6 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, September 12, 1994 Spikers nab first two victories after dropping one to Spartans By TOM SEELEY Daily Sports Writer While a loss to Michigan State is rarely the start of a good weekend, the Michigan women's volleyball team took it in stride and rebounded to win its first two matches of the year. After losing a tight five-game match to the Spartans on Friday night, 3-15, 15-5, 15-10, 6-15, 15-10, the Wolverines (2-5) recovered and turned this weekend into their most successful series of the young season. The victories against Virginia (15- 9, 7-15, 15-10, 15-2) and Pittsburgh (15-12, 13-15, 15-13, 15-1) Saturday gave the host Wolverines a 2-1 record in the Kaepa Volleyball Challenge. After a rocky opening week, it also gave the team its first winning streak of the season. "Our team is playing at a much higher level now," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "(Saturday's wins) are very big because this is a team that is starting to blossom and all the teams that we played against in this tourna- ment are all very similar in level." In the match against Michigan State, the Wolverines' script seemed at times to be following that of their previous contest - a tough four-game loss to Eastern Michigan. As in that match, Michigan found itself in a position to win the pivotal third game after split- ting the first two, but watched the op- ponents close out the third game in convincing fashion. However, that's where the simi- larities ended. The Wolverines came back and stopped the Spartans in game four, 15-6, behind strong serving by freshman Chereena Tennis and junior Suzy O'Donnell. In the fifth and deciding game, the veteran Michigan State squad jumped to a 5-2 lead and fought off several Michigan comebacks before winning the game and the match with a 15-10 triumph. "Even though it looked like it was following a similar scenario to the (Eastern Michigan) match, the level of play was much higher," Giovanazzi said. "Also, after losing game three, we came out and were very focused in game four. "The match came down to a couple of points where we didn't convert in game five. We had opportunities and if we would have had the same good ball control we had earlier on, we would have been great. Instead, we end up losing a tight five-gamer to a good Michigan State team." Despite the outcome, the young Wolverine squad seemed to gain con- fidence from the match against its intrastate rival. This was evident the next day when Michigan claimed its first victories of the year. In Michigan's opening contest of the day, it dispatched a tough Virginia squad in four games. After playing a rather evenly matched first three games, the Wolverines exploded for a 15-2 victory in game four and notched their first win of the 1994 campaign. Leading the Wolverine attack were middle blockers O'Donnell and jun- ior Shannon Brownlee. O'Donnell spiked her way to a match-high 15 kills and a .500 hitting percentage while Brownlee had 10 kills and a team-high 13 digs. "Getting that first win is amaz- ing," Brownlee said. "We knew that we were good and all of us played really well individually, but we couldn't get it together as a team. So we had a couple of team meetings and decided to come together and cel- ebrate, and it worked." O'Donnell and Brownlee were also the main contributors later that evening when Michigan gained its second win of the year. The Wolver- ines sealed the Panthers' fate with another strong finish - this time in the form of a 15-1 thrashing in the fourth game. O'Donnell led the way with an- other match-high 28 kills while Brownlee contributed 18 of her own, and their play has given Giovanazzi MOLLY ITEVEN/Daily Shannon Brownlee (left) and Sarah Jackson go up for a block against Virginia Saturday at Cliff Keen Arena. Brownlee had 10 kills and a team-high 13 digs in Michigan's win over the Cavaliers. reason to smile. "I'm happy to see Suzy and Shan- non doing so well," he said. "We spent a lot of time with those two in the spring just running the middle ev- eryday, and it's starting to pay off." Despite the loss to Michigan State, this weekend provided the confidence boost that the team needed after its shaky start. The Wolverines now have a rosier outlook before they start con- ference play in two weeks. "Even though we did lose one, we still improved our play 200 percent," Brownlee said. "We've come so far in the last couple of days, and this week- end has been totally successful for us, which is good going into Big Ten play." Women harriers capture Miami Invitational * Harvey claims first place as fifth-ranked Wolverines outdistance 10-team field By BARRY SOLLENBERGER Daily Sports Writer It was business as usual for the No. 5 Michigan women's cross country team Saturday at the Miami University Invitational. The two-time defending confer- ence champions blasted the 10-team field at the meet in Oxford, Ohio. The Wolverines compiled a team score of 29, far outdistancing second-place Miami of Ohio (67) and third-place Eastern Kentucky (76). Overwhelming victories, how- ever, are commonplace for a Michi- gan squad that is trying to finish in the top 10 nationally for the third consecu- tive year. "Going in, we were pretty sure that