Page 1OC-Thursday, September 6, 1979-The Michigan Daily Tennis trump Women defend state crown . . 0 By GARY LEVY As the University nearly empties out during the last week in April, a small but eager group of women stay around' for another month to play tennis. Winning tennis, that is. Actually, the Michigan women net- ters start practicing in the fall, inten- sifying their workouts over the winter, and then finally play their first match before Spring Break in early March. -UT THE REGULAR season, which usually lasts through early May, is usually only a prelude to further chap- ters in their success story. The 1979 season was no different for the Wolverines. In Coach Theo Shepherd's first year, the netters finished the regular season with a record of 18-3, and then went on to defend their state championship, place second in the AIAW Midwest Regional, and advance to the nationals. And when all was said and done, the Wolverines found themselves ranked among the top 26 teams in the nation. "The girls played a lot of tennis and had no serious injuries," Shepherd noted. The top of the lineup played well all season long, and the bottom of the lineup came through when we really needed it, like in the Ohio State match." AFTER LOSING to Ohio State in both the Big Ten meet (which OSU won) and a regular season contest, the Wolverines repaid the Buckeyes in the all-important regional competition. SENIOR KATHY KARZEN was Michigan's leader down the stretch, successfully defending her state tour- nament titles at first singles. Karzen's season was a bit extended-she advan- ced to the individual portion of the nationals before bowing out in the con- Tune in for foitbaHmoflion I And Eisner and Co. win conference 1e By MARK BOROWSKI Some things just seem to last forever. There are the natural wonders of the world-Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley ... And then there are man-made wonders-the Taj Mahal, Mt. Rushmore, the Michigan men's tennis team... WELL, COACH Brian Eisner probably never thought ten straight Big Ten titles would qualify his squad as a monument to the masses, but op- posing squads are slowly being convinced otherwise. Eisner's netters capped off another banner year in May, winning the Big Ten title and finishing 13th in the NCAA championships. Individually, the Wolverines fared just as well-graduated captain Jeff Etterbeek advanced to the quarterfinal round before he was eliminated by Warren Farrow of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. "It will be difficult to replace two team veterans like Etterbeek and (Peter) Osler," said Eisner of his two gradautes. The pair racked up six con- ference titles between them during their Wolverine careers-Etterbeek cap- tured two singles and three doubles titles, while Osler was this year's Big Ten champion at fifth singles. But there's no shortage of talent among the 1980 netters. At least recent statistics sure don't point that way. JUNIOR MATT HORWITCH will move from the second singles spot, where he was conference champion his first two seasons, into the number one position vacated by Etterbeek. Horwitch already has one match worth of first singles experience behind him-he easily defeated Ernie Hernandez,1 last year's conference champion at that spot, 6-2, 6-2. Horwitch won't sit atop the lineup without a challenge, however. That challenge should come from sophomore Michael Leach, the conference titlist at number three singles. Leach's 19-2 match record his freshman year was the top individual mark on the squad. Among the more notable preps signing letters of intent for Michigan in- clude Mark Mes, a Sansville, Ohio product. The Ohio state singles champion for two years running, Mes is ranked among the top ten players nationally in the 14-18 year old age group. Eisner dipped into the Buckeye state for another prep sensation, Don McLaughlin from Cleveland's University School. "He has been concen- trating on his doubles play and looks to give us some help in that area," said the Wolverine mentor. So the Blue netters once again appear to have locked themselves into another conference title nearly seven months before the first serve whisks. over the net. And that suits Eisner just fine, but the Wolverine coach wants to go one step farther and grab a first-ever NCAA tennis crown. Then maybe he'll nominate his team to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. Fall is in the air - and Michigan football is on the airwaves! WUOM/WVGR brings you precise, profes- sional coverage of every game this season. For the best in sports, tune to University of Michigan public radio. U-M Football 79 with Tom Hemingway and Tom Slade Call 764-9210 for a free program guide. MICHIGAN THIRD singles mainstay Sue Weber applies a little physics, tennis style, in returning a topspin forehand. Weber returns as a senior this year, along with Kathy Karzen at number one singles, and singles regulars Kathy Krickstein and Whit Stodghill to pace a seasoned Blue net squad. Michigan finished the regular season with a record of 18-3, then went on to win the state champion- ship and eventually advance to the nationals. I I Down 3-4 with two matches left, Michigan's first and third doubles teams scored third-set victories to up- set the conference champions, 5-4. Behind that victory and others were several key performers, all but one of whom will return to competition this season. Familius Michiganensis / 0 ... usually native to North Americ Behavior characterized by a peculiar excitability in the fall, an solation finals. Junior Whit Stodghill was 24-8 at third singles. Stodghill added a Big Ten title and a second-place state tourney finish to her fine record. Karzen and Stodghill made up only part of the successful singles corps. Junior Sue Weber was 23-10 at third singles, while another junior, Kathy Krickstein, was 20-5. Lone graduate Barb Fischley was 20-11 in singles play. THE DOUBLES combinations were equally successful. Karzen and Fischley at first doubles went 25-6 and qualified for the nationals. Their teammates at second doubles, Stodghill and Krickstein, compiled a 23-2 mark en route to winning Big Ten and state tourney titles. With Fischley the only departee, one would assume the Wolverines will field an even better team in 1980. But Shepherd isn't jumping the gun with glowing predictions. "WE'RE LOSING Barb Fishchley, so we should be strong; but maybe not as strong as last year, even though everyone else is coming back." HAIRSTYLING TO PLEASE LONG OR SHORT DASCOLA Hair Stylists Arborland-971-9975 E. University-662-0354 E. Liberty-69349 Maple VIllage-761-4733 cally P"" ,WHETHER YOU'RE a Big Ten singles champ like Michigan's Mike Leach, or just a happy weekend hacker, ya still gotta keep your eye on the ole' fuzzball. Leach was an integral part of Michigan coach Brian Eisner's tenth straight title team, winning top conference honors at third singles in his freshman year. i I- i ested corduroy.. anatural for fall4 Join the Daily Sports staff!I PLAY I T AGAIN-inc. Sports Resale Shop Da. d negative feelings about buckeyes. Its bright blue and yellow attire comes from a place called Ulrich's. The unhurried feeling 01 cotton corduroy. In three perfect parts, that perform together or go their sepa- rate ways. The fine details: 2-button patch/flap pock- ets, center vent. Ulrich's: Michigan souvenirs for the whole family. JUN