The Michigan State Spartans women's volleyball team was founded in 1972.

Carol Davis was the first Michigan State indoor volleyball coach in 1972 before being named the first women’s athletic director in the history of the Big Ten.

[2] Karen Peterson was the second Michigan State indoor volleyball coach in 1973.

[2] In her second year of coaching, Michigan State qualified for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) championships, one of 24 teams to be invited to the tournament.

She retired at the end of the 2021 season as the winningest coach in program history, leading the Spartans to a 302–233 record.