SPORTS Football vs. Notre Dame for all the marbles Michigan Stadium Sept. 16, 3:30 p.m. Page 10 The Michigan Daily -Monday, September 11, 1989-- Spikers avenge defeat to CMU by Steven Cohen Daily Sports Writer Friday night, the women's volleyball team inaugurated a new playing complex with a stirring 15- 5, 15-13, 9-15, 15-5 victory over Mid-American Conference member Central Michigan. The match, which followed the official opening of Varsity Arena, a $750,000 facility at the site of the old Matt Mann Pool, marked fourth- In addition, Michigan featured a consistent nucleus of six players, a contrast to last year when several different lineups were used. Marshall, Collins, Julia Sturm, Carla Hunter, Kristen Lang, and Kim Clover started and played most of the match together. The group played together last year, and practiced together all winter and this fall in pre-season practice. "We've gotten to know each other a lot better as players and as people," Collins said. "We trust each other as players." The addition of the new facility, which Davis calls the "best we'll play in this season," as well as the arrival of seven new players, has apparently made a big difference in the attitude of the team. "Because of the arena we can just focus on volleyball, instead of what we're going to bring to practice and other things," Collins said. "Now we have our laundry done regularly. We get ready for practice together instead of getting dressed at home We're more of a team. " "I think the freshmen help, they're good individuals, positive, " Collins continued. "We actually had a bench who was screaming the whole match instead of saying, 'I wonder if we're going to win this one." Paulson has a response to those who point out that last year, things looked good for Michigan when they jumped out to a 10-3 start. "Last year three people quit, our starting setter sprained her ankle, and Autumn was sick with mono. There were a lot of injuries and a lot of people missing That's not going to happen this year." Collins summed up the importance of the victory: "After the match Carla (Hunter) came up to me and said, 'That was my first victory over Central Michigan and it feels great.' They're not a top 20 team but they're a strong team, a strong program. It was a real confidence builder. I know we're going to turn a lot of heads in the Big Ten this year. year Michigan coach Joyce Davis' first victory over Central Michigan. Last year the Chippewas defeated Michigan 15-1, 15-7, and 15-5. Central Michigan had an imposing 23-2-2 overall record against the Wolverines entering the contest. Davis had expected her team to come out inspired, as last year she felt that Michigan had been "humiliated" by their poor play at Mt. Pleasant. The Wolverines' spirited play was apparent from the start. "I thought Michigan played real well," Central Michigan first year coach Kerrie Robbie said. "Our team had opening game jitters. I think that was pretty obvious from the start. We weren't real smooth and Michigan took advantage." "We got off to a good.start and then we slowed down," Davis said. "The kids were really hyped. It took us a while to get settled down. It was a great match set by Autumn Collins, she put good balls up there. She went to hitters that were hot. " Davis also singled out teary captain, Karen Marshall, last season's leader in nearly all offensive categories. "She played steady and kept serving the ball in the court when we needed it." The match also marked the first match appearance for sophomore Jennifer Paulson. In the preseason last year, Paulson blew out her knee, tearing two tendons and some cartilage. In the year that followed, Paulson spent three hours a da' rehabilitating the knee.. Davis expressed confidence in the middle hitter by inserting her into the match when the score was 13-12 Michigan, in the second game. w "Paulson served tough and she dug real well," Davis said. "You'r talking about a kid who hasn't been in a competitive match in over 1 year. She has a real measure of dedication and intensity. The win gives hope to better things to come for Michigan, which last season suffered through a 1-17 conference record and 11-23 overall record. Mike Gill New home...new results - for 'M' volleyball team Senior captain Karen Marshall is one of six returning players, forming the nucleus for the '89 Wolverines in their quest to improve on lastr year's 1-17 Big Ten record. CLASSIFIED ADS1 Call 764-0557 "We have a home." Volleyball coach Joyce Davis beamed as she swung her head around and admired the new Varsity Arena, Friday, after her Wolverines beat Central Michigan