Volleyball vs. Michigan State Tonight, 7:30 Varsity Arena SPORTS Football at UCLA Saturday, 8 p.m. ABC-television I The Michigan Daily, Wednesday, September 20, 1989 Page 10 Volleyball rookies add depth to rebuilding Blue squad Theodore Cox Daily Sports Writer As the Michigan women's volleyball team opens its Big Ten season tonight against Michigan State, it will have a different look. The squadhas added five first-year students who are desparately needed to improve upon last season's dis- mal 1-17 conference record. As a matter of fact, the playing time of froshes Hayley Lorenzen, Tarnisha Thompson, and Michelle Horrigan continues to increase as the player Kathy Melchert. "Davis gives everyone a chance and if we're able to start, she starts us." DAVIS IS excited to about the added depth they have brought to the team. "Each night we are really playing from a roster of about ten people, but it depends on who's healthy, who's performing," Davis said. Two of the new recruits, Kathy Melchert and Kathy Drobitch, will be redshirted. "Redshirting a couple of kids is always an option you consider if someone's not going to get a lot of playing time," Davis said. Even though they won't see any action in the matches, Melchert and Drobitch are diffinetly needed for practice and it gives the player's a chance to adapt to playing at the college level. "We have fourteen players now that are bonified Division One vol- leyball players," Davis said. "They have really improved and progressed to the level that in practice they don't hold us back, and that's really the goal of any team: to be compet- itive against itself every day at the highest level possible." The adjustment from high school to college volleyball is a gradual one that can't be accomplished over- night. "I'm just getting the hang of things," said setter Tarnisha Thomp- son. "I still have a ways to go with communication on the court." "I really like how I'm playing now better then at the very beginning in the preseason," Loren- zen said, "but I still get really tired due to classes, staying up late and reading." Everyone agrees, however, that the toughest adjustment one has to make is to the pace of the match. "It's been difficult, it's a lot quicker," Michelle Horrigan said about the transition. "There is quick passing and you have to know where to be on the court." "The speed of play in college is a lot faster," Davis said. "You have to work harder physically. In high school they don't run a really quick offense. We run patterns, we run crossing combinations, we run diff~ Spikers commence conference season by Jeff Sheran Daily Sports Writer The Michiganwomen's volleyball pam (5-2) opens its Big Ten schedule tonight against Michigan State. Or, as Coach Joyce Davis puts it, against junior standout Becky Belanger. "Belanger," Davis asserts, "is 75 percent of their offense. She plays the entire court." The Spartan star is so dominant on the court that Davis', game plan revolves almost exclusively around her. "We're not going to stop her. The best we can do is contain her," Davis said. "Not only is Fhe a great player, she's also a great competitor." Belanger currently ranks fifth in the country in service aces, and the Spartan team boasts a number two ranking in that category. Therefore, the Wolverines' serve reception is pivotal. Rated third nationally in blocking, Davis sees the Wolverines' blocking game as a way to hamper Belanger's effectiveness. "We know what the block will do for us," she said, "but we're not sure what it will do to them." While the Michigan squad suffers from no serious injuries, several players are still feeling slightly ill and fatigued from the road trip the team, recently completed. Two players almost fainted in practice, and others are suffering from routine fatigue. In practice, Davis concentrated 50 percent of the sessions on improving team passing. What each player does without the ball has been the main. focus because an improvement in this area increases the number of kills, that players such as outside hitter Karen Marshall make. Marshall, who leads the team in kills, is complemented on the court by Julia Sturm, who, with her over-.300 hitting percentage, adds "a new dimension to the offense," Davis said. The Wolverines are the deeper of the two squads, enjoying the comfort of a 9-player roster. Michigan State only lists a roster of seven, but as Davis explains, "depth can be irrelevant. In a quick match, it's not a factor. I see a four or five-game match, but they're strong." The game begins at 7:30 at the new Varsity Arena. 