MICHIGAN STATE YEAR IN REVIEW: 2007-2008

	MICHIGAN STATE: YEAR IN REVIEW

Team	Big Ten finish
W Soccer	Season: 10th Record: 7-10-1, 1-8-1
M Soccer	Season: 5th Record: 11-6-4, 2-3-1
Cross country	Men: 7th Women: 2nd
Field Hockey	Season: 2nd Record: 16-6, 5-1
Football	Season: T-7th Record: 7-6, 3-5
Volleyball	Season: T-4th Record: 21-14, 10-10
Swim. & diving	Men: 10th Women: 10th
Indoor T&F	Men: 10th Women: 8th
Wrestling	Big Tens: 11th
M basketball	Season: 4th Record: 27-9, 12-6
W basketball	Season: T-5th Record: 23-14, 10-8
Ice hockey	Season: 3rd - CCHA Record: 25-12-5
W Gymnastics	Big Ten's: 4th
Outdoor T&F	Men: 10th Women: 9th
M Golf	Men: Big Ten Champs Women: 2nd
Tennis	Men: 8th Women: T-6th
Rowing	Big Ten Champs
Baseball	Season: 8th Record: 24-29, 12-18
Softball	Season: T-6th Record: 27-29, 8-12

Men's cross country
The men finished seventh at the Big Ten Championships, as Dustin Voss set the pace, finishing 40th with a time of 24:59.42. Michigan State Freshman Patrick Grosskopf came in three spots behind Spartan leader Voss, finishing 43rd with a time of 25:02.37.

In the Great Lakes Regional Meet the men's team finished in sixth place (210 points) out of 30 teams. Sophomore Max Goldak was the top finisher for the men, crossing the finish line with a time of 31:30.73, placing 23rd.

Along with Goldak, junior Dustin Voss was the second Spartan finisher for the men, coming in at 31:46.06 in 31st place.

Women's cross country
At the Big Ten Championships, the women had another great finish, taking home second place, marking their third straight top-three finish in as many team-scored meets this fall. Senior Nicole Bush finished in second place overall (19:49.38) and junior Alissa McKaig finished eighth with a time of 20:19.59.

In the Great Lakes Regional Meet, the Spartans ran to their first team-scored first-place finish of the season. Bush was the top finisher again for the Spartans, finishing in second place for the second consecutive meet with a time of 20:34.47, marking her fifth top-five finish of the year.

With the first-place finish, Michigan State received an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Leading the team was again Nicole Bush. She came in with the best finish in MSU women's cross country history at the NCAA Championships. Bush earned All-America honors after placing fifth with a time of 20.13.4, missing the MSU 6K NCAA Championships record by three-tenths of a second.

Men's soccer
The Michigan State men's soccer team hosted the 2007 Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship. After advancing to the semifinals of the tournament with a win over Penn State, the Spartans met Indiana. No. 1 seed Indiana was too much for the No. 5 seed Michigan State as the Hoosiers defeated the Spartans 1-0.

Despite the early exit, the Spartans still earned an NCAA Championship berth, hosting Oakland in the first round. The NCAA berth was the program's 11th appearance in the tournament.

Oakland scored once in each half and Michigan State played 46 minutes a man down as the Grizzlies defeated the Spartans, 2-1, in the first round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.

Women's soccer
Sophomore Lauren Hill scored a second-half goal and senior goalkeeper Nicole Galas made nine saves to lead the Michigan State women's soccer team in a 1-1 tie against Michigan in their season finale. MSU finished the 2007 campaign with a 7-10-1 record, including a 1-8-1 Big Ten mark.

A highlight for the team was having nineteen student-athletes named Academic All-Big Ten for the fall athletic season, as announced by the Big Ten Conference. The 19 honorees is tops in the Big Ten and a school record.

Field hockey
Ending regular-season play on a five-game winning streak, the team headed to the Big Ten Tournament and a round one meeting with Northwestern. The Spartans dominated the Wildcats in the 4-1 win and moved ahead to meet Iowa. Getting the game to overtime wasn't enough for the Spartans, though, as they lost to the Hawkeyes 3-2.

