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Sports | 1000

FOOTBALL

Kavanaght puts team above self

Jon Styf
October 2, 2003

He quietly runs his routes, perfect in form without a flashy strut or any trash talk. Fifth-year senior Ziehl Kavanaght goes about his business, out of the spotlight of media attention but in the sight line of special teams gunners looking to make one big play. But, through it all, the language barrier, the lack of passes thrown his way, the time on the sidelines his first four seasons and being hung out to dry as the punt returner, the 26-year-old Quebec native has no complaints. "I'm just trying to help the team," Kavanaght said.

VOLLEYBALL

Rivalry is about flag, pride

Megan Homanick
October 1, 2003

When the No. 14 MSU volleyball team steps onto the court at 7 p.m. today, there will be a buzz in the air - the Wolverines are in town.People might think an MSU-Michigan volleyball match is not as intense or exciting as a hockey, football or basketball game.The truth: If MSU were to play U-M in curling, there would a heightened level of play and state of emotions."It's a natural rivalry," head coach Chuck Erbe said.

FOOTBALL

'U' works to avoid letdown

As subtle as it seems, a win over Indiana this weekend could be historic for No. 25 MSU. The Spartans finished the 1999 regular season on a three-game winning streak, the last time they won three straight. Spartans players and coaches are glad to have beaten Notre Dame and Iowa but know they can't let their excitement and top-25 ranking get the best of them - or else the Hoosiers might on Saturday. "It's kind of too early for that kind of stuff," senior quarterback Jeff Smoker said of the Spartans debuting in the AP poll.

SOCCER

Robinson 'cool' in Spartans' net

Paul Day
September 30, 2003

MSU fifth-year senior goalkeeper Mike "Mikey" Robinson is cool.Well, that's what junior sweeper Kellen Kalso - Robinson's longtime friend and playing partner going back to Vardar Soccer Club in Metro Detroit - will tell you.

SPORTS

Athlon Sports slates hoopers at No. 16

The MSU women's basketball team is ranked 16th in a preseason poll by Athlon Sports.Last season, the Spartans made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997, losing to TCU in the first round, 50-47.

SPORTS

Laskowski named Player of the Week

MSU's star soccer player, captain Tiffany Laskowski, was named Big Ten Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.The senior midfielder and four-year starter scored the game-winning goal on Sunday against Wisconsin and two goals versus Minnesota on Friday.

FOOTBALL

Smoker guides 'U' past Iowa, breaks 3 records

Jon Styf
September 29, 2003

Two incompletions didn't spoil Jeff Smoker's day. All his receiver wanted was a little attention, so it didn't matter when he dropped the second pass. With a boyish grin on his face, something that seemed so far away during the past year, Smoker tossed a Frisbee with little accuracy to "Zeke the Wonder Dog," the black Labrador that usually is a halftime show but somehow became an invaluable portion of the postgame festivities after MSU's upset win over then-No.

SPORTS

5 former athletes inducted into hall of fame

Patrick Walters
September 29, 2003

The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame inducted five new members Saturday, enshrining past builders and stars of MSU football, baseball, track and golf.Joe DeLamielleure (football - 1970-72), Tom Yewcic (football/baseball - 1951-54), Mary Fossum (golf - 1973-97), Cheryl Gilliam (track - 1978-81) and Lauren Brown (cross country/track - 1928-31) comprised the class of 2003.

FOOTBALL

Spartans' defense stuffs Hawkeyes

Fred Russell's final collegiate rush in his home state came to an abrupt stop Saturday. The Inkster, Mich., native needed only one-and-a-half more yards to reach his season average of 123.5 yards per game, and he was about to pick up a much-needed first down for the Hawkeyes on a fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter. But Kevin Vickerson would have none of that.

SOCCER

WEB ONLY: Men's soccer finishes 1-0-1 over weekend

Brian Beute
September 29, 2003

The MSU men's soccer team increases its record to 4-2-2 with a win and a tie over the weekend. Junior forward John Minagawa-Webster scored two of his team-best five goals. MSU continued its tie streak in the Big Ten (0-0-2) by coming up even against Northwestern on Sunday, 1-1, in Evanston, Ill.