FOOTBALL
Gopher gridders dig in, prepare to face Spartans
Minnesota is in the basement of the Big Ten, but MSU will still have its hands full at 12:10 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball loses first game at home to No. 11 Penn State
The Spartan volleyball team dropped three straight games to No. 11 Penn State on Friday at Jenison Field House. The Nittany Lions rolled to victory 30-23, 30-24 and 30-25 over the Spartans, who were previously 9-0 at Jenison. Penn State (14-3, 7-2 Big Ten) trailed MSU early in all three games before scrapping together major scoring runs to open the games in their favor.
BASKETBALL
Izzo needs Torbert to fill holes on team
True, Michael Jordan didn’t return to basketball to play for the Spartans. But Big Ten defenders will be gunning for their own legend wearing No.
SOCCER
Krass offense honored
Two years ago, sophomore midfielder Jeff Krass scored 23 goals for Brighton High School. Now he is being recognized for only scoring a third of that. After scoring a goal in MSU’s last two men’s soccer games, the Big Ten named Krass its Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Before the 4-1 win over Oakland on Oct.
ICE HOCKEY
Mason could claim 900th-victory in Saturdays game against Ferris State
MSU head coach Ron Mason has achieved milestones before. Just last February, he won his 600th game as a Spartan. About eight and a half years ago, he surpassed Len Ceglarski as college hockey’s all-time winningest coach with his 674th overall victory. He was also the first college coach to reach both the 700th- and 800th-win plateaus.
SOCCER
Penn State a must win
The MSU men’s soccer team only has four more games before the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 8, but for now, only one is on the players’ minds.Penn State comes to town at 2:30 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Dortch getting comfortable at cornerback
When sophomore tailback Tyrell Dortch played cornerback last week against Iowa, it wasn’t just an isolated experiment. After recording five tackles in 39 plays at cornerback, head coach Bobby Williams said Dortch will start there at Minnesota on Saturday. “I thought Tyrell Dortch did some very good things at that corner position,” Williams said.
SPORTS
Vastag scores big as freshman
Freshman Dora Vastag’s competitive spirit has put her at the forefront of MSU’s women’s tennis team.
VOLLEYBALL
Spartans face two top teams at home
With just two matches remaining in the first half of the Spartan volleyball team’s conference schedule, they have a chance to issue a major statement. The Spartans face two of the Big Ten’s finest in No.
ICE HOCKEY
Team stays No. 1, featured on ESPN show
MSU kept its top spot in both of this week’s national polls after sweeping a two-game series with Lake Superior State by a combined score of 11-1 last weekend.The Spartans (2-0-1 overall, 2-0-1 CCHA) garnered 31 first-place votes and 587 points in the USCHO.com poll, keeping them well ahead of No.
FOOTBALL
Shaws interceptions raising eyebrows
With all the position shuffling this season, a handful of MSU’s players have used their athleticism to compensate for the team’s personnel losses on the field.
BASKETBALL
Izzo has high hopes
As MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo enters his seventh season at the helm, he said he plans on taking the same course he used to win four straight Big Ten titles.“What I think what we’ve done, we have a blueprint of what it takes,” Izzo said at media day Wednesday.
BASKETBALL
Mens basketball tickets still on sale, Holiday Packs give admission over break
The MSU men’s basketball team has a three-game ticket plan for home games during the holiday break that are not part of any student ticket plan. The “Holiday Pack” goes on sale Monday at the Jenison Field House Ticket Office and includes tickets to home games against UNC-Asheville on Dec.
SPORTS
Berkowitz Basketball Complex almost complete, Izzo says it will bring recruits
Construction of the $7.5 million Berkowitz Basketball Complex is nearing its final stage. The new auxiliary gymnasium will allow both the men’s and women’s basketball teams room to practice while the main arena of Breslin Center is in use.
VOLLEYBALL
Schram lets her off-beat personality show on court
Freshman outside hitter Kim Schram misses life in London, Ontario. She wishes she could be around her friends, her family and especially her Smarties.“I need my Smarties,” she said.She doesn’t mean the sugary discs abundant on Halloween.
FOOTBALL
Pundits show know-how, pick winners by teams mascots
Last week Racy Lacy had the first perfect week going 5-0, putting him at 19-12. But he’s still behind Vanilla Rice, who is 21-10.
VOLLEYBALL
Erbe cancels match with Gators because of miscommunications
Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe wants to see volleyball become a more popular and television-friendly sport.So he scheduled an exhibition game for Oct.
ICE HOCKEY
The Cold War to be featured on ESPN
The Spartan hockey team will receive even more national exposure this week, stemming from its record-setting outdoor hockey game on Oct.
FOOTBALL
Spartan Stadium will be torn apart in spring, growing by mid-June
Deadlines need to be met for the Spartans to enjoy their first full season on natural turf in 32 years.Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Greg Ianni - one of the masterminds behind the $2 million Spartan Stadium transformation - said the project should begin next spring if weather permits.
FOOTBALL
Rayner wins starting spot
MSU freshman kicker David Rayner didn’t have extensive kicking coaching in high school. He knew his chances to play this year would be slim.