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Sports

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans manage 3-1 win over Hawkeyes

Dan Woike
September 30, 2001

Despite a shaky finish Saturday evening at Jenison Field House, the Spartan volleyball team hung on to defeat the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes 3-1.The Spartans (9-2, 2-2) extended its home winning streak to nine games with the victory.Game one began with a shower of Spartan points as sophomore setter Nikki Colson (match-high 49 assists) served for seven straight points.The Spartans’ lead would stretch to nine with sophomore middle blocker Jenny Rood’s (11 kills, five blocks) swooping kill.The Hawkeyes, (2-8, 0-4) would get no closer than eight points the rest of the game, which was sealed with a solo block from junior outside hitter Kyla Smith (match-highs with 15 kills and four solo blocks) making the final 30-18.Game two was more of the same from the home team, as sophomore defensive specialist Stephanie Knopp served eight straight points to give the Spartans an 9-0 lead.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers dominate in first exhibition game

James Jahnke
September 30, 2001

MSU’s exhibition game against Queen’s University (Ontario) was a dominating display of offense as the Spartans skated circles around the Golden Gaels in a 14-1 win Saturday in front of 6,462 fans at Munn Ice Arena.The Spartans led 7-1 after the first period and never looked back in their final tune-up before “The Cold War” outdoor game against Michigan next Saturday in Spartan Stadium.MSU is 12-0-1 against Canadian universities since 1983.Senior left wing Joe Goodenow led the way for MSU with two goals and three assists and freshman center Lee Falardeau added a pair of goals and an assist for the Spartans.Senior defenseman Jon Insana, junior left wing Brian Maloney, freshman center Ash Goldie, senior right wing Adam Hall, junior right wing Kris Koski, junior defenseman Brad Fast, freshman defenseman Duncan Keith, junior center Troy Ferguson, freshman right wing Brock Radunske and freshman right wing Mike Lalonde also scored for MSU.Junior defenseman John-Michael Liles, sophomore defenseman Joe Markusen and Insana each added three assists.The only Spartan skater held pointless was freshman left wing Kevin Estrada.“We executed and played as a team,” Insana said.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans manage 3-1 win over Hawkeyes

Dan Woike
September 30, 2001

Despite a shaky finish Saturday evening at Jenison Field House, the Spartan volleyball team hung on to defeat the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes 3-1.The Spartans (9-2, 2-2) extended its home winning streak to nine games with the victory.Game one began with a shower of Spartan points as sophomore setter Nikki Colson (match-high 49 assists) served for seven straight points.The Spartans’ lead would stretch to nine with sophomore middle blocker Jenny Rood’s (11 kills, five blocks) swooping kill.The Hawkeyes, (2-8, 0-4) would get no closer than eight points the rest of the game, which was sealed with a solo block from junior outside hitter Kyla Smith (match-highs with 15 kills and four solo blocks) making the final 30-18.Game two was more of the same from the home team, as sophomore defensive specialist Stephanie Knopp served eight straight points to give the Spartans an 9-0 lead.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers dominate in first exhibition game

James Jahnke
September 30, 2001

MSU’s exhibition game against Queen’s University (Ontario) was a dominating display of offense as the Spartans skated circles around the Golden Gaels in a 14-1 win Saturday in front of 6,462 fans at Munn Ice Arena.The Spartans led 7-1 after the first period and never looked back in their final tune-up before “The Cold War” outdoor game against Michigan next Saturday in Spartan Stadium.MSU is 12-0-1 against Canadian universities since 1983.Senior left wing Joe Goodenow led the way for MSU with two goals and three assists and freshman center Lee Falardeau added a pair of goals and an assist for the Spartans.Senior defenseman Jon Insana, junior left wing Brian Maloney, freshman center Ash Goldie, senior right wing Adam Hall, junior right wing Kris Koski, junior defenseman Brad Fast, freshman defenseman Duncan Keith, junior center Troy Ferguson, freshman right wing Brock Radunske and freshman right wing Mike Lalonde also scored for MSU.Junior defenseman John-Michael Liles, sophomore defenseman Joe Markusen and Insana each added three assists.The only Spartan skater held pointless was freshman left wing Kevin Estrada.“We executed and played as a team,” Insana said.

