Monday, December 22, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | Football 1000

SPORTS

MSU struggles in Paradise Jam

MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie knows her No. 9-ranked Spartans still have a lot to prove after dropping two of three games in the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands during Thanksgiving weekend. "We're just getting started," McCallie said in a written statement.

SPORTS

Season ends for MSU this weekend

Hanging from the rafters above the wooden floors of Jension Field House are five banners. The one in the middle is for a 1996 NCAA national semifinal appearance. It's been almost a decade since the MSU volleyball team celebrated a conference championship, and this year won't be any different.

SPORTS

Spartans head to Virgin Islands

Calling the women's basketball team's next stretch of games "a step up" is an understatement. After relatively easy victories against UC Santa Barbara and Western Carolina, the No.

SPORTS

Let's not engrave the Pistons' trophy yet

Every year in the NBA, there's a team that sprints from the starting line with its engine pumping on all cylinders. Two years ago it was the Lakers, last year it was the Suns, and this year it's the Detroit Pistons, who are playing better than anyone had any right to expect. So just how good are these Pistons?

SPORTS

Shimek nabs Big Ten Player of Week award

MSU senior forward Liz Shimek earned the second Big Ten Player of the Week honors of her career for her performance last weekend. On Friday, Shimek set a career high for points with 26 and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Spartans to a 86-55 victory over UC Santa Barbara. Shimek was not done there, though, as she came back on Sunday and set a new career high for points by dropping 28 on Western Carolina, pacing the Spartans to a 84-61 victory.

FOOTBALL

Smith: 'We're making progress'

Following Saturday's 31-22 loss against Penn State, the Spartans trotted off the field while watching the Nittany Lions celebrate a Big Ten championship on the turf of Spartan Stadium. After a perfect 4-0 start slipped away, the Spartans finished at a 5-6 mark — giving them a sub-.500 record and bowl absence for the second consecutive season. Still, MSU head coach John L.

ICE HOCKEY

Melting under pressure

With less than a minute remaining, MSU scores a tie-breaking goal. Fans cheer and players celebrate. But wait — the referees have to review the play. Munn Ice Arena goes dead silent. The ref turns around and gives a signal.

SPORTS

Monday Musings

• Federal prosecutors want access to hundreds of urine samples of Major League Baseball players seized in 2003 as part of the BALCO steroid scandal investigation. This is the most demand we've seen for urine since R.

FOOTBALL

For Penn State, a perfect ending

After the final seconds ticked away in Saturday's contest at Spartan Stadium, Penn State's players summed up years of commitment and determination by euphorically running over to the numerous fans that traveled to watch them clinch a Big Ten Championship and BCS bowl bid. "Guys were just celebrating, carrying the Big Ten Championship thing around," Nittany Lions quarterback Michael Robinson said.

VOLLEYBALL

MSU swept twice during weekend

The MSU volleyball team didn't get the magic it was hoping for on the road this weekend. Instead, Northwestern and nationally-ranked Wisconsin appeared to have borrowed Harry Potter's broom as both teams swept the Spartans. The Spartans' hopes of making it to the NCAA Tournament vanished as they dropped both matches on the road, giving them 11 losses in their last 14 matches. The Spartans (12-16 overall, 5-13 Big Ten) were hoping to win the remainder of their last four games but unfortunately it won't be happening this season.

SPORTS

Don't judge hoopsters quite yet

If I have learned one thing from watching MSU sports this year, it is that the beginning of the season means absolutely nothing. Let's take a trip down memory lane with the football team. They opened the season 4-0.

FOOTBALL

GameDay is least of MSU's worries

Last Saturday morning, my roommates and I were driving down Harrison when one of us wondered aloud why the flags at Kellogg Center were flying at half-mast. "It's because the Spartan football team is playing today," someone quipped. I laughed, but inside, I was crying. I mean, doesn't it seem like just weeks ago that MSU was undefeated and everyone thought they were the greatest thing since Facebook? (What's that?

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans need some magic to keep season alive

With four games remaining in its Big Ten regular season, the MSU volleyball team is hoping for a fairy tale ending. The Spartans (12-14 overall, 5-11 Big Ten) have been struggling to find their groove, but a win over Indiana last weekend showed they're not giving up on the season just yet. The Spartans will look to continue their success on the road when they take on Northwestern (16-10, 7-9) and nationally-ranked Wisconsin (19-6, 1-5) this weekend. MSU beat Northwestern in five sets back on Oct.