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Sports | Volleyball 1000

BASKETBALL

Recruit earns praise despite size

Tom Keller
October 4, 2005

MSU men's head basketball coach Tom Izzo secured his second verbal commitment from the top tier of the class of 2006 - Raymar Morgan, a versatile, 6-foot-7 forward from Canton, Ohio. Morgan is listed as the eighth best small forward and 28th best overall prospect in the nation by the recruiting service www.scout.com. "He's just a good, well-rounded player," said Chris Monter, Midwest region recruiting analyst for www.collegebasketballnews.com. "He does a lot of things around the hoop and he has a good mid-range game." Morgan had narrowed his options to MSU, Michigan and Ohio State.

SPORTS

MSU splits weekend games on the road

Yvette Lanier
October 3, 2005

After falling to Minnesota on Friday the MSU women's volleyball team bounced back on Saturday, defeating Iowa, 3-2. The Spartans (9-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) were led by senior setter Mickey Davis who posted a floor-high 74 assists against Iowa.

SPORTS

Spartans pick up win at end of trip

Tom Keller
October 3, 2005

After suffering a 5-1 loss to Purdue on Friday, the MSU women's soccer team knocked off Indiana 1-0 on Sunday to salvage a split on their weekend road trip. Sophomore forward Breana Ballard provided all the offense the Spartans (5-3-3 overall, 1-1-0 Big Ten) would need on Sunday, beating Hoosier goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro low into the left corner just moments before halftime to net her first career goal. "It's real exciting to finally get one, especially today," Ballard said in a written statement.

SPORTS

Two losses open Big Ten play for Spartans

Alex Abate
October 3, 2005

The field hockey team came up short Saturday and was upset by No. 14 Iowa as they fell 3-2, staying winless in the Big Ten. This was the second loss in a row suffered at the hands of the Hawkeyes and the first time the Spartans have started the conference 0-2 since 2000. Iowa took the lead twenty minutes into the contest as defender Kadi Sickel found the back of the net beating senior goalie Christina Kirkaldy. The Spartans entered the second half down 1-0. In the second half, Sickel struck again for Iowa and gave them the 2-0 lead over the Spartans. The Spartans didn't give up, however, and got on the scoreboard just less than three minutes later.

FOOTBALL

Lack of kicking game looms large after loss to U-M

Eric Fish
October 3, 2005

The Spartans looked far from an undefeated, No. 11-ranked team Saturday when they fell to Michigan, 34-31 in overtime, amid a number of mistakes that were absent in their previous four contests. The offense, defense, and special teams all played a rollercoaster of a game that sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill called a "team loss". "The defense made mistakes, the offense made mistakes, we all made mistakes," Thornhill said.

FOOTBALL

Monday musings

Tom Keller
October 3, 2005

• Texas Tech has given Pat Knight, son of current men's basketball coach Bob Knight, a five-year contract to replace his dad once he retires. No word yet if MSU has made a similar promise to Tom Izzo's 5-year-old son, Steven. • You could say the Tigers limped to the finish line of another disappointing season this weekend.

BASEBALL

Teams will keep fans interested during playoffs

The baseball playoffs are finally upon us after a long and grueling season that came down to the final day for four different teams. The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to have a shot at the playoffs; they just didn't know whether it would come after Sunday or after a one-game playoff against the Cleveland Indians today. But after the Chicago White Sox successfully knocked off the Indians early Sunday, the Red Sox knew they were in the playoffs and it didn't matter if they won their game or not. The Indians' loss guaranteed the Red Sox the wild card for the third straight season, the same wild card they won last year before winning the World Series. For the Indians, the season ends in disappointment.

SOCCER

MSU unbeaten in last four

Yvette Lanier
September 30, 2005

The MSU men's soccer team (3-1-4 overall, 0-0-1 Big Ten) got back into the win column by defeating Bowling Green (2-6-1) 3-1 yesterday afternoon. Three minutes into the first half, freshman attacker Doug DeMartin got the Spartans on the board with assists going to senior midfielder Ryan McMahen and sophomore midfielder Ryan Dick. MSU head coach Joe Baum felt the Spartans were playing a little sluggish but were able to maintain the momentum at both ends of the field.

VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore shining for Spartans

Yvette Lanier
September 30, 2005

She was only in fifth grade when she was sitting in the stands with her father, cheering and watching a volleyball game, when her dad turned to her and said, "Hey, do you want to play this sport?" As sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson said, that's how she began to develop her love for volleyball.

SPORTS

Spartans head back on road to face Iowa

Alex Abate
September 30, 2005

After coming off a 3-1 win over in-state rival Central Michigan, the MSU field hockey team jumps back into Big Ten play as they head to Iowa. Going into this game, the Spartans are looking to rebound after starting their conference season with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Indiana.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers picked 4th in media, coaches poll

Yvette Lanier
September 29, 2005

The coaches and media around the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, or CCHA, are giving early hints that the MSU hockey team will be able to make up for the loss of All-American Jim Slater, who was the team's captain and leading scorer for the last two years. The Spartans were voted fourth in both CCHA preseason polls.

SOCCER

Spartans host game against Bowling Green

Alex Abate
September 29, 2005

After three straight weeks on the road, the MSU men's soccer team returns to the confines of Old College Field as the Spartans host Bowling Green at 4 p.m. Bowling Green has been on an offensive streak as of late, scoring six goals in the past two games.

SPORTS

MSU finds win column once again

Alex Abate
September 28, 2005

The MSU field hockey team got back on the winning track yesterday against Central Michigan by winning the in-state battle, 3-1. The play went back and forth for most of the first half and despite having three less shots than the Spartans (8-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten), the Chippewas were able to take the lead.

FOOTBALL

It's 'State'ment week for Spartans against old rivals

Eric Fish
September 28, 2005

A 2-2 record this early in the season and an absence from the national polls isn't a familiar place for the Michigan football program. The Wolverines' most recent 23-20 loss to Wisconsin puts them at an overall record of .500, and marks the first time since 1981 that U-M has dropped their Big Ten opener, leaving many U-M fans calling for head coach Lloyd Carr's firing. Things don't get any easier for U-M as they head into the hostile environment of Spartan Stadium this Saturday for an annual matchup with MSU. Michigan has been troubled by injuries to starters on the offensive line, and most notably to running back Michael Hart, who still remains in question for Saturday's contest. Hart has sat out since suffering an injury in the 17-10 loss against Notre Dame two weeks ago, an absence that Carr sees as a major factor regarding U-M's season thus far. "He's a complete football player," Carr said.

SPORTS

MSU looking for win vs. CMU

Alex Abate
September 27, 2005

After a close 3-2 double overtime loss to Indiana, the MSU field hockey team (7-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) is looking to end their two-game losing streak as they host Central Michigan this afternoon. After the loss to Indiana, head coach Michele Madison said the team didn't step their game up enough and finish strong.