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Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL

Team splits at home, earns NCAA tourney bid

Chris Mackinder
December 2, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 22, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 20, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 18, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 15, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 13, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 11, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 8, 2002

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

Chris Mackinder
November 7, 2002

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.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball team picks up two wins at Jenison

The MSU volleyball team battled it out with Big Ten opponents en route to picking up two victories this weekend. Led by another red-hot performance from redshirt freshman Megan Wallin, the Spartans (14-6 overall, 6-4 Big Ten) defeated Purdue 30-23, 30-23 and 30-19 on Friday. Senior outside hitter Kyla Smith led the charge Saturday, recording 18 kills in the Spartans’ 38-40, 30-22, 30-21, 25-30 and 16-14 five-game marathon win over Illinois. The contest against the Fighting Illini proved to be the highlight of the weekend.

VOLLEYBALL

Injury bug depletes Spartans

Chris Mackinder
October 17, 2002

A rash of injuries have left the No. 23 Spartans dealing with more physical pains then they’d like to this season. For the second straight weekend and fifth straight game, junior outside hitter Sara Villwock was sidelined nursing an injured left foot. Prior to Villwock’s injury, she led the team with 113 kills total, she also was the team’s biggest defensive threat, digging 3.29 balls per game. Her presence has been felt on the bench, but it has lacked on the floor - where the Spartans have been hurting.