July 31, 2002

CHICAGO, Ill. - Michigan State has been picked to finish third in the 2002 Big Ten volleyball race, behind Ohio State and Wisconsin, according to the conference's preseason poll released Wednesday, July 31, as selected by the league's coaches. Tenth-year head coach Chuck Erbe welcomes back five starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's squad which finished 21-8, including a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten which was good for a tie for fourth place. MSU went 9-1 over the second half of the 2001 Big Ten season and reached the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament, finishing the year with a No. 19 national ranking.

"Anytime you get picked in the top three in the conference it shows where your program is and it's a reflection of the caliber of athletes you have," said Erbe. "It's certainly a spinoff from the second half of last season when we were 9-1. Its a good starting point on which to build."

Senior middle Angela Morley (Holland) and junior setter Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.) were both named to the 13-player preseason All-Big Ten team. Both Morley and Colson earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors last season.

Morley was the national Player of the Week Nov. 19, 2001, after hitting .558 with 31 kills and averaging 2.00 blocks in upset wins at No. 9 Ohio State and No. 14 Penn State. Morley is on pace to become MSU's all-time leader in total blocks and block assists, already ranking third in both categories. Morley's 163 total blocks last year led the Big Ten, and she ranked 10th nationally, averaging 1.55 blocks per game.

"It's really gratifying to see Angela on the preseason team," said Erbe. "She is a four-year starter for us, and every year gets better and better. She has worked her way towards being one of the best middles in the Big Ten, if not the best. I couldn't be happier for her. It's a tribute to all her hard work."

Colson ranked third in the Big Ten and 12th nationally last season averaging 12.99 assists per game. Her 1,364 assists and her assists per game average were fifth best in a single season in MSU history. Colson, who will be a team captain for the second-straight year this season, was third on the team with 225 digs while playing in all 105 games for the Spartans last year.

"Nikki is being recognized as one of the premier setters in the Big Ten and the nation," said Erbe. "The Big Ten coaches see her as one of the best setters in the Big Ten and I would concur with that."

Michigan State opens the 2002 season Aug. 30-31 when it hosts the Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Classic.

2002 Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
5. Illinois
6. Minnesota
7. Michigan
8. Northwestern
9. Indiana
10. (tie)Iowa
      Purdue

2002 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team
Name	         School	        Year	  Position	  Hometown
Lisa Argabright	 Illinois	Senior	  Middle Blocker  Louisville, KY
Erin Moore	 Michigan	Junior	  Middle Blocker  Tiffin, OH
Nikki Colson	 Michigan State	Junior	  Setter	  Lincoln, NE
Angela Morley	 Michigan State	Senior	  Middle Blocker  Holland, MI
Cassie Busse	 Minnesota	Junior	  Opposite Side	  Prior Lake, MN
Bethany Brafford Minnesota	Junior	  Middle Blocker  Mansfield, OH
Erika Lange	 Northwestern	Junior	  Middle Blocker  Orland Park, IL
Stacey Gordon	 Ohio State	Sophomore Outside Hitter  Oshawa, Ontario
Suzie Stiling	 Ohio State	Senior	  Middle Blocker  Glenview, IL
Katie Virtue	 Ohio State	Senior	  Setter          St. Charles, IL
Mishka Levy	 Penn State	Senior	  Outside Hitter  Houston, TX
Cara Smith	 Penn State	Junior	  Middle Hitter	  Lafayette, IN
Erin Byrd	 Wisconsin	Senior	  Outside Hitter  Glen Ellyn, IL