Nalani Iosia signs with Grand Rapids Rise
· Yahoo Sports
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Former Michigan State volleyball captain Nalani Iosia is returning to Michigan to continue her pro career, signing to play with the Grand Rapids Rise.
Iosia transferred to MSU in 2022 after two seasons at Texas. She was a captain all three years she spent in East Lansing and earned All-Big Ten First Team honors her senior season.
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After her Spartan career, Iosia broke into Major League Volleyball (formerly known as Pro Volleyball Federation) with the Orlando Valkyries.
Her last match as a Spartan was on Nov. 30, 2024, and the start of her first pro season was less than two months later.
“It was kind of like nonstop volleyball for almost a straight year,” said Iosia. “It was probably 10 months of our preseason in college to season, and then camp to preseason for pro, and straight into a long four months of season. That was probably hard for me just not having a mental and physical break, but it was still really exciting just because it kind of hit me like ‘whoa, I’m playing professional volleyball now.'”
The Valkyries won the championship in Iosia’s rookie season, but she did not return for a second season with Orlando. Instead, she spent last year coaching at her club back home in Redondo Beach, Calif.
“That’s where the love for the game kind of showed for me,” she said of the year away. “Because I enjoyed coaching but then I realized like dang, I would much rather be the one on the court then just on the sidelines telling the girls what to do. So that just really pushed me to trust the process and see where it goes, keep training.”
Hungry to play again, Iosia said she received a call from MSU volleyball coach Kristen Kelsay. Iosia never played for Kelsay, who was hired in Dec. 2024. However, Kelsay’s biggest coaching mentor is Cathy George, the current general manager of the Grand Rapids Rise. Kelsay told Iosia that George was hoping to get in touch with her.
“About a week later, Cathy gave me a call and we were just on the phone talking about how she would come to our (MSU) games and she would watch us play,” said Iosia. “It kind of just led to ‘yeah, we would love to have you on our team next season.’ I was like ‘oh my gosh! This is crazy! Yes, I will be there!'”
Iosia is thrilled not only for the opportunity to continue her pro career, but also for the chance to return to Michigan.
“It was kind of a no-brainer. Being there my last three years really helped me out just volleyball-wise and everything else. It was kind of a full-circle moment to go back to the place that gave me the opportunity to go play pro in the first place.”
Major League Volleyball is gearing up for its fourth season of competition. The Rise have been in the league since its inception and are seeking their first championship.
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