The MSU volleyball players not only keep their heads in the game, they keep them in the books, earning themselves academic honors. "One of the things I am really proud of that we've had so many Academic All-Big Ten players," head coach Chuck Erbe said. Last year, the team had nine Academic All-Big Ten selections.
For the first time all season, no quarterback questions were asked to MSU head coach John L. Smith at his Monday press conference. Sophomore Drew Stanton is MSU's starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Iowa. Stanton is still recovering from the effects of his knee injury, but said for the first time in five weeks he did not have to get fluid drained out of his knee.
Junior goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy is the Big Ten field hockey Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Kirkaldy, who also earns this honor for the seventh time in her career, totaled two straight shutouts (four saves) in MSU's 7-0 win against Ohio on Friday, and 2-0 victory over Northwestern on Sunday.
So I'm sitting here watching Donovan McNabb make the Lions defensive line look stupid, and I'm thinking, "Wow, what a luxury to have a quarterback who can throw and run." There's even more proof on Detroit's next possession when Joey Harrington is scrambling from the Philadelphia defense and the ball just pops out of his hand - fumble-roosky. Two quick notes: I know I'm not the first person to bring this concept to light, and I'm not bashing Harrington, but he shouldn't be running with the ball-throw it away, Joey! Where's the relevance in all this, you ask?
With a 1-0 victory Sunday at Minnesota, the MSU women's soccer team prolonged its unbeaten record to three games.
Bloomington, Ind. - As MSU's offense battled inconsistency and turnovers in the first half against Indiana, its defense held firm, eventually carrying the Spartans to a comeback win against Indiana. Sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton, with his spectacular running performance, was the face of MSU's 30-20 win, but the defense made his triumphant story possible. Coming out of the locker room at halftime, MSU (2-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) was losing, 20-7.
Walking away with losses to both No. 1 Minnesota and Iowa this weekend would have been disappointing enough for the MSU volleyball team. But now the Spartans (5-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) must wait for news on whether junior middle Megan Wallin will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. "We're trying to determine whether it was an ACL tear," head coach Chuck Erbe said.
The MSU women's tennis team ended tournament play Sunday in the last round of The Yonex Spartan Cup, held at MSU. Sophomore Sarah Andrews beat Eastern Michigan's Laura Fernandez in the B flight singles final to win the championship.
The MSU men's golf team travels today to Newport, R.I., for the 11th annual Adams Cup, held at the Orchard Course at the Newport National Golf Club.
Led by Indiana forward Jacob Peterson's three goals, the MSU men's soccer team lost to the No.
Doug Wojcik was named the men's basketball associate head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the 2003-04 season. Wojcik worked for three seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels earn a No.
The No. 4 MSU field hockey team (8-1) will hit the road and head to Ohio (2-6) to open its Big Ten season at Northwestern (5-3). It will be the first action the team has seen since its 3-2 overtime loss against defending NCAA champions Wake Forest. "We have to start all over again and come back after a big loss," head coach Michele Madison said.
The MSU women's soccer team (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten) competes 8 p.m. today at Iowa as the Spartans continue the conference season.
For head coach Chuck Erbe, the start of the Big Ten season could not come soon enough for the MSU volleyball team (5-3). Heading into this weekend's games at No.
Old College Field will be the site of a Big Ten men's soccer showdown Sunday when soccer powerhouse and defending national champion Indiana (5-2) takes an MSU squad (5-1) that's surging. "We need to attack," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.
The opportunity to run up and down Old College Field sporting the Green and White has been a long time coming for Lauren Zacharski. In between transferring schools after her sophomore year and a serious knee injury, the women's soccer senior forward had to put her college soccer career aside. Zacharski originally played for Georgia during her first and second years of college.
Student tickets for MSU hockey are now on sale. The price is $72 for the eight-game package and the order deadline is Friday. There are two nine-game packages, and students will have the option of Ticket Plan A or B at the time of pick up.
MSU freshman Danette Doetzel was named co-Big Ten women's cross country runner of the Week along with Indiana's Jessica Gall. At the 2004 Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational on Friday, Doetzel won the women's 6K race by a 21-second margin. The Spartans are ranked No.
The quarterbacks keep switching, the running backs rotate in and out and the wide receivers change almost every play, but the one constant on MSU's offense has been the line. The Spartan offensive line consists of senior guard William Whitticker, senior tackle Sean Poole, junior tackle Stefon Wheeler, sophomore guard Kyle Cook and junior center Chris Morris. MSU's "big uglies," as lineman are often called, are slowly coming together as a unit and gave their best performance of the season against Notre Dame last week, Whitticker said. "This offensive line has gelled each game this year," Whitticker said.
Wanted: An all-around MSU volleyball player to fill opposite side hitter duties which include providing a strong left side attack and consistent back court play. Must be good at passing, defense and serving. The MSU volleyball team (5-3) is searching its ranks for the left side attacker, or the "L2", and have yet to find a player to make the position their own as the Spartans head into the first week of conference play. "That is something this team has struggled with for the last few years is having a real consistent L2 player," head coach Chuck Erbe said.