14 Julia Sturm adds a "new dimension" to the Wolverines' offense with her hitting percentage of over .300. The Volleyball team seeks to win its first Big Ten contest tonight against Michigan State. Lorenzen season moves on. .The key to their quick impact on the squad is credited largely with the team spirit that head coach Joyce Davis and the veteran Wolverines install. "They're really supportive," Lor- enzen said. "Everyone wants what's best for the team and they'll do anything to get it." "They make the freshmen feel real welcome, so they really make us Thompson ...impresses early erent heights and different speed sets. "We try to develop a creative, consistent offense that we can open up opportunities for the hitter," she said. Lorenzen and Thompson are both expected to see plenty of action to- night after coming off excellent play in last weekend's match verse West Virginia. Michelle Horrigan's status re- mains questionable as she suffers from the flu and might not be physically ready. As the season progresses, the first year player's are just beginning to make their mark. Once they fully work into the flow of the squad, expect them to become a dominate force in the Big Ten. T Prevlewing the postseason honors heS \\tn \iW \ \\ Drin iW want to try," redshirted first-year 0 zM wi wj Co Soph Show rese nts I Nx - ....: 4+r r1 .4Sr+4v ." i.. Z $. Sit; . . UNION HyE +$?:t?~$+1+}y} 11 }21$r+ +++r+}i U:,". }N +"- J 4.x1"h.N, " by Anil Chaddha Daily Contributor The leaves turn brown, the temp- erature drops, and Bo Jackson takes out his football helmet. The sun sets on another baseball season. But hold on, don't close the book on the '89 season just yet; there's still some unfinished busi- ness of which we must take care. The division races still hold excitement, and The Series looms weeks away. After the dust has cleared and the victor emerges, there are still a few individual awards that need to be decided. And, thanks to the infinite wis- dom I gained through years of indul- gence in my Grandma's secret rem- edy (the best mix of hops, barley, and malt a tenspot can buy) I offer my picks for the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the year in both leagues. The envelope, please: National League MVP: He's first in HRs (45) and RBI's (120), third in runs (95), sixth in doubles (32), and eighth in BA (.291). His team is in first, and he will win the award: San Francisco Giant Kevin Mitchell. The New York Mets' Howard Johnson deserves consid- eration (.286, 35 HRs, 95 RBIs, 37 SBs), especially if he reaches 40-40, as does Mitchell's teammate Will Clark (.339, 22 HRs, 108 RBIs). N.L. Cy Young: First in wins (20), 5th in strikeouts(162), Mike Scott, will win the Cy Young. The speculation of scuffing the baseball, however, surrounds Scott. I don't have pictures, but consider this: Scott was a career loser with the Mets, learned the split-finger fastball from its creator, Giants' manager Roger Craig, and has become a 20- game winner. This season, Craig accused Scott of doctoring the ball. Orel Hershiser, whose picture appears next to "wholesome" in the dictionary, has also said Scott cheats. It's enough for me. So, give the award to Hershiser again. His 14-13 record isn't great, but he is 6th in strikeouts (161), 2nd in shutouts (4), and has a 2.35 ERA on a team that has scored the fewest runs in the league, 527. N.L. Rookie of the Year: The iV 1 1707, #] I] " Floppy Disks " FAX Service " Resumes " Passport Photos " Office Supplies " Pick-Up & Delivery Cubs' Jerome Walton. His bat (.300, 5HR, 43RBI), speed (24SB), and defense have helped the Cubs shock the baseball world. Teammate Dwight Smith (.305, 9 HR, 48 RBI,7 SB) didn't play enough games to win. Atlanta's John Smoltz (12- 11, 2.94 ERA) slowed down second half, and the Mets' Gregg Jefferies (.258, 8 HR,49 RBI), never got started. American League MVP: With a .306 BA, 26 HR, 108 RBI, and in the top ten in triples, hits, doubles and runs, Ruben Sierra should be the favorite. However, Sierra lost his stroke in the stretch and sub- sequently the Rangers dropped from contention. The Brewers' Robin Yount (.316,18 HR,97 RBI) and Toronto';s Fred McGriff (.281,36 HRs,88 RBi) don't measure up to Sierra. A pick out of centerfield might be Mookie Wilson (the hops and barley kick in). Wilson arrived in Toronto when the Blue-Jays were not playing up to their potential,10 games out of first place. Wilson became the clubhouse leader, provided the much needed spark that has since put the Jays in first. A.L. Cy Young: Bret Saber- hagen (20-6, 2.34 ERA) topped all AL pitchers this year. He's won 11 of his last 12 down the stretch, a big reason the Royals are in contentioi). Dave Stewart(19-9, 3.46) is much worse than his record indicates. A.L. Rookie of the Year: Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. (.270,15HR, 54RBI,16SB) stayed on the injured list too long, but might win because of preseason hype. Royal Tom Gordon (16-8, 3.40 ERA) fell apart in the second half so give the award to Baltimore's Gregg Olson. The bullpen ace(1.82 ERA, 26 saves,) is for real, even if the Orioles aren't. 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