FOOTBALL

Gridders fall to Northwestern in heartbreaker

Justin A. Rice
September 30, 2001

Evanston, Ill - Before the final second ticked away, the game seemed over at least three times. But Northwestern (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) scored a 47-yard field goal as time expired to beat MSU 27-26 in thrilling fashion. Moments earlier it had looked like a happy ending for MSU (2-1, 0-1). Senior wide receiver Herb Haygood returned a Northwestern kickoff 84-yards with 18 seconds left in the game, to put the Spartans up 26-24.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans return to ice for Green and White game

James Jahnke
September 29, 2001

Defense is supposed to be MSU’s strength this season and Friday’s Green and White intrasquad scrimmage didn’t do anything to shoot down that theory. Sophomore center Tim Hearon scored the game’s only goal with 6:05 remaining as the Green beat the White 1-0 in a tight-checking game at Munn Ice Arena. Hearon tipped a shot from sophomore defenseman Joe Markusen over junior goaltender Ryan Miller’s shoulder for the game-winner.

SPORTS

Cross country makes poll, readies for meet

Aaron Johnson
September 28, 2001

The MSU men’s and women’s cross country teams will be traveling Saturday to Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitational. Both teams are coming off impressive showings at last week’s Spartan Invitational at Forest Akers East Golf Course.

SPORTS

Michigan tournament opens mens golf season

Aaron Johnson
September 28, 2001

The MSU men’s golf team opens its season today as it heads to Ann Arbor for the Wolverine Invitational. The 21-team field, which includes seven Big Ten teams, begins play today and will compete through Sunday. “It’s always a tough one - the first one - because you haven’t gotten through the expectations yet,” head coach Mark Hankins said. Despite that factor, he said the team anticipates a strong finish this weekend. “We have a good team,” Hankins said.

VOLLEYBALL

Senior captain Ashtons back injury cant stop her from leading

Dan Woike
September 28, 2001

Senior defensive specialist Lisa Ashton had big plans for this season. Her relentless hustle on defense, her work ethic and her leadership were going to be inspirational for her teammates.What the Spartan volleyball co-captain didn’t plan on giving her teammates was a lesson in vulnerability and optimism.“Maybe taking a look at me on the sidelines will remind them they aren’t guaranteed four years of play,” Ashton said.

FOOTBALL

Cleaves horses around

Aaron Johnson
September 28, 2001

Mateen Cleaves may not be a Spartan or a Detroit Piston any more, but his local fan support doesn’t seem to care.About 30 fans watched as Cleaves played horse Thursday in front of the Okemos Sprint Store at 3544 Meridian Crossing Drive with four radio station winners.

ICE HOCKEY

Two exhibition games open hockey season

James Jahnke
September 28, 2001

The MSU coaching staff’s agenda for this weekend is fairly simple - provide the freshmen with their first competitive collegiate atmosphere, get the returning players back up to game speed and at all costs, avoid injuries. But it’s easier said than done. Just five days after their first practice, the Spartans are being thrust into back-to-back exhibition games, starting with the annual Green and White intrasquad game at 7:05 p.m.

SPORTS

Local wrestler joins brother as Spartan

Kristy Austin
September 28, 2001

In front of a crowd of friends, classmates, parents and mentors Thursday, Williamston wrestler Andy Simmons, a three-time Michigan High School State Champion, announced his intent to join the Spartans next fall.“I am going to State because I really like the program and it will be close so that people from around here can come and see me,” Simmons said.

SPORTS

Spartans must squelch history of winning, then losing even bigger

Justin A. Rice
September 27, 2001

The MSU head football coaches are so worried about starting flat against Northwestern on Saturday - like the team did last year - they addressed the issue minutes after beating the Fighting Irish.“They just want to make sure that unlike last year we don’t come off a couple of wins in the beginning and then get too high and forget about next week’s game,” senior linebacker Josh Thornhill said.

FOOTBALL

Duckett vs. Anderson

Eric Lacy
September 27, 2001

If MSU’s T.J. Duckett is considered the Midwest’s “freak of nature,” then Northwestern’s Damien Anderson comes in a close second. Both Heisman Trophy candidate running backs are known for their uncanny speed and strength, despite the fact they differ in size. Duckett, at 6-foot-1 and 249 pounds, bruised his way to 1,353 yards in 2000, while Anderson, at 5-foot-11 and 207 pounds, scampered for 2,063 - the most in the Big Ten.