Despite the loss in the tournament, the team still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament, where the team fell to Wake Forest, 3-2, in the first round. MSU ended its season with a 16-6 record, losing in the first round for the first time in five trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Football
On paper, Michigan State's offense looked like it was going to be hard to stop. With Brian Hoyer, Devin Thomas, Jehuu Caulcrick, Javon Ringer and Kellen Davis, just to name a few, the Spartans certainly lived up to the hype.

Michigan State sliced and diced Big Ten foes, scoring a conference-best 278 points -- 33 more than second-best Ohio State -- in Big Ten play. The Spartans' problems, more times than not, arose when the offense was on the sideline.

As salty as the Michigan State offense was, the defense allowed a third-worst 260 points in conference play, ultimately leading to the team's sub-.500 Big Ten clip.

Despite a 3-5 Big Ten record, the Spartans dominated non-conference foes, going 4-0 and outscoring UAB, Bowling Green, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame 131-62, to become bowl eligible and earn an invitation to the Champs Sports Bowl. 

There, Michigan State jumped ahead of Boston College and Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Ryan on a Davis touchdown reception, but Ryan rallied the Golden Eagles to a 24-21 victory.

Following the season, Thomas, Ringer and defensive standout Jonal Saint-Dic were named to the All-Big Ten second team to highlight Spartan representatives.

Volleyball
The Michigan State volleyball team ended its regular season on a three-game winning streak and was awarded an at-large selection to the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship.

After straight match wins over Kentucky and Dayton, the Spartans met defending champion Nebraka in an NCAA Regional Semifinal. The Spartans jumped out a 2-0 lead, only to fall 3-2 to close their season.

Men's and women's swimming & diving
Freshmen Kevin Puskaric and L. Colby Ward and sophomore diver Ivan Zalessov highlighted MSU's showing during the third and final day of the Big Ten Men's Swimming & Diving Championships. Each athlete scored for the Spartans, who finished 10th in the team standings with 159 points.

The Michigan State women's swimming & diving team finished 10th in the Big Ten Women's Swimming & Diving Championships. MSU's 102 points more than doubled last year's 11th-place total of 44.

Michigan State, which had no seniors on its roster this season, was the youngest team at the league meet. Every student-athlete on the team has eligibility to return next season.

"Last year, we finished last with 44 team points," Gianiodis said. "With no seniors, we did a great job. This is something we hope to build on in the future."

Men's indoor track and field
At the Big Ten Indoor Championships, the men came in tenth with 26 points. Red-shirt junior Jeremy Orr was the highlight for Michigan State, as he finished in third in the 200m (21.52) and second in the 400m, with a time of 47.40. In addition to Orr, junior Shane Knoll put some points on the board for the MSU men, finishing seventh in the mile run with a time of 4:24.98, while freshman Kyron Foster finished eighth in the triple jump, with a leap of 15.12m (49-7 1/4).

Women's indoor track and field
The women finished the Big Ten Indoor Championships in eighth place with a total of 35 points. Senior Nicole Bush finished in second place in the 5000m with an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 16:00.25.

At the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Bush finished in sixth place with a time of 9:13.48, in the 3000m run. Bush finished among the nation's top 10 in her second event placing fourth in the 5000m run.

Wrestling
At the 2008 Big Ten Wrestling Championship, Michigan State finished in 11th as a team with 34 points.

Sophomore Franklin Gomez was the team's highlight proving that he is one of the best, if not the best, collegiate wrestler at 133 pounds, beating No. 1-seed James Kennedy of Illinois, 3-1, to win the 2008 Big Ten Championship.

At the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Gomez posted two wins to finish in third place in the 133 pound weight class.

Gomez, who ends the season with a 33-2 record, is Michigan State's 132nd All-American and the 12th since 2000. He is also the ninth Spartan to place in the top-three at the national meet since 1981.

Men's basketball
The year was supposed to belong to Drew Neitzel, but it was Michigan State's supporting cast that often stole the headlines.

