Page 8 --The Michigan Daily- Thursday, March 12,1992 I _ . III 'M' women cagers __ look for last hurrah 0 i!i!i!i i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i Tough tasks loom at LSSU, MSU, WMU by Andy De Korte Daily Hockey Writer 'The Road To The Joe' goes through Ann Arbor. And through Sault Ste. Marie; East Lansing and Kalamazoo. While Michigan's campus is abuzz with the start of the CCHA playoffs, the other first-round series start this weekend. The favored teams could be in for a surprise. Michigan's 47 points was the fewest the first-place team has amassed since the league contained nine teams. Likewise, Bowling Green's 19 points were the most points for the ninth-place team. "This is the most competitive I've seen the league," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "In these short series you never know who could win." Miami (0-4 against Michigan, 12-14-6 CCHA, 15-15-6 overall) at Western Michigan (0-3-1, 14-12-6, 16-12-6): Because Western Michigan ended its season with four losses and four ties after a strong start, it now needs to win the CCHA playoffs tQ make the twelve-team NCAA tourney. "I don't know about our effort in those last games," WMU coach Bill Wilkinson said. "But, I think we're back to our previous effort level." The Broncos do have home-ice advantage, and experience on their side. This will be Miami's fourth trip to the playoffs in 11 years - they have won only one game. That could be the fire they need. The playoffs rejuvenate WMU. Western takes the series, two games to one. Ferris State (1-3, 11-15-6, 13-16-7) at Michigan State (1-2-1, 18-7-7, 20-9-8): Ferris is one of the hottest teams in the CCHA, charging from eighth to sixth place in the past few weeks. It could pull off an upset. "(The Spartans) have the best power play in the league (24.9 percent)," FSU coach Bob Mancini said. " So we really have to stay out of the box." Team discipline could be a real key to the series. The Spartans kill penal- ties better than the Bulldogs - 82.8 to 77.8 percent. MSU's strength this season has been its consistent play. MSU 2-0, unless the Bulldogs can win the first game. Illinois-Chicago (1-2-1, 8-18-6, 10-18-6) at Lake Superior (2-2, 20-8- 4, 22-9-4): This could perhaps be the most lopsided affair this round. UIC has not been able to maintain the quality of play that allowed it to beat Michigan, MSU and LSSU in Chicago. Its fortunes will ride on the back of CCHA all-rookie team goalie Jon Hillebrant. "They keep the score close because they have good goaltending," LSSU assistant coach Paul Pooley said. "They are one of the best forechecking teams in the CCHA, and keep the puck against the boards." Keeping the puck against the boards could be the Flames only chance. LSSU has the best goalie in the conference, Darrin Madeley, and four play- ers with more points than UIC's leading scorer. LSSU, 2-0. by Ken Davidoff Daily Basketball Writer The head coach of any athletic team must play a multitude of roles. The spectrum ranges from strategist to diplomat to disciplinarian to, per- haps most essential, psychologist. The man who walks this stage for the Michigan women's basketball squad - Bud VanDeWege - must channel this skill as his players pre- pare for the final weekend of their disappointing season. The Wolverines (3-13 in the Big Ten, 7-19 overall) end their year on a two-game road trip, taking on Illinois tonight and Purdue Saturday. Both teams defeated Michigan at Crisler Arena back in January, the Fighting Illini winning 71-56 and the y Boilermakers triumphing by a 85-68 tally. VanDeWege will attempt to in- spire his squad with the possibility Michigan senior Char Durand dribbles the ball up the court. Durand and teammate Leah Wooldridge begin their last week of competition tonight against Illinois. Their final game will take place Saturday against Purdue. Spikers take new attitude to Buffalo i by Dan Linna Daily Sports Writer After a sub-par performance for the Michigan men's volleyball team last weekend at the Big Ten Champ- ionships, things will not get any easier. The team will compete in the 16-team University of Buffalo tour- nament Saturday. Michigan will join host Buffalo, Delaware and Cornell as the top seeds when pool play begins. The top two teams from each of four pools will advance to tournament play later in the day. The remaining 12 spots will be filled by East Coast teams which the Wolverines have not seen this sea- son. "We don't know a lot about many of these teams, but Buffalo would have to be considered the fa- vorite," Michigan coach Tom Johengen said. "After the disappoint- ing play last weekend we'd just like to play our best match and see if we can come home with a first-place finish." The Wolverines had been focus- ing on the Big Ten Championships for most of the season and felt that they may have put too much pres- sure on themselves. While Michigan is expecting a high finish in this weekend's tournament, the team is entering with a different attitude. "I think we are very up for this tournament," middle blocker Tim Werner said. "I'm feeling much bet- ter about this -weekend. We're just going to do as well as we can." Michigan's focus for this week- end will not only be on its opponents but also on the court and facilities at Buffalo - which will be the site of the Collegiate Club Nationals one month from now. The Wolverines felt part of their problem at the Big Ten Champ- ionships was their failure to adjust to courts that allowed more room for serving. This made for a different look and compounded the Wolver- ines' passing problems. Michigan has gone as