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Sports | Volleyball 1025

SPORTS

Three top hockey juniors sign letters of intent

James Jahnke
April 20, 2001

Tom Newton wasn’t exactly waiting next to the mailbox, but the three pieces of paper he had been anticipating for the past week finally arrived Wednesday.Seven days after the spring signing date, left wings Kevin Estrada and Mike Lalonde and center Ash Goldie, all of whom had already verbally committed to MSU, officially signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Spartans as freshmen next fall.The signings bring MSU’s recruiting class to seven.Newton, an MSU assistant coach, said the class will probably add some scoring punch to the Spartans’ defensively strong lineup.“These people have traditionally been able to score, but scoring at this level and scoring at the junior level are two different things,” Newton said.

SPORTS

Federov needs to step up before Wings lose again

Dan Julian
April 20, 2001

It all began my freshman year when I attended Ferris State.I worked for the sports information department, writing press releases, sending out mail and most importantly, doing statistics for sporting events.I was never much of a hockey fan before that year, and being exposed to every one of Ferris State’s hockey games, it suddenly dawned on me how rad this sport was.So the following year, I transferred to Spartan country to pursue a journalism degree while following our hockey team as much as the television would allow, and also keeping a close eye on the Red Wings.Sometimes I would even sit one foot from the cube and put headphones on so I wouldn’t disturb my roommate diligently doing his homework.

SPORTS

New offensive line starter ready to make impact this season

Eric Lacy
April 19, 2001

As a first-year player on an offensive line plagued with injuries last year, Brain Ottney felt the growing pains of the Big Ten in more ways than one.Thrown into the starting center position after two games, while recovering from a torn ligament in his left leg, Ottney said contributing on the field was a challenge due to his limited athleticism.

SPORTS

Softball loses despite late rally

Eric Mckinney
April 19, 2001

A late rally by the MSU softball team fell short as the Spartans lost at home to Central Michigan on Wednesday. The 6-5 loss to the Chippewas (22-17) dropped MSU’s record to 17-30, 4-6 Big Ten. “Our motto is keep getting better,” MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

SPORTS

Spartans sign top community college player

Karalee Miller
April 19, 2001

A Florida junior college standout will be bringing some heat to the court when she joins the MSU women’s basketball team in the fall.Tallahassee Community College star Syreeta Bromfield signed a National Letter of Intent with MSU Sunday.Bromfield had considered St.

SPORTS

Hockey team looks to have tough D next year

James Jahnke
April 17, 2001

If defense truly wins championships, the NCAA should strongly consider giving MSU the 2001-02 national championship trophy right now.The Spartans, who dominated the nation defensively this season, probably look downright scary to next year’s opponents.Not only does MSU head coach Ron Mason return his five starting defensemen from the unit that led the nation by only allowing 1.36 goals per game in 2000-01, but he also welcomes back Hobey Baker Award-winning sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller.To put MSU’s defensive accomplishments in perspective, Cornell owned the second-best defense in the NCAA at 2.18 goals per game.So, with another year of experience under the belts of Miller, junior defensemen Andrew Hutchinson and Jon Insana, sophomores John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast and freshman Joe Markusen, will anyone score on MSU at all next season?“Obviously, you can’t go a whole year shutting everybody out,” said Miller, who led the nation with 10 shutouts this season.

SPORTS

Softball comes off successful weekend

James Jahnke
April 16, 2001

The Spartans won two of their first three games on their weekend road trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota. MSU (17-28 overall, 4-5) stole the series opener 1-0 from the Gophers on Saturday with a first-inning run by senior Shealee Dunavan that stood up for the whole game, according to MSU sports information. Dunavan scored on a two-out single by sophomore Tiffany Wallace, who finished 3-for-4 on the game.

SPORTS

Lugnuts split series with South Bend

James Jahnke
April 16, 2001

A mediocre start to the Lansing Lugnuts’ season carried over to their weekend series with cellarmate South Bend at Oldsmobile Park on Friday and Saturday.The Midwest League’s two bottom-dwellers split a pair of games in Lansing before heading to South Bend to finish the four-game series Sunday and today, according to the Lugnuts’ front office.

SPORTS

Richardson, Randolph must really love money

Well, the fallout has just about ended in the wake of now former MSU basketball players Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph bolting to the NBA, and numerous aspects of their decisions have popped out to most observers.

SPORTS

Richardson, Randolph made the right move

Dan Woike
April 13, 2001

Goodbye. Farewell. See ya.Zach Randolph and Jason Richardson - we barely got to know ya.But as they say, life goes on.The news of the two Spartans jetting for the NBA has sent shockwaves through MSU’s campus.I have to ask: Why is this so shocking or even surprising?Maybe we were spoiled before.

SPORTS

Football squad will have open practice

Keith Dunlap
April 13, 2001

The MSU football team will conclude spring practice at 1 p.m. Saturday with an open-to-the-public practice at Spartan Stadium.However, one thing that won’t conclude is the quarterback controversy that has engulfed the team during the spring.

SPORTS

Coaches wait for recruits, Anzalone returns to LSSU

James Jahnke
April 12, 2001

The MSU hockey program didn’t receive any National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, but assistant coach Tom Newton said there was “no problem” with MSU’s recruiting class expected to sign this week.Left wings Kevin Estrada and Mike Lalonde and center Ash Goldie are still expected to sign with MSU this week, bringing the Spartans’ recruiting class for the 2001-02 season to seven players.NCAA rules prohibit MSU officials from speaking about players until the school has received National Letters of Intent.MSU head coach Ron Mason is out of town and Newton said he hadn’t heard of any letters that have arrived at the Office of Compliance Services yet.

SPORTS

McCoy ready to give up offense to play defense

Krista Latham
April 12, 2001

Ivory McCoy is familiar with doing more than his share. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior split his time on MSU’s football team playing his primary position at tight end and spotlighted as a pass rush specialist for the defense.

SPORTS

Hockey team left some great memories

James Jahnke
April 12, 2001

Well, things didn’t work out. The Spartans looked like they might do it. They looked like they might be able to win MSU’s first national championship since 1986. But then it came to a crashing halt in Albany, N.Y., with a 2-0 loss to North Dakota. And Spartan fans have another long summer in front of them waiting for next fall’s Green and White game, which officially gets the hockey season under way. Before you close the book on this year’s team, here’s a look back at the highlights and lowlights of 2000-01, the year that almost was. Best moment Clearly have to give it to standout sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller for breaking the 70-year-old NCAA career shutouts record Feb.