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Sports | 1000

SPORTS

Spikers set for 2-game homestand

The MSU volleyball team is gearing up to face Iowa at 7 p.m. today and No. 5 Minnesota at 8 p.m. Saturday in home matches that the team said could boost its chances of making the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans (10-12 overall, 5-9 Big Ten) must win their match over Iowa (9-17 overall, 1-13 Big Ten) to make up for their loss earlier in the season, head coach Chuck Erbe said. "This is one you look at the schedule and say you should win," he said. Erbe said Monday the team's goal is to win four of its last six matches in a quest to earn a postseason bid. Minnesota (22-4 overall, 11-3 Big Ten) will present more of a challenge because of the amount of experience and the record they have upheld so far throughout the season. Senior outside hitter Diana Steplyk said she hasn't taken in the magnitude of Minnesota, saying MSU is capable of pulling a win against the Golden Gophers. "They are a great team, but they've been beat, just like every other team in this conference," Steplyk said. Despite the youth of the team, the Spartans have been able, at times, to show performances beyond their years, which they will have to show again over these last weekends of play.

SPORTS

Spartans to face Izzo's alma mater

Pardon Tom Izzo if he's not overly excited to coach against his alma mater, Northern Michigan on Sunday in MSU's second exhibition game. "It's a little hard to be as excited as I'd like to be because I don't feel as excited right now," Izzo said Wednesday after MSU beat Grand Valley State 77-62. It was a victory for the Spartans, but in some ways, it was a poorly played victory.

SPORTS

'Grinders' also posing as scoring threat

Matt Bishop
November 10, 2004

Finding the right combination of players is essential for any hockey team. The MSU hockey team has found its winning combination with the line of junior Colton Fretter, sophomore Drew Miller and freshman Chris Mueller, who have combined for 22 points thus far. Miller, who had 10 points all of last year, already has six points in only eight games. "You find a line that you can really play with and try to do the best you can," Miller said.

SPORTS

Coach optimistic of postseason

With three weeks left to make their mark on the season, MSU volleyball head coach Chuck Erbe insists the Spartans' destiny is in their own hands as they shoot for an NCAA Tournament bid. "That's at the front of my forehead," Erbe said.

SPORTS

Attendance at hockey games this year is sad

Esther Gim
November 8, 2004

I winced watching sophomore forward Tommy Goebel in immense pain as he laid on the ice Friday night. I jumped a bit out of my seat when sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari fed a pass up to Colton Fretter and two passes later, Ethan Graham scored. I felt relief when MSU hung onto its lead throughout the game and won, 4-2. Did you? For less than 20 consecutive seasons, the place where the MSU hockey team has called home has attracted the building's capacity of 6,470 fans every Friday and Saturday nights (with some odd Thursday/Sunday games here and there). Munn Ice Arena has had 323 consecutive sellouts starting on Dec.

VOLLEYBALL

'U' splits weekend against Purdue, Indiana

The MSU volleyball team garnered its first win on the road this past weekend against Indiana, and the Spartans fell to Purdue in a split weekend that left head coach Chuck Erbe with mixed feelings. It could've been worse, but it could have been better, he said. "It was a great opportunity to go 2-0, which would have put us into sixth place in the Big Ten," Erbe said.

SPORTS

5 grapplers place at Eastern Mich. open

Torey Oberst
November 8, 2004

The MSU wrestling team began the season on Saturday at the Eastern Michigan Open. Sophomore Nick Simmons took first place at 125 pounds, losing only one point in four matches and defeating Central Michigan's Matt Steintrager, 9-0, in the championship round. Sophomore Tony Greathouse was second at 141 pounds, winning three straight matches but lost to Brad Forbes of Bloomsberg in the championship round. Junior Darren McKnight placed fourth at 149 pounds, recording five consecutive wins. Freshman John Murphy was fifth at 184 pounds, winning the first two matches of his career and defeating Finlay's Dave Weinandy, 7-4, in the fifth-place match. Junior Jeff Clemens finished in fourth place at 197 pounds, defeating Muskegon Community College's Travis Wiley, 15-0, in his second match of the day.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers complete sweep against Bulldogs

Matt Bishop
November 8, 2004

Big Rapids - Riding the coattails of sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari and the line of sophomore Drew Miller, freshman Chris Mueller and junior Colton Fretter, the MSU hockey team continued its dominance of Ferris State with a weekend sweep. "That line has been an outstanding line for us," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

SPORTS

WEB ONLY: Men's soccer closes season today

Chris Barsotti
November 5, 2004

The MSU men's soccer team will wrap up its regular season at 3 p.m. today against Valparaiso at Old College Field. The Spartans (8-6-1 overall, 2-4 Big Ten) were winless in their last three games and are trying to gain some momentum heading into the Big Ten Tournament. "This Valparaiso game is huge," head coach Joe Baum said.