Neitzel, the preseason favorite to win conference player of the year, had a down year by his standards. If that had happened last year, it would have spelled disaster. It wasn't a big deal this season, not with all the weapons Tom Izzo's team possessed.

Veterans such as Raymar Morgan, Drew Naymick, Goran Suton and Travis Walton and rookies such as Kalin Lucas provided Neitzel and Michigan State with the depth it sorely lacked in 2006-07.

And on the days Neitzel was on his game, the Spartans were arguably one of the tougher teams in the nation to beat.

A perennial Big Ten power, Michigan State finished a lower-than-usual fourth, mainly due to six conference road losses. The Spartans, who opened 19-2 to mark their best-ever start, went on to play in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Wisconsin, before earning their 11th consecutive NCAA tournament berth.

The Spartans, a No. 5 seed, were one of two Big Ten teams to advance to the Sweet 16 following a first-round win over Temple and an impressive upset victory over Pittsburgh in the second round. Michigan State's Sweet 16 opponent, Memphis, was anything but, well, sweet.

Memphis, the eventual national runner-up, walked all over the Spartans en route to a 92-74 win to bring Michigan State's season to a close. On a bright note, the Sweet 16 appearance marked Michigan State's seventh such run in the past 11 years, bettered only by Duke's nine.

Michigan State's 27 wins were the fifth-most in program history and its 24 regular-season wins were the third-most.

Women's basketball
Michigan State had every intention of making the NCAA tournament in Suzy Merchant's first season at the helm. After all, the Spartans were returning shot-blocking machine Allyssa DeHaan and were coming off a season in which they had won an NCAA tourney game.

When the NCAA chose its Field of 64, however, the Spartans (23-14, 10-8) were left on the outside looking in.

No big deal.

Michigan State accepted an invitation to the WNIT, marking the team's seventh straight season with a postseason berth, and promptly went on to beat Bowling Green, Kansas, Michigan and North Carolina State to advance to the tournament's title game. The Spartans' dreams of the title, however, were erased by a talented Marquette team in an 81-66 loss at the Breslin Center.

Michigan State's run to its first-ever WNIT final, helped the team tally a Big-Ten best 23 wins -- the program's fifth straight season with at least 20 wins.

Ice hockey
The Spartans kicked off the 2008 postseason by hosting a Central Collegiate Hockey (CCHA) quarterfinal series against Northern Michigan. Michigan State finished third in the regular-season standings and had a first-round bye.

Michigan State and Northern Michigan battled in the best-of-three series but failed to advance to Detroit for first time in 17 seasons.

In the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, reigning National Champion Michigan State, a No. 3 seed, drew No. 2 seed Colorado College. Michigan State goaltender Jeff Lerg made 41 saves as the Spartans exploded for three second-period goals to give Michigan State a 3-1 victory over WCHA  regular-season champion Colorado College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

A pair of Notre Dame goals scored just over a minute apart in the late stages of the third period broke open a 1-1 game and propelled the Irish to a 3-1 victory over Michigan State in the West Regional final of the tournament. Justin Abdelkader had the only score for Michigan State, which completed its season with a 25-12-5 record.

Gymnastics
The Michigan State University gymnastics team placed fourth with a score of 195.050 at the 2008 Big Ten Championships. 

Freshman Kelsey Morley, a finalist for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, had an impressive Big Ten Championship debut, tying for second on the beam with a 9.875.

The Michigan State gymnastics team finished third at the 2008 NCAA West Regional. Sophomore Rochelle Robinson qualified for the NCAA Championships in the all-around for the second-straight season, having placed fifth with a 39.025. 

To wrap up the Spartans season, Robinson finished 33rd in the all-around at the 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Gymnastics Championships.

Men's golf
The Michigan State men's golf team captured its second consecutive Big Ten Championship. It is MSU's third conference title in the last four years, and fourth overall. Ryan Brehm was the top Spartan finisher, taking second place with an eight-under par 278.

Fresh off their title, the Spartans competed at the 2008 NCAA East Regional. However, the team fell two strokes short of an NCAA Championship berth, after finishing in 11th place bringing their season to an end.