in four games. A home. It is this home that should turn the beleaguered volleyball program into a winner. Or so they say. A winner because of the new facilities. A winner due to the enhanced recruiting opportunities it will bring. A winner because of the new attitude it has brought to the team. But right now, although the mortar and bricks are in place over the old Matt Mann Pool, these goals are just far away beacons. They still lack proof. J~i N liN 1k A&7 wv UJIJRLJJ. - - CL . -#H ASSEl BIAD'- GRALAB ® SM f-VICTOR Schnekder KREUZNACH- BESEER Cbachomae OfA UANTUM i INSTRUMENTS ZENZA BRONICA bog Or GOSSEN M"Polarold Fine Photogrcqjhy Departmeant r ___ _ ___ _____ ____ i .qr-ww.w-dr TW TNI&I lIAINr lllvI KI .JA 1'V- J~ x-'ll&J NEW STUDENTS WELCOME Canon * Minolta * Nikon *Olympus Pentax - Polaroid - Ricoh - Kodak -Fuji 15% OFF Paper and darkroom chemicals in stock Agfa - llford. -Kodak - Oriental Last year the Wolverines played eighteen Big Ten games - and only once did they walk off the court a winner. With the Big Ten opener fast approaching - and the tougher competition which comes with it - the possibility of another miserable season is still very feasible. Right now, Davis pleads for time for the new arena, which she says is by far the best volleyball facility in the conference, to bring about the change. "Kids have never had their own locker rooms before. Now they do." Davis said. "That is a tremendous change and brings such a better attitude.. . "Our goal is to finish as far out of last place as possible." Davis went on to say that right now that is first place - and when that becomes mathematically unfeasible, then the goal will be lowered. Davis is looking from the bottom up, instead of top down, 'a questionable way to set goals. Don't expect a Big Ten title this season, but there should be significant improvement. The volleyball program, as well as all women's athletics programs have always been patronizingly placed on the bottom of the higher head's agenda in the athletic department. They were patted on the back, wished good luck, and then forgotten about. But that attitude has changed. Not only is there the new Varsity Arena, which is a coup for the athletic teams that will utilize it, but finally, undgr Athletic Director Bo Schembechler and his right-hand man Jack Weidenbach, the women's program's are starting to see the support they deserve. This year for the first time, Davis has the maximum number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA - 12. Last year she had ten. This obviously was a disadvantage. And that is a fine excuse for losing. But now, every player on her team is a player she has recruited. She has the maximum number of scholarships. And she has an intimate arena to showcase her team. Davis has served as an assistant volleyball coach before but her only hea'd coaching experience before coming to Michigan was at Carleton College in Minnesota for the women's track team. That's the track team. Yet she landed the Michigan job, and has produced only seven Big Ten wins in thre seasons. This year, her fourth year, is a watershed year - a year which improvement must be seen in the program's direction or maybe a new direction sought. "I don't feel any pressure having to win any games right away," Davis said. "Our goal is to make progress. I have a lot of support behind me." The team is scrappier than last season and the "new attitude" was apparent. They did win the fourth game decisively, after being hammered in the previous game. Rome wasn't built in a day. That's true. Neither was the Varsity Arena. It stands there today - as everyone will tell you, as the hope of a promising future for the volleyball program. 3 "We have a home," Davis said, on possibly her proudest and happiest moment as Wolverine coach. That home is here. It's the hope. But along with the locker rooms, laundry facilities, and volleyball nets, it needs to first be filled with nroi~rss. and then, many victories. SupermarkeoT Appliance, TV, Stereo, Video and Cameras HOM'E APPLIANCE MART Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. Noon-5 p.m. 2019 W. Stadium Blvd. = 1802 W. Grand River Ave. AnnArbor '(313) 665-8653 Okemos (517) 349-2000 Nowwwwww" Are you questioning your existence? Still searching for the meaning of life? Do you find yourself remembering the names of all the Club-MTV Dancers? End the meagerness-- now you can make a difference! (albeit minuscule.) Join i(U 1 I '1 W r \I /, n r( 02 1 I I 'Jr I llrwl opI 110A i7*7 I I 0,I [Ilk Lm N The University of Michigan's humor magazine. 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