Coming off a semi-finals loss at last year's national championship, MSU dodgeball is back in action and currently ranks No.1 in the National Collegiate Dodgeball Association power rankings. 

The Spartans hosted No. 19 Central Michigan, No. 21 Western Michigan and their rivals, No. 5 Grand Valley State, in the Michigan Dodgeball Cup, which for the first time in 21 years was not held at IM Sports West but instead at Demonstration Hall.

The location may have been different, but the atmosphere and the team’s success were the same. The Spartans shut out Central Michigan, 8-0, and Western Michigan, 11-0, before defeating Grand Valley State in the final match of the day to secure their fifth consecutive Michigan Dodgeball Cup championship.

Senior and reigning National College Dodgeball Player of the Year Matt Barriball — the MSU dodgeball captain — has been with the team since his freshman year and has never lost the Michigan Dodgeball Cup.

"It means a lot to keep this here four years, I did not want to lose the regional cup," said Barriball. "After losing nationals last year, it feels really good to bounce back."

Since returning to play after the COVID-19 pandemic, no team in the country has been more consistent or dominant than MSU. The Spartans have reached the national championship game in three of the past four seasons, winning two titles.

The team is more than its success on the court; it is also a community off the court that has played a significant role in the players’ lives socially.

"It has meant a lot, this has been majority of my four years," said Barriball. "This sport has meant a lot to me, I’ve grown a lot through it, I’ve met a lot of cool friends, and I hope it keeps taking me places."

The MSU dodgeball team is a really close and competitive group, which has led to their success on the court in recent years. The leadership ties the team together, from the head coach, to team captains and seniors. Their leadership continues to pave the way for the team’s success.

Head coach Kevin Nguyen took charge of the team in 2016, and has turned them into a national powerhouse of college dodgeball. He has coached 11 All-Americans, 2 National Players of the Year and won two NCDA National Championships. He has credited the team’s success to hard work and accountability.

"We push each other as hard as we can, we hold each other accountable and we work hard," said Nguyen. "We know what our expectation is and what their peers before them set, so we’re always pushing to get to that."

MSU dodgeball remains undefeated this season, and after being crowned Michigan Dodgeball Cup champions for the fifth consecutive time, have all eyes set on redemption at the national championships later this year.

They might not play the highest-profile sport, have the large fan following of many other teams at MSU or receive the recognition their success has earned, but coach Nguyen has one message for everyone:

"Tune in, a lot of people think about the movie when they hear dodgeball, but there’s a lot more to it than that. There are hardworking athletes that play this game with passion, come check it out and see if you like it."