The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - September 23, 1991 - Page 5 Four to contend 'for league crown by Ryan Herrington Daily Sports Writer Transition best describes the up- Ocoming 1991 Big Ten volleyball season. New players, new coaches, and a new team are evident through- out the conference. For the 1990 league champions, Wisconsin, anticipation of defend- ing its title has been suppressed by the death of its head coach, Steve Lowe. Lowe, last season's Big Ten Coach of the Year, died of complica- tions resulting from lung cancer ,Just nine days before the Badgers were to open their season. Margie Fitzpatrick, Lowe's top assistant, remains optimistic despite the tragedy dealt to the program. "Our goals are to challenge for the Big Ten title and win all of our Big Ten home games," Fitzpatrick said. "We also want to get into the (NCAA) tournament." The Badgers (4-4 in 1991) return two all-Big Ten players, seniors Liz Tortorello and Arlisa Hagan. Fitz- patrick feels that first-year player Bridget Lourey will also be a factor at outside hitter. When discussing the teams in the race for the Big Ten title, one must perennially include Illinois, cur- rently ranked 16th in the nation. Last season marked the seventh con- utive 20-victory campaign for the vighting Illini, who come into 1991 as the Big Ten coaches' pre-season No. 1 pick. "Illinois has the best talent of any team in the Big Ten," Ohio State coach Jim Stone said. Illinois (4-1) compliments its Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Kristin Henriksen, with the signing of the nation's top recruiting class for the second consecutive year. With no seniors and just two ju- niors, youth might be both an asset and a hindrance for the Illini. 1990 runner-up Ohio State also has a young team, with three first- year players starting for Stone's squad. The Buckeyes need consistent play out of three-year starters Dawn McDoogle and Leisa Wistler. "A goal of winning the Big Ten is realistic," Stone explains. "But when 50 percent of your line-up are freshman we can't assume we will be the best team." The rest of the Big Ten wishes Penn State (7-0) would wait a few more years before entering confer- ence play. Unfortunately, the Lady See BIG TEN, Page 6 'M' ready for Big Ten play by Jeff Williams Daily Sports Writer The 1991 Michigan volleyball team will enter the Big Ten season next week with two more victories than all of last year and a much more experienced squad. "We had 10 first-year players last year, we really had to work on gaining experience," coach Peggy Bradley-Doppes said. "We had to put two or three years of experience into one season." The returning players include ju- nior Tarnisha Thompson, a set- ter/middle blocker. Thompson pro- vides the Wolverines with most of their assists, and is seventh in the Big Ten in that category with eight per game. Sophomores Michelle Horrigan and Fiona Davidson have proven to be a formidable force up front. The pair has the highest kill efficiency ratings in the Big Ten at .390 and .365, respectively. Killing efficiency records the number of successful kills per attempts. The Wolverines (8-2 overall) are at the top of the Big Ten in hitting efficiency with a .265 average, and second in the Big Ten with 2.19 aces per game. "We went from a team no one had heard of to a team that no one can look past," Bradley-Doppes said. The looming Big Ten season will be the real test of how far the Wol- verines have come. Ohio State, Illinois, Penn State and Wisconsin will be Michigan's biggest chal- lenges. "I'd love to see Michigan finish fifth (in the conference)," Bradley- Doppes said. "We can give every- body a good fight. Iowa (Michigan's I " - ~~k ifl first Big Ten opponent) will be a good measuring stick." In order to compete with the up- per echelon of the Big Ten, the Wolverines will have to maintain the consistent defense and aggres- siveness they have shown through- out the early season tournaments. Their early success includes finish- ing first at the Michigan Volley- ball Classic this past weekend. "We need everyone to hit the ball as hard as Horrigan," Bradley- Doppes said. "On defense, we need to pick up every time they have the ball. We're playing better defense and feeling more comfortable. "We're much improved. Right now, I think we can do as well (as in the tournaments) against any team we play." ANIHONY M. CHULL/Uaily Michigan sophomore outside hitter Michelle Horrigan spikes one home in Saturday's victory over Georgia State at Keen Arena. The Wolverines hope to get more plays like this in the upcoming Big Ten season. Bradley-Doppes enters final season by Adam Miller Daily Sports Writer Just think, it's almost over. There are less than 30 matches left in Peggy Bradley-Doppes' coaching career at Michigan. She va- cates her head coaching position to concentrate solely on her duties as associate athletic director in charge of woman's athletics at the end of this season. But think again. If you know Bradley-Doppes, you know that this does not mark the end of her rela- tionship with volleyball. "My whole life has been this sport," the Cincinnati native said. She wasn't speaking figuratively. In 1989, as head coach of North Carolina, she took the Tar Heels from their middle-of-the-pack status and made them the power of the Atlantic Coast Conference. She coached