0 Page 8-The Michigan Daily- Thursday, February 6, 1992 'M' spikers look for continued success 'M' skiers garner mixed results in weekend meet by Dan Linna Daily Sports Writer Any team that seriously speaks of winning a Big Ten title is ex- pected to win at home. However, when it's all said and done, road wins equal Big Ten titles. The Michigan men's volleyball team will get plenty of opportuni- ties to prove its worthiness when it kicks off a road trip at Madison Sat- urday and ventures to Champaign Sunday. For the next month and a half, Michigan has nine away dates with only one home engagement. The Wolverines will visit Ohio, Illi- nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York during the trip. Saturday's agenda includes Min- nesota and Purdue, who will also compete in Madison. The Wolver- ines already defeated the Badgers earlier this season in a home match, and Michigan coach Tom Johengen is not sure if the teams will square off again. Johengen had considered Min- nesota to be the strongest team in the Big Ten and the Gophers backed up his statement when they downed Michigan State in East Lansing three weeks ago. But since then, the Gophers have had personnel prob- lems which led to a defeat at the hands of the Badgers last weekend. "I'm looking at Minnesota as be- ing one of the big tests," Johengen said. "I'm not real sure anymore what to expect from them so we'll have to wait and see when we step on the court." Sunday's matches at Champaign have Indiana joining the Illini and Wolverines. While Michigan will spend a lot of time on the road before and be- tween matches, Johengen doesn't expect it to affect his team. "We've built up our stamina by playing in a lot of tournaments," Johengen said. "It's a lot of time and more than anything the guys will have a hard time with school. But when it comes time to play they should be able to handle it." The Wolverines are coming off a strong showing in the Wolverine Collegiate Classic where they took second place in the 30-team field. Michigan hopes this will spring- board the team to new heights. "I think we surpassed our expec- tations," senior Curt Schroeder said. "Everyone worked together very well. We seem to be more focused in tournament play and we need to transfer this to our single matches. We need to prepare way ahead of time and not expect to just step on the court and make things happen." While the Wolverines have been dependent on a strong team effort, one of the keys to their improve- ment has been the reemergence of outside hitter Chris Peirce. Peirce has pulled out of a mini- slump and fueled Michigan with his emotional, high-flying kills. "(Co-captain) Rico ( Latham) and I are really coming together and he's been setting really well lately," Peirce said. "As a team I think this is some of the best volleyball we've played in my three years here." The Wolverines have been spend- ing practice time developing a new offensive look that won't be as pre- dictable against teams Michigan of- ten plays. Johengen feels that the Wolverines have yet to play their best volleyball. "When we are on and running our offense we're a very good team," Johengen said. "We still have periods during a match where our passing breaks down a bit and then we have very little offensive production. We're still occasionally going into mental lapses where we're not getting digs and making the plays." "I know we can get better and if nothing else we can become much more consistent." by Meg Beison While the Michigan women's ski team whitewashed its competition last weekend at Caberfae and Crystal Mountain, winning the slalom and giant slalom, the men were not as successful and came away with third and sixth place, respectively. Senior captain Lisa Witty had an impres- sive first-place finish in the slalom with a time of 59.84 seconds. Sara MacKeigan was close behind in second (60.19) and Amy Portenga finished in fifth in 60.97. "I was pleased with the way I skied," Witty said. "I was getting a lot of second (places) and it felt good to be back on top." The Wolverines captured the giant slalom title as well. Kelly Copeland was the first Wolverine to cross the finish line, finishing in third place with 59.79. Portenga and Witty raced to sixth and seventh place respectively. "Skiing was so nice this weekend and the courses held up real well." Portenga said. "We did well because we had five strong fin- ishes and many good times to pick from." The men did not have as many good times from which to pick. "Competition was stiffer this weekend," senior Tim Sattlemeier said. "Some good skiers showed up who were not at some of the other meets." Sattlemeier was the first Wolverine fin- isher in the slalom. He raced to a fourth-place finish with a time of 54.81. Matt Turner was seventh in the slalom in 55.77 with Kevin Gi- etzen right behind in eighth (56.37). Sattlemeier also led the way in the giant slalom with an eighth-place finish.in 55.00. Mike Johnson took 14th place (55.31). The Michigan ski teams continue action this weekend as they head to Caberfae and Crystal Mt. once again for their divisional race. The top five teams will continue on to Sugarloaf for regionals. This