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Sports

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans advance to GLI championship game to face North Dakota

James Jahnke
December 29, 2001

Detroit - The drive for five is on track.Fourth-ranked MSU, fresh off a 20-day break, looked rusty early on but stormed back to beat Michigan Tech, 4-1, Friday in the second semifinal of the 37th annual Great Lakes Invitational.The Spartans (13-3-2 overall, 10-3-1 CCHA) rode 22 saves by junior goaltender Ryan Miller to victory over the Huskies in front of 18,071 at Joe Louis Arena.The MSU win means the Spartans will play North Dakota in the championship game at about 7:30 p.m.

BASKETBALL

W-hoops improve record to 9-1 with win over Providence

Dan Woike
December 22, 2001

Behind a career night from freshman center Kelli Roehrig, the Spartan women’s basketball team extended its winning streak Friday to five games with a 64-47 victory over the Providence Friars. Roehrig finished the evening with career highs in points, rebounds and minutes - leading all scorers with 22 points and adding 7 rebounds in her 35 minutes of floor time. “Tonight, I just felt very confident,” she said.

BASKETBALL

All to themselves: Spartans beat UNC-Asheville to claim Big Ten record for home winning streak

Paul Day
December 18, 2001

The No. 17 Spartans are still rolling.With a 76-56 win over UNC-Asheville on Monday at Breslin Center, the nation’s longest home winning streak stayed alive at 51, breaking the Big Ten record once held jointly by Ohio State (1959-63) and Indiana (1991-95).But the score may be deceiving.“This was not a 20-point game,” head coach Tom Izzo said.The MSU men’s basketball team entered the game looking less enthusiastic than it did Saturday against then-No.

SPORTS

Womens hoops plays over break

Dan Woike
December 7, 2001

While many students are sledding and sipping eggnog, the MSU women’s basketball team won’t have as much time to enjoy the “break” aspect of “winter break.” The Spartans (7-1) face two more nonconference foes during break before opening up the Big Ten season at 2 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans face strong CCHA squad Northern

James Jahnke
December 7, 2001

Coming off last weekend’s road series on an Olympic-size ice rink in Alaska, the Spartans will turn around and do it all over again tonight and Saturday at Northern Michigan. But stakes are a little higher this weekend, considering the Wildcats (8-3-1 overall, 6-3-1 CCHA) are ranked eighth in the nation and are a prominent contender for the CCHA crown. No.

VOLLEYBALL

Hartley wins spot on AVCA Mideast Region team

Dan Woike
December 6, 2001

Although her Spartan volleyball career ended Saturday night, senior outside hitter Erin Hartley is still receiving reminders about her great senior campaign. Hartley was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Mideast Region team Wednesday. Hartley is one of 10 Big Ten players on the 12-person roster. By earning a spot on one of the eight regional teams, Hartley, along with the other 95 regional-team members, is eligible for a place on the AVCA All-America team, which will be announced Dec.

SPORTS

Junior College National Champ stepping up for U

Aaron Johnson
December 6, 2001

At the beginning of the MSU wrestling team’s season, all eyes turned to freshman Nick Simmons, the grappler who never lost in his high school career.But after two non-scoring tournaments and a matchup against Eastern Michigan, the freshman will likely be redshirted, leading the team to rely on another newcomer to collegiate competition - junior Rashad Evans.After redshirting last year, the team has high hopes for Evans who will wrestle this year in the 174-pound division.“Mentally, he’s very tough,” head coach Tom Minkel said.

ICE HOCKEY

Swistak earns Olympic torch nod

James Jahnke
December 6, 2001

Joining the likes of athletic heroes Muhammad Ali, Willie Mays and Steve Young, MSU hockey player Steve Swistak will be one of 11,500 Olympic torchbearers carrying the flame across the country en route to February’s Winter Games in Salt Lake City.Swistak, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman, will run with the torch for one-fifth of a mile near his hometown of West Bloomfield on Jan.

BASKETBALL

Ishbia upgraded from walk-on to active

Justin A. Rice
December 6, 2001

The holidays came a little early for senior guard Mat Ishbia this year.The 5-foot-10, 175-pound walk-on’s status shifted just before the season when men’s head basketball coach Tom Izzo gave him a scholarship.Ishbia said he didn’t see it coming.“It was a great honor,” Ishbia said.

ICE HOCKEY

Slater to play on U.S. Junior team

James Jahnke
December 6, 2001

MSU freshman center Jim Slater, a Lapeer native, will play for the United States at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic later this month. Consequently, MSU’s scoring leader will miss the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec.

FOOTBALL

Recruits hyped about bowl, watch postseason practice

Justin A. Rice
December 6, 2001

A trip to the Dec. 31 Silicon Valley Football Classic in San Jose, Calif., may cost MSU hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the return on that investment could be the signing of some highly sought after recruits. Recruits are allowed to watch the team’s practice for a bowl game and see the team play on national TV, said Bill Kurelic, a recruiting expert from Midwest Recruiting.

BASKETBALL

Saving the Streak

Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak and Cal Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive games played are recognized as two of the most famous streaks in all of sports.