far as its passing would take it this season, and it hopes to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know the courts at Buffalo. "It may be just a slight advantage (when we play at Nationals) - but it is definitely a benefit," Werner said. "Passing is the least spectacular part of the game but it is the most impor- tant. We need to take advantage of something that will help us improve it." The Wolverines have set lofty goals for themselves as the season begins to wind down. Team mem- bers are hoping Michigan can get back on track and make a top five finish at Nationals. "As always, it's communication and teamwork that are of primary importance," Johengen said. "If we focus on these things then execution will improve. If we talk out there and work it, I think things will come together." of climbing out of last place of the Big Ten. Two victories will ensure at least a tie with Illinois, and a win- less Illini weekend will vault the Wolverines into ninth. "We have something to play for," VanDeWege said. "Plus, there's the satisfaction that you can finish strong." Center Michelle Hall's presence will improve Michigan's chances. Hall was injured the last time her team took on the two opponents. "We'll have a tougher inside game with Hall," VanDeWege said. "This changes the picture." Illinois (4-12, 7-19) has also pro- gressed since its last meeting with the Wolverines. Coach Kathy Lindsey is happy with the develop- ment of her younger players, most noticeably first-year forward Lolita Platt and sophomore guard Tonya Booker. Although her squad's record might indicate the contrary, Lindsey expects no problem in motivating her players for this final weekend. "They lost both games last week (to Indiana and Ohio State), but they played well," she said. "They feel good about the way they're playing. They want to redeem themselves." Purdue (12-4, 20-6) is headed into the NCAA tournament, and there is always the fear of a team looking past the end of the regular season toward the tournament. However, Boilermakers coach Lin Dunn does not see this as a hurdle over which her No. 12-ranked team must leap. "It's our last home game," she explained. "Any time it's your senior game you're motivated." Among these seniors is the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer MaChelle Joseph. An all-American candidate, Joseph has averaged 22.8 points per game this season. The games will mark the official end of the careers of guards Char Durand and Leah Wooldridge, who were both honored at halftime of last Sunday's home game against Penn State. GOLFERS Continued from page 5 have to be careful," Kobane said. There is an inherent disadvan- tage, though, which Michigan and other northern schools cannot over- come - the weather. While snow is on the ground in Ann Arbor, Florida duffers are on hole #36 for the day. This huge discrepancy in practice time will do nothing but give the warm-weather schools a leg up on everyone who is sprinkling salt on the sidewalks. "The northern schools are going to suffer," Carras said. "We're going to have play hard to do well, no question about it - just because the (southern schools) have all played (more often than Michigan)." Kobane, who tied for fourth place in the overall standings at Fripp Isle, is expected to lead the team this sea- son. He was not entirely happy with his finish last weekend, and hopes to get things rolling in Florida "Right now, I'm just trying to get my game in order," Kobane said. "I'm just going to try and go down there and play a solid game of golf." Michigan is in its warm-up stage right now and will try to pick up the tempo this weekend in Tampa. Kobane summed up the team's mindset saying, "I'll just try and play the best that I can and see how that stacks up with the rest of the field." 0 0 I I Madrid $565* Paris $515* Frankfurt $515* Zurich $565* *Faes are roundtrip from Detroit. Travel rust be in by the 31st of March. Fares do not include taxes. Restrictions apply. Coundi Tram 1220 S. University Avenue STE 208 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 313-998-000 .4 LL4i ILW; A !rf I' Now Hiring Display Account Executives For Spring/Summer & Fall Terms 1 0i Gain valuable business experience while selling advertising to local and regional businesses. You'll be responsible for managing your own account territory. You'll work for a student-run organization, and become a professional representative of the newspaper to the University community. l _ - _ _ ___ LIN Continued from page 5' while playing the last 11 minutes of regulation and the entire overtime in; the Wolverines' 89-79 victory. But Pelinka's court time since then has been erratic, to say the least. "His playing time has been like the weather - there one day, not there the next," Fisher said. "When you go to the bench, you want no minuses. Any pluses you get are bonuses, but you want no minuses. "The thing he's done is he's always put himself in the position that when the opportunity comes, he's ready. That's not always easy to do, but he's done that." Pelinka knows the regular season QUALIFICATIONS " Good organizational skills * Good communication skills - Positive attitude' " Dependable " Ambitious RESPONSIBILITIES " Sell advertising space and service accounts " Meet and communicate with a variety of person- alities " Generate new business " Explain rate card & POSITIONS AVAILABLE Account Executive * 40 hours per week in S/S terms * 15 hours per week in F/W terms * 2 term commitment At :icfrr Ar. .... - -...A..:.. APPLICATION DEADLINE is Monday, March 16 Pick up applications in the 1 I I ii I I 1