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Page 10-D-Thursday, September 10, 1981-The Michigan Daily
40
STREAK OF 14 IN A ROW TAINTED
Gophers tie
'M' for Big
Ten title
By BARB BARKER
The Michigan men's tennis team,
sporting a string of 13 consecutive Big
Ten titles, saw its claim to conference
supremacy seriously challenged in last
season's Big Ten Tournament, as up-
start Minnesota came out of the pack to
tie the Wolverines for the top spot.
Because of their undefeated Big Ten
dual meet record, however, Michigan
was chosen over the Gophers to
/ represent the conference in the NCAA
Tournament, where they bowed out in
the first round to top-seeded UCLA, 6-3.
"I WAS obviously disappointed with
having to share the title with Min-
nesota,". said Michigan head coach
Brian Eisner. "Yet, on the other hand, I
feel very proud of the team. We had a
close match with UCLA, who I feel is
the toughest team in the country. We
have a young team, and we're losing
only one senior this year. Right now, I
feel we could hold our own with any
team in the country."
But Michigan suffered a "key" loss,
according to Eisner, in the graduation
of Matt Horwitch. Horwitch, who last
season-alternated at first and second
singles with senior Michael Leach,
made Wolverine tennis history by win-
ning four consecutive Big Ten titles at
the number two spot.
"No one player can fill the gap made
when you lose such an excellent tennis
player as Matt," said Eisner. "But with
all our returning talent, combined with
some possible new recruits, we should
be able to compensate for the loss and
produce another winning team.
THUS FAR, Eisner has enlisted one
recruit for the netters. Marco Lorenzet-
ti from the Detroit area, and is hoping
to lure two others to Ann Arbor.
Bill Godfry, a transfer student who
played first singles at the University of
Colorado two years ago, but was
ineligible all of last season, will also be
a new face appearing on the Michigan
courts. These newcomers, along with
Dan McLaughlin, who competed at
number three doubles last year, and
Rod Schrieber, who played seventh
(exhibition) singles, are all possibilities
to move into the singles line-up as a
result of the vacancy left by Horwitch.
The netters once again can be expec-
ted to be led by Leach, who was un-
defeated in season play last year at 21-
0. Leach was defeated in his attempt to
retain the Big Ten fir'st singles crown
by Ohio State's Ernie Fernandez in
straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
"Michael really distinguished him-
self this past season," Eisner said. "He
could be the best player in the nation
this year. He will be evaluated at least
in the top five singles players in the
nation."
EISNER ALSO has high hopes for
junior Mark Mees, who took his second
straight Big Ten third singles title last
year and was a member of the third
doubles team which won an all-
important consolation match to save
the tie with Minnesota in the Big Ten
tourney.
Fifth-year senior Ihor Debryn, whom
Eisner described as the team's most
"valuable asset" in that conference
tournament, retains another year of
eligibility since he was red-shirted two
seasons ago. Eisner added that he feels
both Tom Haney and Ross Laser have
improved by "leaps and bounds" over
the course of the 1981 campaign and
should be strong players in the up
coming season.
In doubles, Wolverine tennis
followers can expect key play at the
second slot with a Haney-Debryn corn-
bination, according to Eisner. The duo
was the only Blue doubles team to cap- -
ture a Big Ten crown last year.
I
Daily Photo by PAUL ENGSTIROM
WOLVERINE NETTER Mark Mees strokes through a backhand during ac-
tion in the Big Ten third singles championship match at the Liberty
Racquet Club last May. After 13 straight outright conference champion-
ships, the 1981 Michigan squad had to settle for a title tie with Minnesota.
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Wolverine women'S
tennis on the upswing
By BARB BARKER
At this time last year, things looked pretty bleak for coach Ollie Owens and the
Michigan women's tennis program. The rookie coach had just endured a disap-
pointing 3-111980 season and lost four veteran players due to lack of interest.
Coming off of an improved 1981 season in which his charges finished 1-9
Owens' outlook is bound to be a little brighter. But he still feels that the women net-
ters have a way to go before he is satisfied.
"AFTER OUR 1980 season, we had nowhere to go but up," said Owens. "We
had a lot of new freshman talent on the team last year, which helped, but we are
still in the building stages."
Nonetheless, the coach could not overlook the youth of his squad, and the fact
that they were successful last spring. "Over half the team last year were fresh-
men, and we're losing only one graduating senior," he said. "With a more ex-
perienced returning team plus some new recruits, I'd say we have a 50-50 chance of
making it to nationals this year, and we should certainly finish within the top three
in the Big Ten."
Owens has committed three recruits to come to Michigan for the 1982 cam-
paign, all of whom are transfer students and have had some experience at the
collegiate level: Denise Sherwood from the University's Dearborn branch, curren-
tly ranked 20th in the Western region; Lisa Noferi, who played number one singles
for Williams; and Marriane Ring, who made her previous collegiate stop at Pep-
perdine.
SUE WEBBER, the team captain who held a 14-11 record at third singles last
season, is the netters' only non-returning player.
"We really depended a lot upon Sue last year," said Owens. "We needed her
experience to help lead our young team. But now that we have gained our ex-
perience, her departure will not be as great of a loss."
Owens said that the team can look for sophomore Marian Kremer to fill the
number one singles slot. Kremer, who sported a 20-6 record last season, was the
only Wolverine to advance to the AIAW national tournament last June.
Owens also indicated that both Maryanne Hodges and Jill Hertzman "improved
greatly" last year and should be fixed solidly in this season's singles line-up.
Other returning netters include: Mary Mactaggart, Robbie Rasdon, Julie
Naft, Stacey Fallek, Daisy Martin and Betsy Shapiro.
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The greatest
selection of
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in town. At
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Stop by our "Michigan Shop" and
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emblazoned with the Wolverine loc
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You'll also find a large selection o
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Phone 769-7910
Catalog 769-6960
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Sports Information Photo
MARIAN KREMER LOFTS a backhand back at her opponent during a
6-0, 6-1 first singles victory over Toledo's Sheila Hart in April. As a freshman
last spring, Kremer compiled a 20-6 record and qualified for the national
AIAW tournament.
urse you can charge it
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