SPORTS
Weekend events on course, court and pool for MSU
The football team will take on Indiana in the annual Homecoming game, but multiple other teams are in action as well.
SPORTS
Spartans hitting stride with new offense
When the MSU football team made a change at offensive coordinator in the offseason, it was unclear the direction the program’s offense was headed.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball's George talks Iowa, undefeated Nebraska
The MSU volleyball team is off to a perfect 4-0 start in Big Ten play, the program’s best start since 1996. On Saturday, the volleyball team will face the other undefeated Big Ten volleyball team, No. 9 Nebraska.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Clem, Gauruder duke out starting goalie spot
Heading into the season, Courtney Clem was the No. 1 goalkeeper for the MSU women’s soccer team. With just six games remaining on the schedule and an important Big Ten match against Ohio State on Saturday, the junior goalkeeper will be competing in practice this week to keep the top spot with sophomore goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder.
MEN'S SOCCER
OSU next in line for on-fire men's soccer team
The men’s soccer team had a good week last week, to say the least. MSU (7-1-1 overall, 1-0-0 Big Ten) went on the road and beat University of Illinois-Chicago 2-0 to earn their sixth shutout of the season last Tuesday. Shortly after, the Spartans upset No. 5 Northwestern 3-2 in double overtime on the Wildcats’ home turf Sunday afternoon.
FOOTBALL
Dantonio awaits Indiana's fast-paced offense
For what seemed like the first time all season, head coach Mark Dantonio’s press conference was not dominated by questions about MSU’s offense.
VOLLEYBALL
Three Spartans pull in weekly conference honors
Six victorious sets, two interceptions and one game-winning goal later, three athletes have won Big Ten honors from the weekend. All three Spartans contributed in giving their teams a combined four victories on the weekend, putting them on top of the conference.
BASEBALL
Face time: Jake Boss Jr.
A year after making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1979, the MSU baseball team narrowly missed the 64-team field this past spring. The Spartans finished with a 33-17 overall record and a 12-9 Big Ten record, but couldn’t quite crack the field as they were the first team left out of the tournament.?
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball's Reinig living up to high expectations
Though she was listed as a starter early in the season, a bout with mononucleosis delayed freshman Chloe Reinig’s season debut. But judging by her performance since returning to the lineup three weeks ago, it’s easy to see why PrepVolleyball.com rated her the No. 4 recruit of the 2013 class.
FOOTBALL
Dennard wins Big Ten weekly award
Senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
ICE HOCKEY
Moving from press box to bench with team
Welp, I’m 0-1 as a coach. At the MSU hockey Green and White game, head coach Tom Anastos asked yours truly and other members of the Lansing media to put down their notebooks and pick up a whistle.
FOOTBALL
Column: Program must set sights higher after big 'W'
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Let’s pump the brakes a little, Mark. Knocking off a team that was weaker than advertised and a program that hasn’t won a Big Ten title since 2004 is a landmark win?
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball beats Illini, Wildcats and little sister
1996 saw one of the greatest years in MSU volleyball history. With a 26-7 overall record and dominant 12-0 Big Ten start for a team that finished 18-2, then-head coach Chuck Erbe took his team to an Elite Eight finish.
MEN'S SOCCER
Men's soccer beats No. 5 Northwestern
The last time the MSU men’s soccer team took the field in Evanston, Ill., they won the Big Ten Tournament in an overtime match against Michigan. In their first return trip to Lakeside Field since then, the Spartans (7-1-1 overall, 1-0-0 Big Ten) opened up Big Ten play with a 3-2, double overtime win against No. 5 Northwestern (7-3-0 overall, 1-1-0 Big Ten).
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Women's soccer falls to Iowa in overtime
The MSU women’s soccer team held on for 106 minutes as Iowa got off shot after shot, but couldn’t hang on for four more minutes to make it a draw. The Spartans (7-4-2 overall, 1-4-0 Big Ten) and Hawkeyes (10-3-0, 2-3-0) fought through two overtimes Sunday afternoon on Iowa’s home field, but it was the Hawkeyes who came out with the 1-0 win thanks to a late goal by Iowa midfielder Anne Marie Thomas.
VOLLEYBALL
MSU volleyball completes weekend sweep over Northwestern, Illinois
For the second straight weekend, the MSU volleyball team went 2-0 in Big Ten play. After opening Big Ten season with wins over then-No. 1 Penn State and then-No. 13 Ohio State last weekend, the No. 9 Spartans (15-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) continued their success this weekend. MSU followed their 3-0 sweep over Illinois on Friday night with another 3-0 sweep over Northwestern Saturday (25-20, 25-12, 25-20).
FOOTBALL
From Sadler to Cook, MSU impressed
Facing a punting situation to open the fourth quarter with the MSU football team clinging to a six-point lead, junior punter Mike Sadler entered the game to send the ball back to the opposing team as he had 24 previous times this season. It’s something he’s able to do as consistent as nearly anyone in the country since taking over the position in 2011.
FOOTBALL
Now they're Cook-ing
Mike Sadler was MSU’s most valuable player through its first three games as the Spartans were frustratingly ineffective on offense, leaning on Sadler time and time again to get them out of a jam. Even as MSU had its best offensive showing of the season in a 26-14 win at Iowa to begin Big Ten play, the junior punter again played the hero role.
FOOTBALL
Hawkeyes use late surge to build 14-10 halftime lead
Iowa City, Iowa – It appeared MSU would walk into the locker room with a 10-point lead it could feel good about. Then the Hawkeyes exploded for a quick pair of long touchdown drives on their final possessions of the half to take a 14-10 advantage. MSU’s defense dominated much of the first half and found life on a big play from sophomore wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. The Spartans (3-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) forced three-and-outs on four of Iowa’s (4-1, 1-0) first five possessions, and the other ended with an interception from senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard. MSU opened up with a three-and-out on its first possession, too, before squandering a pair of prime scoring chances on the next two drives. Junior running back Jeremy Langford was stuffed on 4th-and-1 from the Iowa 24-yard line, and on the next possession following Dennard’s interception, freshman kicker Michael Geiger missed a 36-yard field goal. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook hooked up with Kings for a 46-yard touchdown, by far MSU’s longest play of the season, for a 10-0 lead. It took Iowa six possessions to earn a first down, and once it did the Hawkeyes were rolling.
VOLLEYBALL
Big sister rules: Spartans top Illinois in Kelsay sister showdown
From the beginning of preseason, senior setter Kristen Kelsay had Oct. 4 marked on the calender. The date marked more than a rematch against Illinois, who beat the Spartans last season in a stunning 2-3 comeback victory.