The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 14, 1994 -13
0'M' tennis prepares for ranked ND
By JENNIFER DUBERSTEIN
DAILY SPORTS WRITER
Notre Dame will be in Ann Arbor
today to continue its rivalry with
Michigan, and it won't be at Michi-
gan Stadium.
The Michigan men's tennis team
battles the Fighting Irish today at the
4iberty Sports Complex in what is
arguably one of the Wolverines'
toughest matches this season.
Notre Dame (18-8 overall, 8-1
Regional) was ranked 15th in the na-
tion a mere two weeks ago. The Irish
bring impressive credentials into the
match, having defeated Duke and
Texas, who were tied at No. 4 when
the matches were played.
Notre Dame, Minnesota and
*ichigan are battling for the top-two
regional seed, and a victory over the
Fighting Irish would help the Wol-
verines in their quest for postseason
play.
"I would say (the Notre Dame
match) will be our most important
match besides Minnesota,"
Michigan's John Costanzo said. "In
order to go to the NCAAs, we have to
be one or two in our region."
Minnesota knocked off Notre
Dame last week, 5-2. The Wolverines
dropped their match to the Golden
Gophers by the same score.
"(Notre Dame) will be easier (than
Minnesota)," said Costanzo, concern-
ing tomorrow's match. "We matchup
much better with (Notre Dame) than
Minnesota."
Notre Dame has two players
ranked in the nation's top 60. Notre
Dame's No. I singles player, senior
Andy Zurcher, carries a No. 23 rank-
ing and defeated Duke's Chris
Pressley (No. 5) and Texas' Chad
Clark (No. 6).
Irish netter Ryan Simme (No. 54)
is the top-rated freshman in America.
His major victories include a win over
Texas' Ian Williams (No. 19).
"I've played Simme before,"
Costanzo said. "My game matches up
with his pretty well."
Notre Dame's top doubles team,
Zurcher and Allan Lopez, is also
ranked nationally at No. 23.
Dan Brakus, Michigan's No. 1
singles player, faces Zurcher, whom
(No. 19) beat Brakus earlier this sea-
son in a three-set match.
The Irish's lofty ranking doesn't
worry the Wolverines.
"(The ranking) doesn't really af-
fect us," Costanzo said. "We know
every player (from Notre Dame).
We've played them before. We're not
intimidated by them."
"We played (Notre Dame) really
close during first semester,"
Michigan's Peter Pusztai said. "I've
heard they are pretty nervous.
"This match won't be any easier
(than the Minnesota match) and it
won't be any harder. We can't under-
estimate them."
SARAH WHITING/Daily
The Michigan men's tennis team has a chance to better its postseason opportunities with a win over Notre Dame.
Crew used to strange accomodations
%y TIM SMITH
DAILY SPORTS WRITER
The Michigan crew team will make
the long trip to Oak Ridge, Tenn.,
Saturday for the Southern Intercolle-
giate Rowing Association (SIRA) re-
gatta against a bevy of talented teams.
But unlike varsity teams at Michigan,
the self-funded crew team has to make
the most of every penny. The team
pill be camping out on a church floor
Friday night in preparation for
Saturday's regatta.
The lack of quality accommoda-
tions, however, doesn't seem to bother
the Wolverines much. Junior crew
member Jay Steel says that the team
has actually become accustomed to
its less than comfortable lodgings.
"We're used to it because we do it
gverywhere we go," Steel said. "So
we don't really mind."
The team may need its rest be-
cause Saturday Michigan faces a
strong field in the competition. The
Wolverines face last year's men's
winner, Miami (Fla.), and last season's
women's winner, George Washing-
ton.
However, Michigan varsity coach
Gregg Hartsuff remains confident
about his team's chances now and in
the future.
"Ithink we'll bein arun forthe gold
with Miami," Hartsuff said. "They get
to row in the water year-round and get
to recruit the best athletes, but our
rowing reputation is really benefiting
v
us.
"When you're doing well (like
Michigan), people like to stay with
your program."
Hartsuff also feels that going against
the experienced Hurricane squad will
give him an idea where his team stands
at this point of the season.
Miami and the Colonials are just
two of the teams, along with Virginia
and Florida Institute of Technology
intent on bringing home the title.
The women's varsity team hopes
to improve upon last year's second-
place finish in the SIRA by building
on the momentum it gained from last
weekend's victory over Wisconsin.
"Chances are that it's going to be
a more tightly packed race than last
week," Michigan women's coach
Mark Rothstein said. "It's good,
though. It makes more for an exciting
race."
Junior coxswain Hilary Trencamp
noted that the abundance of good com-
petition only helps the Wolverines.
"It's going to be a close matchup
between the top teams, but we do well
under pressure," Trencamp said. "A
boat right next to us will push us a little
harder."
The motivation from the competi-
tion and from knowing that they will be
back sleeping in their own beds after
the regatta may bejust enough to pave
the way for Michigan.
ATTENTION4
ADVERTISER
The last day of publication is Tuesday, April 19.
The deadline for this issue is Thursday, April 14.
The Michigan Daily will be published on Wednesdays
during spring/summer. The first publication is on May 4.
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Join your fellow students and American Express
in support of the 10th Annual Hunger Cleanup.
On April 16th, students from your school and local residents will pitch in
together, participating in a nationwide event that assists worthy causes while
helping to improve community life across the nation.
The Hunger Cleanup is a three hour "work-a-thon" where you take part in a
community work project such as painting a shelter, cleaning a playground, or
starting a neighborhood food garden. And the funds you raise in sponsorships
for your work will be distributed by the event's organizer - the National Student
ampaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.
Your school is among 190 participating this year, making Hunger Cleanup the largest one-day community service event in
the country. American Express salutes all the volunteers and is proud to be the sole national sponsor.
Since 1984. Hiner Cleanups have raised almost a million dollars. with the heln of over 70.000 students. Peonle like von.
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