The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 18, 1985- Page 9
Williams leads 'M'.
spikers past EMU
By SCOTT G. MILLER also led to numerous faults.
Freshman spiker ready to shine
Last year's disappointing season
is all but a memory, and the
Michigan volleyball team is
making the most of the new
season. Last night the Wolverines
defeated the Eastern Michigan
Hurons three games to one in front
of a capacity crowd at the Central
Campus Recreation Building.
Momentum was the key to the
match, and it shifted back and for-
th throughout the evening. "There
was tension all through the mat-
ch," said Michigan head coach
Barb Canning. "You never knew
who really had control at any
point."
DESPITE the fluctuating tide of
events, things went the Wolverines
way during important junctures.
After jumping to out to a quick two
games-to-nothing lead by scores of
15-13 and 15-5, Michigan found it-
self in a deep hole in game three as
the Hurons accumulated a 6-0 lead.
The Wolverines fought back to
narrow the score to 12-9 on three
straight service winners by fresh-
man Marie-Ann Davidson. Eastern
Michigan eventually won the game.
15-11, but Michigan again captured
the elusive momentum and won
game four easily, 15-4.
"We started getting into the
match at the end-of the third game
but Eastern had too big a lead to
be able to go for the gusto," said
sophomore Lisa Vahi. "We decided
to play our game in the fourth. We
took the momentum from the end
of the third and carried it right
over."
Serving keyed the turnaround.
The Wolverines' planned to serve
tough to force the Hurons to make
mistakes. This strategy, however,
"OUR SERVING was on and off
in certain situations," said Can-
ning. "Certain individuals such as
- Andrea Williams and Marie-Ann
Davidson came through at crucial
times to swing the match our
our way."
The victory showed that the
Wolverines are coming together as
a team, an important factor
heading towards the Big Ten
season.
"We still have things to improve
on," said Michigan assistant coach
John Rizzardini. "Things were
more controlled on the floor
tonight and that is very en-
couraging."
MICHIGAN'S reserves perfor-
med well, but coach Canning is still
looking for a set lineup. ' "It is nice
to have the versatility of going to
the bench," said Canning. "But we
have to develop a set squad and
strategy for the Big Ten com-
petition.
"We don't have any designated
plays or players to go to in key
situations. Jennifer Hickman has
been that player in the past but
she was inconsistent tonight.
Hickman saw her first extensive
action of the season and seems to
have recovered from both a knee
and ankle injuries that have
sidelined her for much of the early
season.
Hickman's leadership role on
this night was filled by senior An-
drea Williams. "Andrea had a
great all around evening," com-
mented Rizzardini. "She really
took control when she had to."
Michigan will take a 4-2 record
and added confidence into the
Loyola Tournament this weekend.
By SCOTT G. MILLER
Occasionally an exceptionally
talented freshman can break tradition
by making an impact as a starting
player for a college varsity team.
Gary Grant did it last year for the
Michigan basketball team. This
year's freshman Wolverine court star
could be volleyball player Marie-Ann
Davidson.
"Davidson is just like Gary Grant,"
said assistant volleyball coach John
Rizzardini. "She is too calm on the
court for a freshman. However, she is
not quite as flashy as Grant.
"SHE HAS LOTS of court experien-
ce, poise, and savvy. She stepped
right into the starting lineup with no
problems, and she gives us more than
height."
The 6-2 Willowdale, Ont. native's
height cause her to eschew Gary
Grant's sport.
"Because of my height people
always presumed that I played
basketball," said Davidson. "That
turned me off the sport."
WITH EXCELLENT height and
coordination, Marie-Ann directed her
energies to volleyball. She began
playing in the fourth grade, and her
interest in the sport was sparked by
coaches and family. While in high
school, Davidson participated in a
competitive program in her home
area that developed her skills for
college action. Teammates Lisa Vahi
and Andrea Williams came from the
same program.
"I attribute her (Davidson's) con-
sistent performance to her experience
in Canada," said Michigan volleyball
head coach Barb Canning. "There is a
very skilled junior program in the
Toronto area that made her adjust-
ment to the college level easier."
Davidson's high level of perfor-
mance also can be ascribed to her
dedication in practice. "Marie-Ann is
highly motivated in practice and
therefore motivates others," Canning
said. "She demands a lot of herself
and the concentration of other
players. She is a team player that will
develop into a team leader."
