Jan. 17, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the second consecutive year, senior setter Nikki Colson was named the Michigan State volleyball Most Valuable Player at the 2003 Spartan Volleyball Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Hawks Hollow Golf Club. Colson, who was also honored for setting the career assist record at MSU, ended her career with a total of 4,563 assists. In addition, she and Emmy Miller received the 2003 Captains' Awards.

Besides setting the career assist record in her senior season, Colson also broke her own record for assists in a season with 1,585 on the year. She ended 2003 with 308 digs and 66 total blocks.

Senior Jenny Rood received the hitting percentage award with an attack percent of .346 (392K-111E-892TA) on the season. Rood also led the team in blocks with 118 in 2003.

Junior Kim Schram, who was selected as an AVCA Honorable Mention All-America pick in December, was honored for reaching her 1,000th career kill in 2003. Schram ended the season as MSU's team leader in kills with 558 on the season, an average of 4.48 per game.

Juniors Michelle Kopka and Brooke Langston earned the grade-point average award and the Andrea DeLuca Spirit Award, respectively. 2003 marked the second consecutive year in which Kopka posted the top grade point on the Spartan squad.

The Spartans, coached by Chuck Erbe, finished their season with a 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Regional and posted a 19-12 record on the season.

2003 Michigan State Volleyball Awards & Honors
MSU Most Valuable Player - Nikki Colson
Captains' Awards - Nikki Colson & Emmy Miller
Hitting Percentage Award - Jenny Rood
Grade-Point Average Award - Michelle Kopka
Andrea DeLuca Spirit Award - Brooke Langston
Specialty Awards - Nikki Colson (Career assist record); Kim Schram (1,000th career kill)

2003 honors earned prior to Jan. 16 banquet...
All-America - Kim Schram (honorable mention)
All Big Ten - Nikki Colson (honorable mention); Jenny Rood (honorable mention); Kim Schram (first-team)
Academic All-Big Ten - Mickey Davis; Stephanie Knopp; Michelle Kopka;Brooke Langston; Jenny Rood;
Kim Schram; Diana Steplyk;  Megan Wallin
Academic All-District - Michelle Kopka
AVCA National Player of the Week - Nikki Colson
Big Ten Player of the Week - Nikki Colson
American Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team - Nikki Colson (MVP); Brooke Langston; Jenny Rood
Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team - Nikki Colson, Jenny Rood (MVP); Kim Schram
Maryland Invitational All-Tournament Team - Nikki Colson; Jenny Rood; Kim Schram (MVP)
US Bank/Arby's Classic All-Tournament Team - Nikki Colson