Sunday, May 19, 2024

Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL

Win at Indiana solid before problems begin at Illinois

Dan Woike
October 15, 2001

Champaign, Ill. - Unforced errors cost the Spartan volleyball team a perfect weekend, as it settled for a split after Illinois swept MSU 3-0 in Champaign, Ill., on Saturday.The Illini handled the Spartans for all three games of the match winning 30-27, 30-26 and 30-22.The Spartans (11-4, 4-4 Big Ten) suffered more serve and pass breakdowns against the Illini, recording 12 service errors and 13 return errors.

VOLLEYBALL

Ankle sprain in game two doesnt sideline Hartley; comes back to inspire team to 3-1 at Purdue

Dan Woike
October 8, 2001

When senior outside hitter Erin Hartley landed on the foot of junior middle blocker Angela Morley and went down with a sprained ankle in the second game Saturday at Purdue, it was reason to be worried. “She’s the primary player on our team and it takes a lot away from us,” Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe said. But when Hartley returned midway into the same game, it was reason to be inspired. “We got a big lift when Erin came back into the game, and she played great,” junior outside hitter Kyla Smith said.

VOLLEYBALL

First road victory comes at Purdue

Dan Woike
October 8, 2001

West Lafayette, Ind. - One injured leader couldn’t stop MSU on Saturday. After losing the first game to Purdue and watching as senior outside hitter Erin Hartley rolled her ankle and took a seat, things looked grim for the Spartans (10-3, 3-3 Big Ten). But the team regrouped and won the next three games against Purdue, taking the match 3-1 and claiming its first Big Ten road win. “It’s a relief to get our first road win, because we don’t have it hanging over heads anymore,” Hartley said.

VOLLEYBALL

Senior captain Ashtons back injury cant stop her from leading

Dan Woike
September 28, 2001

Senior defensive specialist Lisa Ashton had big plans for this season. Her relentless hustle on defense, her work ethic and her leadership were going to be inspirational for her teammates.What the Spartan volleyball co-captain didn’t plan on giving her teammates was a lesson in vulnerability and optimism.“Maybe taking a look at me on the sidelines will remind them they aren’t guaranteed four years of play,” Ashton said.

VOLLEYBALL

Two Big Ten losses end Spartans perfect record

Dan Woike
September 24, 2001

The Spartan volleyball team left East Lansing on Thursday with hopes of returning with a 9-0 record and wins over Wisconsin on Friday and Northwestern on Saturday. Twenty-eight service errors later, the Spartans (7-2, 0-2 Big Ten) found themselves on the first losing streak of the season, falling 3-1 to No.

VOLLEYBALL

Knopps turns into major hitter for team

Dan Woike
September 13, 2001

Surprises have surrounded sophomore outside hitter-turned-defensive specialist Stephanie Knopp all year.A pre-season chat with MSU head coach Chuck Erbe left Knopp thinking she had to improve if she wanted to play, she said.

VOLLEYBALL

Hartley earns Big Ten player of the week nod

James Jahnke
September 11, 2001

Things are good in the world of MSU volleyball. The Spartans (7-0) are off to their best start in 12 years, and one of their star players is the reigning Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week. Senior outside hitter Erin Hartley earned the honor with an MVP effort in the Coca-Cola Spartan Invitational, which the Spartans won this weekend.

VOLLEYBALL

Coca-Cola tournament wins give Spartans best start since 1989

Dan Woike
September 10, 2001

Senior outside hitter Erin Hartley is no stranger to personal accolades.She can now add most valuable player of the Coca-Cola Spartan Invitational to her list of individual accomplishments, after she led the Spartans (7-0) to another undefeated weekend and tournament title at Jenison Field House.MSU hasn’t started the season 7-0 since 1989.Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe said Hartley is playing at a level he has never witnessed.“Erin Hartley played the best weekend of volleyball I have ever seen,” he said.

VOLLEYBALL

Erbe: respect for opponenets key in tournament

Dan Woike
September 7, 2001

Listening to Spartan volleyball players and coaches talk, you’d think they were rehearsing an Aretha Franklin song. “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” Head coach Chuck Erbe knows those seven letters are embedded in the minds of his players as they look to make it two tournament titles in a row at the Coca-Cola Spartan Invitational this weekend. “I’ve always told them the first rule of war is to respect your opponent,” Erbe said.

VOLLEYBALL

MSU shines in Classic, finishes undefeated

Dan Woike
September 4, 2001

The MSU volleyball team can check one goal off its to-do list after winning all four of its matches at this weekend’s MSU Volleyball Classic at Jenison Field House. “To win this tournament on our home court was a big goal of ours,” senior outside hitter Erin Hartley said. The Spartans defeated Auburn 3-1 and Dayton 3-1 on Friday and capped the tournament with 3-1 victories against Denver and Western Michigan on Saturday. “These early season victories will help the team become more sure of itself,” sophomore setter Nikki Colson said. “It’s an incredible confidence booster.