Women's golf
Michigan State shot a final-round score of 12-over par 300 to finish in second place at the 2008 Big Ten Women's Golf Championship. This is the fifth straight year that Michigan State has finished in the top two at the conference championships, including two straight years in the top two.

The team was selected to participate in the 2008 NCAA West Regional Championship. Falling one stroke short of a qualifying position for the 2008 NCAA Championship, the season came to an end. The Spartans shot a final round six-over par 294, but ended the tournament at 29-over par 893 (295-304-294) and in 11th place.

Men's and women's tennis
The Michigan State men's tennis team fell to Minnesota, 4-1, in the first round of the Big Ten Championships. The Gophers jumped on the Spartans early, taking two of three from MSU in doubles. Minnesota then took three matches in singles competition, ending the Spartans' season. MSU ends the 2008 campaign with a 12-13 record.

On the women's side, the team fell to Wisconsin, 4-2, in the first round of the Big Ten Championships. MSU won the first two matches in singles competition, but Wisconsin rebounded with three quick victories, ending the Spartans' season.

Softball
Michigan State softball finished the 2008 regular season with a 26-28 overall mark and an 8-12 Big Ten record to tie for sixth with Illinois. Entering the Big Ten Softball Tournament, the Spartans were the seventh seed set to face second seed Michigan, which was ranked No. 6 nationally.

In a stunning turn of events, the Spartans pulled off the upset over their in-state rival Michigan, 2-1. The team saw its hopes of a Big Ten Tournament title come to an, as third-seeded Iowa eliminated the Spartans in the semifinals, 13-4 in five innings. MSU finished the season with a 27-29 mark.

Baseball
Senior first baseman Evan Friedland hit a three-run homer and fellow seniors Dennis Jones and Justin Potes each had two hits in their final game at Michigan State. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as Indiana defeated MSU, 14-5, to clinch a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan State finished the 2008 season 24-29 and 12-18 in Big Ten play.

Junior Mark Sorensen and sophomore Chris Roberts were each named third-team All-Big Ten. Roberts was selected as an outfielder while Sorensen was honored as a starting pitcher. Sorensen was also named the team's Sportsmanship Award winner.

Rowing
Michigan State captured the 2008 Big Ten Rowing title on Saturday in Ann Arbor in fine fashion, winning three individual event titles and finishing second in two other races. The varsity eight, ranked sixth in the most recent CRCA poll, won its second Big Ten title in school history and helped the Spartans to their second team title as well - both had previously won in 2005.

Onward to the South/Central Sprints where the team claimed the Central Region title with 371 points - its most ever at the regional event. Virginia claimed the South and overall titles (407 points), while MSU tied its best finish at regionals with the second-place finish, marking the third time MSU took the runner-up spot.

Both the varsity eight and varsity four boats tied their best-ever finish at the NCAA Championship regatta. The Spartans, who finished sixth in the team points championship, tied their best-ever finish at the NCAA's.

Men's outdoor track and field
At the 2008 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships the men finished in tenth place. sophomore javelin thrower Scott Beals finished in seventh place with a toss of 56.62m (185-9), scoring two points for the MSU men.

Also scoring for the men was freshman Kyron Foster, who finished seventh in the triple jump with a regional-qualifying mark of 15.23m (49-11 3/4), just an inch and a half short of his personal-best of 15.27m.

Women's outdoor track and field
The Michigan State women wrapped up competition at the 2008 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships in ninth place with 35 points.

Senior Lisa Senakiewich put up big performances in both the 1500m and 5000m runs, scoring a total of eight points for the MSU women. The Spartans saw strong performances in the women's pole vault at the Big Tens as freshman Katie Shaw placed sixth, setting a personal-best and regional-qualifying mark of 3.95m (12-11 1/2). Senior Stephanie Miller also saw her own personal-best mark in the pole vault, leaping a distance of 3.75m (12- 3 1/2).

Information for this report provided by msuspartans.com and bigten.org.

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