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Sports | Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL

SPORTS UPDATE: Volleyball team notches first Big Ten win

The Spartans had more trouble then they would have liked with the Hawkeyes on Saturday. But in the end, MSU (9-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated Iowa (6-6, 0-2) in four games, 30-26, 30-25, 19-30 and 30-27 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “I think we were very fortunate to win,” MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said.

VOLLEYBALL

Smiths confidence returns

Kyla Smith could have easily stayed at home in British Columbia. Or she could have followed her high school friends to places like Colorado, Washington or Oregon. Instead the senior outside hitter chose to play volleyball at MSU, and four years later, the Spartans must be mighty happy at her need for individuality. The player head coach Chuck Erbe calls “the cornerstone” of his team is raking up the best numbers of her life.

VOLLEYBALL

SPORTS UPDATE: Spartans cruise by Northern Illinois

Though the sun wasn’t shining outside, the No. 21 Spartans were shining bright inside Jenison Field House on Friday night, defeating Northern Illinois in three games 30-20, 30-25 and 30-19.The Spartans (8-2) who had their killing-percentage troubles in the South Florida Adidas Invitational last weekend cured enough of their problems to defeat the Huskies (7-4).For the match the Spartans had a killing percentage .352, mounting a total of 53 kills.“When we were playing in system, everything was flowing together,” junior middle Jenny Rood said.

VOLLEYBALL

Miller relaxes into star role

When she came to MSU in 2000, Emmy Miller faced a gigantic challenge - playing volleyball.Miller was a three-year letter winner at Okemos High School and played for Lansing Area Volleyball Association and USA Michigan teams before becoming a Spartan.But all that experience didn’t prime her for collegiate ball - not mentally or physically.“Her freshman year, she was just really overwhelmed,” head coach Chuck Erbe said.

VOLLEYBALL

3 Spartans on pace to set career records

Despite only one match scheduled for this weekend, the No. 21 MSU women’s volleyball team could experience more than one triumph that night.A number of milestones are just a fingertip length away for some Spartans, including head coach Chuck Erbe.Erbe, in his 10th season as coach, will be gunning for his 200th victory in Friday night’s match against Northern Illinois (6-3). With a win, Erbe will become only the second coach in MSU volleyball history to eclipse the 200-win mark.Only Annelies Knoppers, the Spartans’ volleyball coach from 1974-1984, has more wins in Spartan history with 250.

VOLLEYBALL

Team takes two in tourney

After suffering its second consecutive loss, the MSU volleyball team rallied back to win the next two matches and leave the South Florida Adidas Invitational with a record of 7-2. With its 2-1 record in the tournament, the No.

VOLLEYBALL

Transfer ready to lead

Three years ago an athlete described as having “competitive fire” was a coveted recruit.The Spartans lost the recruiting battle as Sara Villwock chose to stay close to home and attend Colorado.After two years of leading the Buffaloes’ volleyball team to as far as the second round in the NCAA Regionals, the junior outside hitter wanted to compete for a national championship.“I felt like I wanted more and I needed a change,” Villwock said.

VOLLEYBALL

Team upset in finals

Kalamazoo - It was the upset of all upsets.Unfortunately for the MSU women’s volleyball team, they weren’t on the winning end.After reaching the WMU Invitational championship game, the No.

VOLLEYBALL

WEB ONLY: Volleyball team sweeps again at invitational

In the 10:30 a.m. contest, the No. 12 Spartans defeated DePaul in three games, 30-25, 30-17 and 30-20 in their second match in the Western Michigan Invitational.Junior middle Jenny Rood, who had been hampered by a knee injury, got the green light for the match and was ecstatic about it.“You have no idea how happy I was,” Rood said.

VOLLEYBALL

Taking in a game can change your mind

Have you ever sat down and watched a volleyball match? More specifically, have you ever watched the MSU women’s volleyball team compete in a match? If not, all I can say is you’re missing out. After spending the majority of my weekend in Jenison Field House watching the Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Classic, I have a higher level of respect for volleyball and for the people who play it. Not that I never respected volleyball players, I’m a former high school baseball player and I spent most of my time in high school surrounded by jocks.

VOLLEYBALL

Spikers rally to win tournament, ready for upcoming schedule

In a weekend filled with many scares, the MSU volleyball team overcame each and every one en route to a championship in the Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Classic.Perseverance could best describe how the Spartans defeated a Big East school, an in-state foe and a Southeastern Conference school all in a matter of 30 hours.The No.