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Sports

SPORTS

Injuries could sit out two Spartans spikers

While MSU volleyball senior outside hitter Michelle Kopka might return to the court as early as Wednesday, junior middle Brooke Langston might be questionable now, head coach Chuck Erbe said. This past weekend, MSU played Indiana and Purdue, beating Indiana 3-0 on Friday night before falling to Purdue 3-2 Saturday. Kopka did not play in either match because of an injured ankle and was wearing a protective boot last week.

SPORTS

Receivers must catch balls for success

MSU's receivers have shown the speed and route-running precision needed to get open. The problem is, they've also shown a habit of dropping passes once in position to make a play. MSU's spread offense relies on receivers with good hands to move the football.

SOCCER

One goal wins game

Junior midfielder Ryan McMahen scored the lone goal of the game in the first half as the MSU men's soccer team snapped its two-game losing streak and evened its Big Ten record at 1-1 with a 1-0 win over Northwestern on Sunday at Old College Field. Sophomore goaltender Jason Tillman stopped two Northwestern shots and preserved the game in the second half with the Wildcats pressing for the tying goal. "It was his best game," MSU head coach Joe Baum said.

BASKETBALL

Students brave wind, cold for chance at lower-bowl tickets

Sonia Khaleel
October 4, 2004

More than 400 multi-colored tents speckled Munn field Saturday night as devoted students sporting hats, coats and gloves waited to receive their coveted basketball tickets in the windy, bitter cold. "I'm wearing a fleece, a hoodie, my winter jacket, a long-sleeve T-shirt and a short-sleeve T-shirt," said finance junior Michelle Lee as she shivered.

VOLLEYBALL

Errors amount to team's weekend split

Disappointing was an understatement for head coach Chuck Erbe after the MSU volleyball team (6-6 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) fell to Purdue on Saturday. Heartbreaking was more like it as MSU lost, 3-2. "The single most disappointing thing about this is, we should've won this match," Erbe said.

FOOTBALL

At a loss

Iowa City, Iowa - MSU's performance against Iowa on Saturday was so bad that head coach John L.

BASKETBALL

Midnight Mania event to kick off seasons

Darrell Hughes
October 4, 2004

The MSU men's and women's basketball teams are opening their arms to fans and students at its annual Midnight Mania event to kick off the 2004-05 season. Fans and students will have the chance to get autographs from coaches and players at 10:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Redshirt freshman steps up in game; 9 catches for 103 yards most by Spartans receiver this season

Iowa City, Iowa - Love was in the air Saturday. Terry Love, that is. The redshirt freshman caught his first career reception for 19 yards in the second quarter of MSU's 38-16 loss at Iowa on Saturday. Then he caught his second career ball on a 9-yard slant rout - good enough for another first down. His third career catch came two plays later, a 4-yard gain. After the next three plays, Love would add his fourth, fifth and sixth career catches. The only thing that could stop Love late in the second quarter was his shoe - which came off - forcing him to the sidelines. Love would add three more receptions to his not-so-long ago empty résumé in the second half, giving him nine on the day with 103 yards.

ICE HOCKEY

Returning players hold vital role in quest for title

Matt Bishop
October 4, 2004

After ending its season in disappointing fashion, courtesy of a 5-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA Tournament, the MSU hockey team believes that with its new focus and attitude, this could be the Spartans' year. "We're just trying to be focused on what we need to do to get back to where Michigan State hockey should be," junior defenseman Jared Nightingale said.

FOOTBALL

Missed assignments, 464 total yards equate to loss

Megan Homanick
October 4, 2004

Iowa City, Iowa - After completely dominating Indiana's offense in the second half last week, the MSU defense could not put on an encore performance at Iowa. The Spartans (2-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) gave up 464 total yards to Iowa (3-2, 1-1) - the worst offensive team in the Big Ten prior to this weekend. "As far as the defense is concerned, I don't think we played very smart today," senior linebacker and captain Ron Stanley said.

VOLLEYBALL

Team returns home searching for wins

After playing on the road for three straight weeks, the MSU volleyball team (5-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) returns to Jenison Field House to face Indiana and Purdue. "It's good to be home," head coach Chuck Erbe said. But the Spartans have not won a match since Sept.

SPORTS

Smith: Team needs more emotion; poor practice habits plague 'U'

John L. Smith has a habit of kidding around. So it was no surprise reporters doubted the validity of his motivational tactics involving chickens and the exorcism of a stadium when he coached at Idaho. "Bite the head off a chicken and chew it up, that gets 'em going, right?" the head coach said.

SPORTS

Wallin tears ACL, out for entire season

MSU volleyball middle Megan Wallin was hitting a slide play behind the setter last Friday when she injured her knee. "She is finished for the season," head coach Chuck Erbe said in a written statement Wednesday after an MRI revealed Wallin tore the ACL in her right knee.