Grapplers target 7th consecutive victory
The MSU wrestling team heads into the last weekend of Big Ten action on a six-match winning streak.
The ninth-ranked Spartans (9-5 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) take to the road after they bested five top-25 teams at Jenison Field House, including No. 2 Iowa and No. 13 Oklahoma. The streak has put MSU in a three-way tie atop the Big Ten standings with Iowa and No. 3 Minnesota.
Senior Nik Fekete has been riding a 12-match winning streak into the final two conference matches of the season.
MSU tangles with 16th-ranked Purdue tonight in West Lafayette, Ind., while the matchup with No. 8 Illinois takes place Sunday in Champaign, Ill.
Jason Carmel Davis
Softball takes flawless record into tourney
The MSU softball team takes its unblemished record to the West Coast for four games this weekend.
The Spartans (3-0) are coming off wins against East Carolina, Temple and Radford at the Triangle Classic, hosted by North Carolina.
Junior pitcher Jessica Beech (3-0) was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week as she turned in a dominant performance, finishing the weekend with a perfect 0.00 ERA, while striking out 15 batters and giving up just two hits in 12.2 innings of work.
MSU travels to Santa Barbara, Calif., this weekend to face San Diego State, California-Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge in the Softball By The Beach tournament.
Jason Carmel Davis
After great start team looks to get off snide
The MSU men's tennis team hopes to return to its winning ways this weekend.
After suffering consecutive one-point losses to Ball State and Notre Dame, the Spartans (8-2) hope to get back on track with a doubleheader against Virginia Commonwealth at noon in Columbus, Ohio, and against Cleveland State at 7 p.m. in Cleveland. Both matches are Sunday.
In the loss to the Fighting Irish on Wednesday, senior Goran Topalo brought his record to 8-0 during the season - the longest winning streak of his career.
Jason Carmel Davis
Jones swims record times at championships
The MSU women's swimming team recorded a new school-record Wednesday, during its first day of the 2003 Women's Big Ten Championships in West Lafayette, Ind.
The 200-meter medley relay group of senior Kate Duncombe, sophomore Crissy Spaulding, sophomore Tammy Jones and freshman Rachael Hagerman finished their race in a time of 1:44.37, beating the school's old record of 1:45.04, which was recorded in 1997. Jones also posted a school-record time of 1:50.04 in the lead-off leg of the 800-meter freestyle relay, in which her team finished 10th.
After the first day, the Spartans were in 10th place out of 11 teams, earning 34 points in its first day of competition. The first-place spot is occupied by Wisconsin and Penn State with 70 points apiece.
The competition continues through Saturday at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Ind., with all-day events.
Beth Clute
Spartans to compete in third home meet
The MSU gymnastics team will host the 14th annual Spartan Invitational at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jenison Field House.
The invitational will be a dual meet against Illinois and is only the third home meet of the team's season.
The Spartans won the Fox Run Invitational on Feb. 15, in Durham, N.H. They had a total of 194.325 points and were victorious over host New Hampshire, George Washington and Bowling Green.
The team's key performer in the last invitational was freshman Sarah Alexander who won two event titles and the all-around crown.
Beth Clute
Women's tennis plays Ball State at home
The MSU women's tennis team will face Ball State at 10 a.m. Saturday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. The team is 5-5 on the season after a close 4-3 loss Sunday against Penn State.
At Penn State, junior Caroline Lay claimed a two-set victory at the No. 1 singles spot, upping her record to 6-4. Sophomore Keri Thompson also had a two-set win at No. 3 singles, remaining undefeated at 7-0 in dual competition. Lay and Thompson continued to dominate improving their record to 5-1 with a win at No. 1 doubles.
Beth Clute
