As the No. 3-seeded men’s soccer team (12-4-6 overall, 4-2-2 Big Ten) prepares for its second Elite Eight game in as many years, the team has to be confident that what they’ve done all season will lead them to a win over the No. 11-seed Providence Friars (15-4-2 overall, 5-2-2 Big East) Saturday at noon in DeMartin Soccer Stadium.
It’s dancing time for the volleyball team. MSU (18-13 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night against Loyola Marymount (23-7 overall, 11-7 West Coast Conference) at Stanford’s campus in Palo Alto, California at 7:30 p.m.
MSU finished the season 10-2 and most likely will play in one of the New Year’s Day six non-playoff bowl games. That’s a pretty successful season and something Spartan fans should be pleased with in the end. However, MSU gets only a B+ grade simply because the Spartans didn’t live up to the high expectations.
After splitting all five of their two-game series this season, MSU hockey (5-8, 1-1 Big Ten) will look to string together two wins this weekend.
With the regular season over, MSU football now turns its attention to bowl game season. Here's a breakdown of the bowl games MSU could potentially play in on New Years or New Years Eve.
Not since the 2010-2011 season has an MSU hockey (5-8, 1-1 Big Ten) player scored more than 15 goals in an entire season. If a few current Spartans can keep up the pace they’ve set this season, MSU could have two players with more than 18 goals.
Clutch play by junior guard Denzel Valentine could save the Spartans (5-3 overall) from falling to Notre Dame (7-1 overall) 79-78 in overtime in the ACC/Big Ten challenge Wednesday night. The Fighting Irish were led by senior guard Jerian Grant, who had 27 points and six assists.
While some of America was shopping on Black Friday and getting rid of Thanksgiving leftovers, MSU hockey (5-8, 1-1 Big Ten) was facing off against Princeton University (2-7-1) in New Jersey. On Friday night, the Spartans were defeated 3-1 after allowing three unanswered goals. MSU rebounded Saturday and was able to defeat the Tigers 3-2.
Although MSU's College Football Playoff dreams may have ended with their Nov. 8 loss to Ohio State, the Spartans (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) remain very interested in the College Football Playoff rankings. The top 10 teams in the rankings are in the running for one of the selection committee's non-playoff bowl games, also referred to as the "New Year's six" bowl games.
Women’s volleyball received four All-Big Ten honors for the 2014 season, announced Tuesday by conference coaches.
In a 17 point outburst on Sunday against Miami (OH), senior guard and former walk-on Anna Morrissey turned in the most impressive game of her Spartan career.
The Spartans will take on Notre Dame in the ACC/Big Ten challenge on Wednesday, and both players and coaches see the game as an opportunity to bounce back from a perhaps needless loss against No.
Despite a roller coaster season, the volleyball team is as confident heading into the NCAA Tournament.
On Monday evening, the Big Ten announced its regular season award winners and all league teams, and as many would expect No. 7 MSU had its share of winners and representatives.
Sophomore guard Alvin Ellis III, who sprained his ankle in the opener against Navy, practiced on Monday and will likely see playing time in the ACC/Big Ten challenge on Wednesday, in which No. 19 MSU will take on Notre Dame.
The volleyball team will say goodbye to one of its cornerstones after the season. After 10 years with MSU, associate head coach Russ Carney announced he will retire at the conclusion of the season, effective at the end of the 2014 calendar year.
Destiny is defined as “the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future,” according to Oxford Dictionaries. Heading into the Elite Eight, the men’s soccer team appears to be a team of destiny — and that destiny is winning a national championship.
It wasn’t pretty in the first half, but eventually No. 7 MSU pulled away Saturday, topping Penn State, 34-10, from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Although the Spartans have the week off, they took home a few honors Monday with nine players being selected to All-Big Ten teams. This included a couple of individual awards. Senior wide receiver Tony Lippett won the Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year award and senior free safety Kurtis Drummond won the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award.
The men’s soccer team (12-4-6 overall, 4-2-2 Big Ten) is headed to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year after tying with the Washington Huskies (12-5-3 overall, 5-4-1 PAC-12) 2-2, advancing with a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks.