs.

On November 25, Iosia was drafted into the Pro Volleyball Federation by the Orlando Valkyries as their seventh pick in the fifth round (39th overall). She joins Zoe Nunez and Amani McArthur as Spartans who have turned professional under head coach Leah Johnson.

Junior outside hitter Taylor Preston also received recognition as Michigan State's Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree after achieving averages of 3.24 points per set and hitting .222 during her debut season with MSU.

The Big Ten also announced several other postseason honors: Sarah Franklin from Wisconsin was named Player of the Year; Bergen Reilly from Nebraska received Setter of the Year; Lexi Rodriguez from Nebraska was Libero of the Year; Izzy Starck from Penn State earned Freshman of the Year; while Katie Schumacher-Cawley from Penn State was voted Coach of the Year by both coaches and media.