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SPORTS

'U' seeks revenge, record ranking

The No. 20 MSU women's basketball team looks to avoid a huge letdown tonight at Northwestern. Coming off a 34-point win over Michigan on Sunday, the Spartans (13-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) are in a position that if they're not careful, they could lose one they shouldn't. "We have a job to do at Northwestern, and I think we'll go down there and play tough," sophomore guard Lindsay Bowen said. Earlier this season, the Spartans beat Temple by 38 points, and follow with a 92-63 drubbing of then-No.17 Notre Dame.

SPORTS

Gulick conference's preseason best

Collegiate Baseball has named junior outfielder Travis Gulick as its Big Ten Projected Player of the Year. As the Spartans' 2003 Offensive Player of the Year, Gulick led the conference in hits (78) and runs scored (60), and ranked in the top 10 of several other categories in the Big Ten regular season, along with earning third-team, All-Big Ten honors.

SPORTS

Spartan gymnasts earn titles at CMU

Women's gymnastics came in second place at Central Michigan this weekend with two members winning a share of their respective event titles. Freshman Chayla Hill split the vault title with CMU's Kara Reighard, and freshman Victoria Iakounina tied CMU's Sara Burtinsky for the bars title. CMU won the meet and Illinois State rounded out the competition.

SPORTS

Sparty is the first Big Ten mascot ever to win mascot competition

Before, he was named the "Buffest." Now, he is the best mascot in the country - officially. This past weekend, the beloved MSU mascot, Sparty, took first place at the 2004 Universal Cheer Association/Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Orlando, Fla. "For us, it is like winning the Final Four or the Rose Bowl.

SPORTS

Colson awarded team's most valuable

Senior setter Nikki Colson was honored Saturday as the MSU volleyball team's Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. With 1,585 assists on the season, Colson broke her own record en route to setting the career assist record for MSU with 4,563. Colson, along with teammate senior libero Emmy Miller, took home the 2003 Captains' Awards.

SPORTS

Spartans dismantle U-M in lopsided rivalry victory

This season, the No. 25 MSU women's basketball team has made a name for itself with its defense. After putting on arguably their best defensive effort in a game against Ohio State last week, the Spartans (13-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) bettered the effort against Michigan in a 67-33 win Sunday.

FOOTBALL

Prep end added to 2004 roster

The newest addition to the Spartan football 2004 lineup said the main thing he hopes to accomplish in his freshman year is to keep the team on track for another winning season. Justin Kershaw, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound, strongside defensive end from Reynoldsburg High School in Columbus, Ohio, committed on Saturday to play for the Spartans.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Softball ranked in preseason polls MSU softball team was ranked No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Today Softball Top 25 preseason poll released Wednesday. The Spartans are one of just three Big Ten teams in the top 25, including No.