SPORTS
Penalties add up to Thelen's benching
Oh, those silly skates. Head coach Rick Comley said skates have been the source of sophomore defenseman A.J.
SPORTS
Lack of focus, turnovers hurt 'U'
A major problem this past weekend for the then-No. 11 MSU men's basketball team was turnovers. The now-No.
SPORTS
Women's hoops guard gets Big Ten honors
MSU junior guard Lindsay Bowen was honored with Big Ten Player of the Week, after leading the Spartans to two road victories, averaging 25.5 points in those contests. Bowen scored a team high of 23 points against No.
SPORTS
Players react to coach's retirement
Just as the MSU volleyball players returned to normal after ending their season two weeks ago, they discovered Thursday head coach Chuck Erbe will not return next season. Junior middle Megan Wallin said Erbe's contributions would be remembered at MSU as the team looked to its future under the leadership of a new coach. "He's helped our program in so many ways," Wallin said.
SPORTS
Bar lowered for men's hoops team
I think that my college eligibility runs out when I graduate Saturday. The odds of me finally getting my break and suiting up for the MSU hoops squad is minuscule at best, but that's the hand I've been dealt, and I'm going to cope. This means that I'll never play a minute of college basketball - I'll never get to set one screen, take one jump shot or get to pretend I'm Scott Skiles.
ICE HOCKEY
Howells' 3-point night ensures win, weekend split vs. Falcons
Bowling Green, Ohio - Lately, it has been feast or famine for the MSU hockey team. After scoring one goal in a 2-1 loss to Bowling Green on Friday, the MSU offense exploded for six goals, defeating the Falcons, 6-4, Saturday at BGSU Ice Arena. "I know our record's not very good, but honest to God, our quality of play has not been that bad," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.
SPORTS
Spartans rally from deficit
Cincinnati - The No. 15 MSU women's basketball team brought home a pair of victories as they finished up a five-game road swing Saturday in Cincinnati, where the Spartans rallied back in the second half to win 77-61. "It was definitely a tough battle between both the teams," junior guard Lindsay Bowen said.
BASKETBALL
Izzo not satisfied despite changes
Washington, D.C. - After the MSU basketball team's 13-point loss to George Washington on Saturday, head coach Tom Izzo said there will be changes.
VOLLEYBALL
Rensing replaces Erbe as volleyball coach
Assistant coach Daune Rensing has been named interim coach of the MSU volleyball program following last Thursday's announcement of head coach Chuck Erbe's retirement. "I have confidence that Daune Rensing and (assistant coach) Ed Tolentino can work with our student athletes during this transition period," MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason said in a written statement.
FOOTBALL
Flagged down
Honolulu - MSU had two touchdowns called back because of penalties against Hawaii in a loss on Saturday, a fact that did not sit well with coaches or players. Both would-be touchdowns were by senior running back DeAndra Cobb, a 75-yard rush in the second quarter and a 98-yard kickoff return in the fourth. It's uncertain if either would have reversed MSU's 41-38 loss at Aloha Stadium. Head coach John L.
SPORTS
Team heads to D.C. for tourney
Coming off a tough loss against No. 10 Duke, the No. 11 MSU men's basketball team will try to rebound against George Washington this weekend at the BB&T Classic. The Spartans (3-1) were on the road for the first time this season against Duke on Tuesday and will be playing this tournament at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. "It is a scary feeling to have to start the tournament off against a team as solid as Michigan State," George Washington head coach Karl Hobbs said. George Washington (3-1) will co-host the tournament with Maryland for the 10th time.
SPORTS
Spartans face hot goaltender in Sigalet in home-and-home series
Bowling Green goaltender Jordan Sigalet was the main reason the Falcons stopped MSU dead in its tracks last season.
SPORTS
Erbe retires as coach after 12 years with 'U'
Chuck Erbe has stepped down as head coach of the MSU volleyball team, announcing his retirement after 12 seasons at MSU. Erbe said he plans on spending more time with his family after being involved in volleyball for the past 35 years. "The last few years have been taking a toll on me personally," Erbe said.
SPORTS
'U' making adjustments for Hawaii
The MSU football team left for Hawaii on Wednesday but, before leaving, the team needed to prepare for the climate, the flight and the game. "We've all been going to about it our own way, getting used to the time change and trying to stay up, but once we get out there, it won't be a big deal," sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton said. In practice the last two weeks, MSU has turned up the furnace and the mist machines in the Duffy Daugherty Building to create moisture in the air.
SPORTS
Spartans take on No. 3 Notre Dame
After a tough weekend at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, the MSU women's basketball team is getting ready to face No.
SPORTS
Lalonde out until Christmas; Graham's status unknown
The injury bug has bit the MSU hockey team once again as the team lost senior forward Mike Lalonde and sophomore defenseman Ethan Graham to injuries in the 4-0 win over then-No.
SPORTS
Recruit preparing for season after torn ACL
Everything Amanda Hantouli does from now on is in preparation for her first season with the MSU volleyball team. The Nebraska native signed a National Letter of Intent for the 2005 season with the Spartans last month.
SPORTS
Team optimistic for next season; Schram, Griffin garner honors
As the MSU volleyball team bids farewell to its seniors and to one of its toughest seasons in a decade, the remaining Spartans are looking ahead with a hopeful eye for next year. "We've got a lot of work to do," head coach Chuck Erbe said, following the final match against Ohio State, a 3-0 loss Saturday. "So to speak, we need to put Humpty Dumpty back together again," he said. The team (12-16 overall, 7-13 Big Ten) struggled this season following the loss of junior middle Megan Wallin, who has been out since tearing the ACL in her right knee during the first conference match of the season. The team battled through leadership and rotation problems the first half of the season but were able to turn the second half of the season, in part, around - even considering NCAA Tournament goals. MSU finished eighth in the Big Ten and did not earn a tournament bid for the first time in 10 years.
SPORTS
Football nabs transfer defensive end for '05
Bobby Jones of North Dakota State College of Science transferred to MSU, becoming the 11th commitment to the 2005 Spartans football class. The 280-pound defensive end will arrive at MSU in January and join spring practice. Jones was one of the most-wanted junior college players this fall.
SPORTS
Future 'U' player wins Michigan's Miss Basketball
MSU basketball snatched another top player from the state next year. This time, it is the women's basketball team that will be getting the 2004 Michigan's Miss Basketball. Lansing Christian High School's Tiffanie Shives was voted the top female basketball player in all divisions of Michigan on Monday after coming off a senior season in which she averaged about 25 points per game. Shives is the first incoming Spartan to win Miss Basketball since 2001, when current junior forward Liz Shimek from Glen Lake won the coveted prep honor. According to Lansing Christian head coach Norman Randall, before Shives arrived at Lansing Christian, the school had not won any tournament games.