"I AM NOT a team leader right
now," agreed Davidson. "I am still
helping the team by doing my part
though.
"I also am experiencing growing
pains of learning a new style and
philosophy of play."
Other players would love to ex-
perience the same growing pains and
play so well. "It is very unusual for a
freshman to make a big impact," said
Canning. "It usually takes a year to
adjust to college level competition."
VERSATILITY is the key to David-
son's game. She plays both hitter and
setter.
"I like spiking more than setting
because you can let your emotions
out," said the freshman. "You have to
be more controlled to be a setter."
As with most athletes, there is room
for improvement. "Her (Davidson's)
hitting is as strong as anyone s," said
Canning. "We are working on her
blocking skills and her physical poten-
tial. She has never had conditioning or
weight training programs before.
"She could become as good as any,
player on Michigan's 1981-82 Big Ten
Championship squad." .
Improvement is imminent because
the best thing about freshmen is that
they turn into sophomores.
Daily Photo by DAN HABIB
Freshman Marie-Ann Davidson seeks new heights for herself and her team.
Davidson's impact should help Michigan become a contender in the Big Ten*
Her agility, calmness, and height, said head coach Barb Canning, make her a:
complete player.
Ttgers
trample
Yankees
By RICK KAPLAN
Special to the Daily
DETROIT - If last night had been a
promotion day at Tiger Stadium it
should have been Right Field Pith
Helmet Night.
The first five thousand fans en-
tering the right field upper deck
before the 9-1 Tiger victory over the
New York Yankees ought to have
been fitted with protective headgear,
as the home team pounded out five
homeruns off Yankee starter Ron
Guidry.
Detroit parked one dinger in each of
the first four innings. Kirk Gibson,
Nelson Simmons, Lou Whitaker and
Darrell Evans each went deep to right
off Guidry, who failed in a bid for his
twentieth win. Evans added his 33rd
homer in the sixth.
Dan Petry (15-11) pitched seven in-
nings of four-hit ball, and Willie Her-
nandez finished the final two frames.
Evans led off the Tiger fourth with a
mammouth shot that just missed the
roof in right field. One out later, Tom
Bookens sliced a single to left, and
was sacrificed to second by Whitaker.
Alan Trammell blooped a hit short-
center scoring Brookens with the six-
th Tiger tally.
IM Scores
Residence Hall 'A'
Ituber 15, Bad Company 0
Wenley 10, Markley-Scott 2
Gomberg Red 'A' 20, Angels 5
Gomberg Eagles by forfeit over Wolverines
van Buren Carriers 10, Pink Tofu 5
Frost House Knockbes, 10. Bad Boys of Bursley 8
Residence Hall 'B'
Heaves 11, Chicago House Bulls 5
Grand Slams 11, Gomberg 66'ers 3
Gomberg Red 'B'6, 2nd Hamilton 0
Taylor B 16, Palmer 5
Co-Recreation Competitive
Evans Scholars 22, Caton 0
Housing 7, Team Kroter 3
oogies 11, Rhino Proctologists 7
O ab o's 16, Fred House 2
Woman's Recreative
Alpha Beta 17, Hunt 9
Bushwakers 12, Thronson 1
Independent 'A'
Washington Senators It. KSA 6
Dweebs 11, Public Lice 2
Jacques Seeds 5, Souldogs 14
Caballaros 12, Lords of Discipline 6
Beef Sticks 14, Absolut 0
Bad Company 8, I.O.U. 2
Elitest 15, Bondage Boys 9
Old Fella's 7, The Naturals 4
.juose Big Dudes 1, Tears for Bears 14
ewsters 5, Easy P's 3
-ranky's Knockouts 14, 602's 0
Spad's Coolers 9 (winner), Towers Powers 9
Independent'B'
Violet's Varmets 11, The Motley Dishroom Crew 9
The Crue 5, Tuna Melt 111 3
A.A.A. 15, Not for Hire 4
L.K.S. 7, Navy 3
Chuck and the Fatmen 10, Fresh Boys 4
The Wolverines 9, The Highballs 3
Graduate Faculty Staff
Class 1's 7, Human Performers 1
Muffkin Hunters 18, Tarheels 11
Fraternity 'A'
hl Psi 16, Phi Kappa Psi I
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