VOLLEYBALL

No. 10 MSU volleyball takes step back after hot start

Dillon Davis

October 23, 2013

After nearly a decade at MSU, Cathy George is in special territory. By building the MSU volleyball program into a serious Big Ten contender and starting the season off with the best record of any Spartan team since 1996, the volleyball head coach has the opportunity to place the program among the national elite – a path not unlike the one taken years ago by men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo.

VOLLEYBALL

Becoming a national contender

Omari Sankofa II

October 23, 2013

For the No. 10 MSU volleyball team, the memory of falling to Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament last year hasn’t faded. The Wolverines ended an MSU season that had been marked by success: defeating three top-10 teams, finishing No. 16 in the AVCA coaches poll, knocking off defending national champion UCLA in the tournament, and winning 25 matches — the program’s highest win total since 1996. Senior setter Kristen Kelsay said the feeling of defeat has been burning for the team since the Sweet Sixteen loss.

VOLLEYBALL

Midseason check-in: Volleyball

Omari Sankofa II

October 22, 2013

Head coach Cathy George is dangerously close to having the program where she wants it to be. With a hot start that included wins over reigning national runner-up Oregon and perennial powerhouse Penn State, the volleyball team has been nothing short of stellar this fall. Here is what the team has accomplished on the hardwood:

VOLLEYBALL

Double trouble: Volleyball drops consecutive games

Omari Sankofa II

October 21, 2013

One of the season’s most defining characteristics has been the mental toughness the volleyball team displayed in several hard-fought matches. So fittingly, it was mental mistakes that cost the team its previous two Big Ten games.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball gears up for BTN-televised match vs. Wisconsin

Omari Sankofa II

October 20, 2013

The volleyball team dropped its first Big Ten game Thursday night against Minnesota. Now they face something they have yet to see on their schedule — a two day break in-between games.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball suffers first Big Ten loss against Minnesota

Omari Sankofa II

October 18, 2013

After a thrilling 14-4 comeback in the first set, it seemed as though the Spartans were on their way to another Big Ten victory. Perhaps the improbable first set comeback drained them. Or maybe it was simply an off-night.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball geared up for ESPN2-televised match vs. Minnesota

Omari Sankofa II

October 17, 2013

The No. 5 MSU volleyball team will resume its Big Ten season tonight, taking on No. 10 Minnesota (16-3 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) on the road. The match will be televised on ESPN2 live at 8 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball last Big Ten undefeated team after topping Nebraska

Omari Sankofa II

October 12, 2013

From the word “go,” it was immediately apparent why No. 7 Michigan State and No. 9 Nebraska were the last undefeated teams remaining in Big Ten play.

VOLLEYBALL

Powered by pink: Volleyball beats Iowa, helps fight against cancer

Omari Sankofa II

October 11, 2013

With pink accompanying the usual green and white uniforms, MSU topped Iowa for their fourteenth straight win. During “Dig Pink Night,” a game dedicated to breast cancer awareness, the No. 7 Spartans (16-1 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) remained undefeated in Big Ten play as they beat Iowa (9-8, 0-5) in straight sets (25-14, 25-13, 25-21).

VOLLEYBALL

Iowa, No. 9 Nebraska next for volleyball in weekend

Omari Sankofa II

October 10, 2013

This weekend, the No. 7 MSU volleyball team (15-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) will stay at home as they take on Iowa (9-7 overall, 0-4 Big Ten) on Friday and No. 9 Nebraska (11-2 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) on Saturday.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball's George talks Iowa, undefeated Nebraska

Omari Sankofa II

October 8, 2013

The MSU volleyball team is off to a perfect 4-0 start in Big Ten play, the program’s best start since 1996. On Saturday, the volleyball team will face the other undefeated Big Ten volleyball team, No. 9 Nebraska.

VOLLEYBALL

Three Spartans pull in weekly conference honors

The State News Sports Desk

October 7, 2013

Six victorious sets, two interceptions and one game-winning goal later, three athletes have won Big Ten honors from the weekend. All three Spartans contributed in giving their teams a combined four victories on the weekend, putting them on top of the conference.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball's Reinig living up to high expectations

Omari Sankofa II

October 7, 2013

Though she was listed as a starter early in the season, a bout with mononucleosis delayed freshman Chloe Reinig’s season debut. But judging by her performance since returning to the lineup three weeks ago, it’s easy to see why PrepVolleyball.com rated her the No. 4 recruit of the 2013 class.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball beats Illini, Wildcats and little sister

Omari Sankofa II

October 6, 2013

1996 saw one of the greatest years in MSU volleyball history. With a 26-7 overall record and dominant 12-0 Big Ten start for a team that finished 18-2, then-head coach Chuck Erbe took his team to an Elite Eight finish.

VOLLEYBALL

MSU volleyball completes weekend sweep over Northwestern, Illinois

Omari Sankofa II

October 6, 2013

For the second straight weekend, the MSU volleyball team went 2-0 in Big Ten play. After opening Big Ten season with wins over then-No. 1 Penn State and then-No. 13 Ohio State last weekend, the No. 9 Spartans (15-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) continued their success this weekend. MSU followed their 3-0 sweep over Illinois on Friday night with another 3-0 sweep over Northwestern Saturday (25-20, 25-12, 25-20).

VOLLEYBALL

Big sister rules: Spartans top Illinois in Kelsay sister showdown

Omari Sankofa II

October 4, 2013

From the beginning of preseason, senior setter Kristen Kelsay had Oct. 4 marked on the calender. The date marked more than a rematch against Illinois, who beat the Spartans last season in a stunning 2-3 comeback victory.

VOLLEYBALL

Sibling rivalry coming to campus on hardwood

Omari Sankofa II

October 4, 2013

If resuming Big Ten play against Illinois and Northwestern this weekend isn’t enough to motivate senior setter Kristen Kelsay, a certain player on the Illinois roster certainly will provide some additional motivation.

VOLLEYBALL

Hot start not enough, plenty of unfinished business

Omari Sankofa II

October 2, 2013

Last weekend’s victories over then-No. 1 Penn State and then-No. 13 Ohio State represented just the beginning of what the volleyball team is working for this season — an extended tournament run.

VOLLEYBALL

MSU moves up to No. 9 in coaches poll

Omari Sankofa II

September 30, 2013

Following a successful weekend that saw upset wins over No. 1 Penn State and No. 13 Ohio State, the volleyball team has moved up six spots in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll and now are ranked No. 9.

VOLLEYBALL

Weekend of huge upsets for Spartans on road trip

Omari Sankofa II

September 29, 2013

A couple months from now, last weekend might be considered the moment when the MSU volleyball team proved themselves a national powerhouse. Prior to Friday, their 11-1 preseason record wasn’t good enough to top a historically competitive Big Ten.