Sometimes when a younger player beats out an older player for a starting position, team tension can arise.But that hasn't happened with the MSU volleyball team.When sophomore libero Marley Bellwood beat out senior libero Emmy Miller for the key defensive position, head coach Chuck Erbe had cause for concern.
The No. 25 MSU volleyball team continues to dominate the volleyball world. South Carolina and North Carolina were MSU's victims over the weekend. MSU defeated the host school South Carolina 30-19, 24-30, 30-17 and 30-28 on Friday night to improve to 4-0 on the season. The team was paced by three players, led by junior opposite side hitter Michelle Kopka with 14 kills.
The MSU volleyball team is traveling to the Carolina Classic in Columbia, S.C., this weekend with one goal in mind - move up in the rankings. After a 3-0 start to the season, MSU had failed to move up in the rankings, holding steady at No.
A ball is floating in the air - then smashed down with one quick blow. The referee signals the point and junior outside hitter Diana Steplyk screams and congratulates her teammates with high fives.
After week one of the volleyball season, MSU head coach Chuck Erbe feels his team is on course with where he expected it to be - but not without an early test. A 3-0 start is just what Erbe was hoping his team would be able to accomplish heading into the Maryland Invitational.
The No. 25 MSU volleyball team started its season by winning the Maryland Invitation over the weekend, highlighted by nine players achieving career milestones.Junior outside hitter Kim Schram had a career-high 32 kills in the team's five-game victory over Tennessee on Saturday.
The MSU volleyball team is more than ready to open its season at the Maryland Invitational this weekend. This anticipation comes following practice after practice, with the Spartans doing nothing but scrimmaging each other. They're sick of it. "We're just excited to play someone different for a change," senior setter and co-captain Nikki Colson said.
MSU athletics has a tradition of keeping sports within the family - the football Ducketts, the hockey Millers and the basketball Vincents.
After a productive summer, a preseason which saw competition at all six positions and the season opener on Friday, MSU volleyball head coach Chuck Erbe named his starters at a press conference Monday.Senior Nikki Colson will start over sophomore Mickey Davis at the setter position.
The MSU volleyball team kicked off its 2003 season Saturday night with the annual Green and White exhibition match at Jenison Field House. "Tonight was our time to showcase what we've been working on all summer and all preseason," junior outside hitter Kim Schram said.
For the MSU volleyball team, the time is now. "If there was any team that is ready to have a breakout year, it's this one," head coach Chuck Erbe said. The Spartans are expected to place in the national top 20 in preseason polls, and were predicted to place third in the Big Ten this season.
Summer is usually a time to relax, but not in the case of the MSU volleyball team. Usually preseason is the time teams start practicing together, getting a feel for what they will be able to accomplish during the upcoming season. But with four seniors and 11 returning letterwinners, senior co-captain libero Emmy Miller and senior co-captain setter Nikki Colson wanted to get a head start on their competition.
South Bend, Ind. - The first round of the NCAA tournament was all about fun for the MSU volleyball team.And after Saturday's 30-28, 30-13, 30-21 sweep of George Mason University, the smiles were plastered on every Spartan's face."We're just so happy because we've been given a new beginning and a fresh start," junior setter Nikki Colson said.
South Bend, Ind. - The MSU volleyball team didn't think it would be this easy, but it is heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1996.The Spartans (21-11) dominated the Fighting Irish (24-8) in the Joyce Center on Sunday afternoon, winning in three games 30-28, 30-20 and 30-23.
South Bend, Ind. - The MSU volleyball team didn't think it would be this easy, but it's heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1996.The Spartans (21-11) dominated the Fighting Irish (24-8) in the Joyce Center Sunday afternoon, winning in three games 30-28, 30-20 and 30-23.
It's the most exciting time of the year for the MSU volleyball team, and it has nothing to do with the fact that there is one week left in the fall semester. The Spartans (19-11) are gearing up for a run at the volleyball national championship beginning with a contest against George Mason (22-7) at 4 p.m.
When Angela Morley woke up Thursday morning, she realized study time for finals was almost gone. The senior middle and the rest of the MSU volleyball team left Thursday night for South Bend, Ind., for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartan volleyball team is in the same boat as nearly all other MSU students.
The MSU volleyball team (19-11) anxiously awaited its fate for the NCAA Tournament and let out a thunderous roar Sunday night when they saw the bracket they were placed in. The Spartans will travel to South Bend, Ind., where they will match up against George Mason (22-7) in the first round at 4 p.m.
Another weekend of Spartan volleyball brought another split, but this time it earned the team a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans will face George Mason in the first round of the tournament in South Bend, Ind. MSU (19-11 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) picked up a thrilling five-game win over Northwestern (17-15, 10-10) on Friday night in a match that seesawed back and forth from the first serve to the final kill.
Coming off a thrilling five-game win over Northwestern on Friday night, the Spartans had a great deal of momentum heading into Saturday's contest against Wisconsin.But no amount of momentum was going to stop the No.