Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL

Team ready for breakout season

For the MSU volleyball team, the time is now. "If there was any team that is ready to have a breakout year, it's this one," head coach Chuck Erbe said. The Spartans are expected to place in the national top 20 in preseason polls, and were predicted to place third in the Big Ten this season.

VOLLEYBALL

Seniors spark team workouts

Summer is usually a time to relax, but not in the case of the MSU volleyball team. Usually preseason is the time teams start practicing together, getting a feel for what they will be able to accomplish during the upcoming season. But with four seniors and 11 returning letterwinners, senior co-captain libero Emmy Miller and senior co-captain setter Nikki Colson wanted to get a head start on their competition.

VOLLEYBALL

Defense key in first-round matchup

It's the most exciting time of the year for the MSU volleyball team, and it has nothing to do with the fact that there is one week left in the fall semester. The Spartans (19-11) are gearing up for a run at the volleyball national championship beginning with a contest against George Mason (22-7) at 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Digging for a title

When Angela Morley woke up Thursday morning, she realized study time for finals was almost gone. The senior middle and the rest of the MSU volleyball team left Thursday night for South Bend, Ind., for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartan volleyball team is in the same boat as nearly all other MSU students.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans excited about draw in tourney

The MSU volleyball team (19-11) anxiously awaited its fate for the NCAA Tournament and let out a thunderous roar Sunday night when they saw the bracket they were placed in. The Spartans will travel to South Bend, Ind., where they will match up against George Mason (22-7) in the first round at 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Team splits at home, earns NCAA tourney bid

Another weekend of Spartan volleyball brought another split, but this time it earned the team a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans will face George Mason in the first round of the tournament in South Bend, Ind. MSU (19-11 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) picked up a thrilling five-game win over Northwestern (17-15, 10-10) on Friday night in a match that seesawed back and forth from the first serve to the final kill.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans hit road for 2 Big Ten games

The Spartans are expected to pick up their first two-win weekend since Oct. 25-26, the last time they played Purdue and Illinois, but they know the task won't be an easy one. MSU has struggled on the road all season long, especially in the Big Ten.

VOLLEYBALL

Last 4 matches will be vital for Spartans' postseason chances

To receive consideration for the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans arguably need to win three of their next four contests. And for the MSU volleyball team, making it to the postseason for the ninth consecutive year won't be the easiest of tasks if this season has been a guide. MSU (16-10 overall, 8-8 Big Ten) sits in a tie for seventh place in the conference with Indiana.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans split 2 at Jenison

The MSU volleyball team did everything in its power to pull out two victories this weekend. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they fell just short. MSU easily defeated Iowa Friday night in three games, 30-20, 30-26 and 30-17, but before the weekend, the Spartans knew Saturday night was going to be the real test. On Saturday, No.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans look to bounce back at home

This weekend is all about rebounding for the MSU volleyball team. Following disappointing losses against Indiana and Ohio State a week ago, the Spartans (15-9 overall, 7-7 Big Ten) know they need an extremely strong showing at home this weekend to finish the season strong.

VOLLEYBALL

Junior transfer redshirted for season, postseason in jeopardy

Junior outside hitter Sara Villwock, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since the end of September, will be given a medical redshirt for this season. MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said he thought long and hard about the decision, making it within the last week. "She's making good progress, but for her to be back in time to really play a substantiative role for our team - she's not going to be in any position to do that," Erbe said. "She's still not cleared to go full-bore and jump and be in practice.

VOLLEYBALL

Weekend trip puts damper on teams chances

Columbus, Ohio - It wasn’t the prettiest of weekends, and for the MSU volleyball team, it was downright ugly. The Spartans dropped both of its matches this weekend, losing in three games to Indiana on Friday night, and then falling in four games to Ohio State on Saturday night. Going into the weekend, the Spartans were hoping to pick up a pair of wins escalating to the forefront of the conference.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans hit road for two games

The MSU volleyball team doesn’t like being in the middle of the Big Ten standings, and players said this is a great weekend to do something about that. The Spartans (15-7 overall, 7-5 Big Ten) are stuck in fifth place, but a pair of wins would bump them up in the conference.

VOLLEYBALL

Juniors lively spirit is contagious

Fans flock to MSU volleyball matches to watch the Spartans battle fierce competition. But they also come to see the buzz Jenny Rood creates with her performance on the court. Following every kill, block or opponent error, Rood makes her feelings known, ecstatically jumping like a bunny.