weekend is the chance for the Wolver- ines to prove to themselves that it is worth it to be dedicated to a club sport. They go away almost every weekend and they receive only a small budget from the University. They com- pete without a coach, and therefore they must depend on each other to make sure things go well. "Without a coach we all have to help and cheer each other on," Portenga said. "We have to tell the others about the course." Both teams are extremely optimistic and feel they will advance to the regionals, but the men hope to avoid a factor which has hurt them in the past. "We have had many problems in former years with people choking (at divisionals)," Sattlemeier explained. "We'll have to ski well this weekend." Michigan middle hitter Mike McCune spikes Rico Latham's set at the Wolverine Classic last Saturday at the CCRB. Lone Michigan netter plots to steal Rolex by Todd Schoenhaus Daily Sports Writer In 1988 and 1989 the Michigan men's tennis team was blessed with a gem - the presence of current professional tennis player Malivai Washington. When the tennis star left early to pursue a professional career, a large void was left to fill. Junior David Kass stepped in and has served as a more than adequate team leader ever since. As ace of the men's tennis team, the 1989 Big Ten Freshman of the Year is ranked fourth in the NCAA. Today through Sunday, at the Rolex Indoor Tennis Championship, Kass will have an opportunity to prove he is among the collegiate tennis elite. Kass will be Michigan's lone representative at this weekend's tournament in Minneapolis. The third leg of the Collegiate Grand Slam will be comprised of 32 play- ers, half of whom earned automatic bids due to their high rankings. The other 16 players qualified for the draw by reaching the finals of one of eight U.S. district tourna- ments held several months ago. Sophomore Dan Brakus was one step away from joining his Wolverine teammate this weekend. He was eliminated in the semifinals of the District Four Qualifiers held in early November. After choosing to bypass the first leg of the Grand Slam held in September, Kass played in the sec- ond tourney, the Volvo Collegiate Championships in Austin, Texas. As the tournament's fourth seed, Kass dropped a three setter (7-5, 3-6, 6-3) to Stanford's Alex O'Brien, the na- tion's top-ranked college player. Kass will be seeded at least fourth in this tournament. He could be seeded higher depending on whether the nation's top three play- ers participate. Michigan men's ten- nis coach Brian Eisner has much con- fidence in his star athlete. "He is in a legitimate position to win this whole tournament," Eisner said. The NCAA Championships, held in Athens, Ga., May 20-24, will complete the Collegiate Grand Slam. THE MICHIGAN DAILY 764-0552 CHINESE FOOD CHEF JAN EXERENCE TOP GOLD MEDAL WINNER OF DETROIT COBO HALL NATIONAL CONTEST WINNER WASHINGTONIAN BLUE RIBBON BEST CHEF AWARD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. "BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT 1991"-Michigan Daily "BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT 1991"-Michigan Daily "BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT 1991"-Metro Times r0-OFF DINNER MENU IO with this ad " Expires February 22, 1992 Carr Out or Dine In On u Reservations * 668-2445 ] DINE IN OR TAKE OUT SERVICE 1201 S. University * 668-2445 , Open10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. MOM THAN A HOUSC ..o COOPrRATJVr. LIVING THE INTER COOPERATIVE COUNCIL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Have YOU voiced these concerns? asked these questions? looking for answers? How does one respond to questions like "Why do Native American receive tuition waivers and not others?"... "I want to get a basic understanding of how other racial groups feel..." I want to understand what perceptions Asian Americans have of others and to fully realize what terms and definitions are used against Asian Americans and other people of color.' "I'd like to discuss how racism works on this campus and how the white culture fits into that...' "I'd like to see more white students voice their opinions about these issues..." "I'm tired of people thinking I got here based on Affirmative Action...* 'I'd like to get together with others and eventually learn how to work together..." These are some of the issues and concerns voiced by Native American, African American, Latino and Latinas, Asian Americans and White/European American students participating in Office of Minority Affairs INTRA group dialogues last term. IF THESE ARE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, QUESTIONS OR INTERESTS, WE INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE OPENING SESSION OF: "MOVING BEYOND TOLERANCE: INTERRACIAL/CULTURAL DIALOGUES" INFORMATIONAL MEETING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 1992 7-9PM KUENZEL ROOM, MICHIGAN UNION (ethnic refreshments will be served) Meet students from different racial/ethnic groups coming together to discuss differences, similarities and strategies that will improve intergroup understanding and cooperation. Some of the dialogue groups forming include: 0