the Tar Heels to their second consecutive ACC title and NCAA tournament appearance, and was named ACC Volleyball Coach of the Year. She took over a struggling Michigan program in 1990 and led the Wolverines to an upset victory over nationally-ranked Illinois that she's still talking about. The Illini stormed into Keen Arena November 3 with a 17-7 record and a No. 15 national ranking. Michigan, by contrast, was 4-20. Nobody gave the Maize and Blue a chance. Except Bradley-Doppes. "I've known (Illinois coach) Mike (Hebert) for years," she said, "so when we take the first game from them, I come up to him and say, 'Hey Mike, looks like you guys haven't done your homework."' The Wolverines defeated the Illini in straight games, 15-13, 15- 13, 15-10. "I'm so competitive," she said. "You don't count one of my teams out." March 27, Bradley-Doppes was named associate athletic director. Feeling committed to all women's sports, Bradley-Doppes realized that she would have to give up "her team." "I'm looking at it this way, that for years these have been my kids. I don't have any children, so these have been my kids. I've had a lot of fun with it," she said. "As much as I love this, and I can hardly think of anybody who can be more passionate about their sport, I just can't do it 2 Iowa 7:30 prm justice sometimes." 2 Minnesota 2pim She'llbe an administrator 4 H "one of the guys," in her words - 4 ONiO STATE: . ...pm but she'll still be tied to volley- 5 INDIANA 7:30 p ball. 9 MICHIGAN STATE (StatePride NIght: 7-30 p m. 11 atPenn Stat 7:30pm "I hope I never have a desk job," 18 at Wisconsin 7:30 p.m. she said. "I'd hate being an 19 at:No>thweser: 7:30pm. administrator who sits at a desk all 25 ILLUNOIS 730 p.m day. I think it's just as important 26 PURDUE 7 pi. that I'm at tennis matches, field 29 at Eastern Michigan 7:30 m hockey games, softball games, that M = I'm there on the road, and also that I 1:>:";::::na>::3::p prepare our athletes for the rest of 2 at Ohlo State 7:30 p.m. the Big Ten. So I think I'll still be 6 at Michigan State (State Pride Night) 7:30pm. very active. As far as volleyball 9 PENN STATE 7 p.m, goes, when you're in it as long as I 15 NORTHWESTERN 7:30 pm am, you're in it more than being a 16 WISCONSIN 7:30p m coach." 22 at:Purdue , 7 .p.m. 23 at Illnos. 7:30pm. So while you can take Peggy 29 :.=MINNESOTA 7pm Bradley-Doppes out of volleyball, 30 IOWA 7.p:m. you can't take volleyball out of Hsn :A Peggy Bradley-Doppes. Bradley-Doppes Bradley-Doppes first played com- petitive volleyball in the fifth grade, and continued playing through college, where she earned second-team all-America honors at the College of Mount St. Joseph's. She landed her first head coach- ing job at Miami (Ohio) in 1979. In her second season, Bradley-Doppes led the Redskins to the Mid- American Conference championship and was named MAC Coach of the Year. 5. 630 PVI .i ~ i i~i ies September 23 Center COMMONS CenterBoulevard Rm .....ii.............. Amazin' Blue This is a co-ed a capella singing ensemble at the U of M. They perform music ranging in style from upbeat rock, jazz, and blues to Michigan Favorites. Comedy Company This is a student-directed and written comedy troupe. Comedy Company performs once a term in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre and has taken its show to other Big-10 schools. Impact Dance This is for U of M's non-dance majors who have extensive training in all areas of dance. Auditions are in the early fall, and the company performs in the spring. M-Flicks This is the largest film group on campus (formerly called Mediatrics), presenting at least three films each week. M-Flicks also sponsors film festivals and sneak previews. Soph Show A fall musical, Soph Show restricts its cast to first-year students and sophomores, often giving students their rst collegiate theatrical experience. Laughtrack Laughtrack features student comedians and a professional headliner each Wednesday night in the U-Club. Soundstage Soundstage provides musical entertainment each Thursday night in the U-Club. Established bands, both local and student, are featured each week. Special Events Special Promotions brings exciting activities to the U of M. Past events have included: Rolling Stone -The Photo- graphs and a performance of Pink Floyd's The Wall. Starbound A campus-wide talent competition, Starbound provides students with the opportunity to perform, win prizes, and gain experience and recognition. College Bowl A competitive quiz-trivia contest, College Bowl begins with an intramural tournament whose champions travel to contests during the winter term. Mini-Courses Each term, Mini-Courses offers over 30 non-credit courses ranging from aerobic dance to sign language. Viewpoint Viewpoint sponsors a variety of lectures and forums for discussion, including Student Soapbox. Accountants The accountants handle all disburse- ments, transactions with other University units, and assist the committees with budget management. Advertising and Publicity This is comprised of a staff of graphic artists headed by the Publicity V.P. They prepare all posters, flyers, programs, and other forms of advertising for UAC's committees. Tech Crew Homecoming As official University coordinators of Homecoming, UAC plans the parade, float contest, pep rally, and many other campus-wide activities. .................