Sunday, April 28, 2024

Sports

SPORTS

Colson awarded team's most valuable

Senior setter Nikki Colson was honored Saturday as the MSU volleyball team's Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. With 1,585 assists on the season, Colson broke her own record en route to setting the career assist record for MSU with 4,563. Colson, along with teammate senior libero Emmy Miller, took home the 2003 Captains' Awards.

SPORTS

Spartans dismantle U-M in lopsided rivalry victory

This season, the No. 25 MSU women's basketball team has made a name for itself with its defense. After putting on arguably their best defensive effort in a game against Ohio State last week, the Spartans (13-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) bettered the effort against Michigan in a 67-33 win Sunday.

FOOTBALL

Prep end added to 2004 roster

The newest addition to the Spartan football 2004 lineup said the main thing he hopes to accomplish in his freshman year is to keep the team on track for another winning season. Justin Kershaw, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound, strongside defensive end from Reynoldsburg High School in Columbus, Ohio, committed on Saturday to play for the Spartans.

BASKETBALL

Spartans' 'solid defense' key to string of victories

Refusing to be discounted as a Big Ten contender, the Spartans delivered another dominating win, tossing their hat into the tight conference race. MSU (7-7 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) followed up an 18-point win over Penn State on Wednesday with a 71-54 mauling of Michigan on Saturday afternoon. It was the first time since the end of November that MSU put together back-to-back wins and the first time the Spartans began living up to the No.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Softball ranked in preseason polls MSU softball team was ranked No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Today Softball Top 25 preseason poll released Wednesday. The Spartans are one of just three Big Ten teams in the top 25, including No.

FOOTBALL

Lineman's 2004 NFL Draft decision leaves spectators anxious, optimistic

Matthias Askew's decision to enter the 2004 NFL Draft has left both fans and analysts divided. The junior defensive lineman announced Monday he would forgo his senior season in order to pursue a professional career. Stewart Mandel, an online reporter for Sports Illustrated, said Askew will probably be a third or fourth-round pick, not faring as well as former Spartans who also left early.

BASKETBALL

Spartans shut down Nittany Lions

The Spartans wanted to defend their case as a contender for the Big Ten title. Wednesday night against Penn State, they did it with defense. MSU smothered the Nittany Lions all night en route to a 76-58 victory in front of a jubilant Breslin Center crowd. "I think we got back to our old selves," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

VOLLEYBALL

Former assistant to help lead USA National, Olympic teams

Todd Dagenais has some adjusting to do. MSU's former associate head volleyball coach will be spending the next few weeks getting acclimated to his new home, Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The funny thing is, the biggest adjustment has been getting used to the altitude," Dagenais said, adding that the city is more than a mile above sea level.

FOOTBALL

Spartans gain transfer, prep standout for 2004

Spartan football's fall lineup is going to add some much-needed bulk, now that defensive tackle Daniel Zynn has committed to play. The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Zynn was one of the best defensive tackles coming out of high school, and was ranked second at the California Nike Camp.

SPORTS

'U' trio brings home gold

With one period left and down two goals, it was do-or-die time for the U.S. National Junior Team, which included three Spartan hockey players.

SPORTS

Izzo: Cotton still confused, receiving calls from schools

It seems imminent Brandon Cotton will transfer from MSU. At his weekly press conference Monday, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said the freshman point guard still was confused as to what he was doing, but mentioned Cotton's name when talking about college basketball transfers in general. "As of last night, it was still up in the air (if Cotton would start school Monday)," Izzo said.

SPORTS

'U' dismantles Titans

The No. 25 MSU women's basketball team stepped out of conference to grab a 64-41 win over Detroit Mercy on Monday afternoon. The Spartans (11-3) used a press and their matchup zone defense to overwhelm the Titans (6-7). MSU forced 20 turnovers, which it turned into 21 points. "Their matchup zone is as good as anybody's in the country," Detroit head coach Mickey Barrett said.