we were going to dominate the competition, and we did," senior All- America Karen Harvey said. Harvey won the individual compe- tition with a time of 17 minutes 28 seconds in the 5,000-meter race. Despite easily capturing first place, Harvey said that she can do better. "My time was a little slower than I thought I was capable of running," she said. "I ran really hard in train- ing this past week and I think it took its toll. "But it's early in the season and we now have a couple of weeks of training before our next meet." Sophomore Jenny Barber was Michigan's second runner and fin- ished third overall with a career-best time of 17:58. Freshman Eileen Fleck's time of 17:58 was good enough for fourth-place overall, a split- second behind Barber. "I was really happy with Barber and Fleck," Michigan coach Mike McGuire said. "As for Fleck, under 18 minutes for a freshman in a 5,000- meter race is outstanding." The youngster also impressed the veteran Harvey. "Fleck ran really solidly," Harvey said. "She looked very prom- ising and will definitely be in our top seven at the Big Ten (champion- ships)." Junior Kelly Chard made her re- turn after missing all of last season due to foot surgery. The 1992 All-Big Ten performer finished 17th overall with a time of 19:09. "By her standards, Chard's show- ing was modest," McGuire said. "But, overall, I was really encouraged with her run because she has been out with the foot surgery. "The key with her is to have her healthy." The Wolverines' five other finish- ers were Molly Lori (18:37), Katy Hollbacher (18:41), Tanya Manson (19:11), Heather Grigg (19:36) and Michelle Spannagel (20:08). While winning the meet was al- most a foregone conclusion for Michi- gan, it was a good gauge for the squad early in the season. "I think (the meet) helped Mike decide who is going to be in our top seven," Harvey said. "He has to de- cide who is going to run and how we are going to win each individual meet." It also allowed some younger run- ners to gain experience. "In training, you can simulate the competition," McGuire said. "But until you get into the competition, you really don't know what to ex- pect." The road will get tougher for the Wolverines. After an open date next Saturday, Michigan travelstoMissoula, Mont., for the Mountain Classic West Sept. 24. "At our next meet, the competition will be at another level," McGuire said. "But it's two weeks down the road, ano we will be performing at ahigher level." For that meet, the Wolverines will regain the services of three of Barber ! their top runners: All-America Courtney Babcock, junior Heather Grigg and freshman Deanna Arnill. The three stayed home Saturday to rest. SPORTS INFORMATION Michigan's Karen Harvey finished first in Saturday's Miami University Invitational. As a team, the Wolverines took first with 29 points. Men's soccer brings back victory from Canada , WCo rHQ comes to North Campus North Campus Commons * Main Floor og C ; Limited Engagement!! Monday thru Friday Sep. 12 thru.Sep. 16 *10 to 5 0 CD U,) By ANTOINE PITTS Daily Sports Editor Two weeks into the season the Michigan men's soccer team still looked for its first victory of the year. The Wolverines travelled to Canada Friday to record that first win in blow- out fashion. Michigan (1-1-2) got goals from seven different players en route to an 8-0 defeat of St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont. "It was good for us to get our first win of the season," Michigan coach Steve Burns said. "You need a game like this. Putting a lot of goals in the back of the net will help our confi- dence." The Wolverines scored early and often and kept pressure on St. Clair the whole afternoon. In fact, St. Clairhardly tested the Michigan defense. Goal- keeper Chris Dow needed to make only one save in the first half and Mike Milman only faced one shot in goal during the second half. "We weren't really challenged," Burns said. "For about 90 minutes we were in their half of the field just attacking and attacking. We had a good opportunity to get all our play- ers some game time." Ryan and Adam Carriere, both transfers from Schoolcraft College, led the Michigan offense. Adam notched a goal while Ryan, a defender playing up front, tallied two goals and an assist for the Wolverines. "The Carriere boys really put some numbers up for us," Burns said. "Ryan is a natural defender but we used him up on offense. He and his brother really worked well for us." Michigan's initial goal came from forward Herschel Wancjer. Midfielder Joe Cusumano converted on a penalty shot and midfielder Kris Wiljanen scored to give the Wolverines a 3-0 halftime lead. "I thought we played erratic in the first half but then we settled down," midfielder Ian Kurth said. "They weren't that tough." Adam Carriere scored five minutes First 10 customers each day with current UM ID get choice of free J Rose or J Howard Rookie Cards Check out the Webbers & other UM players 'This was a good way to break loose. In our first three games we had just four goals and no wins.' - Ian Kurth junior midfielder into the second half and Ryan Carriere followed with two straight goals to put the game away. Kurth and midfielder Rob Sirrine finshed out the scoring for the Wolverines. "This was a good way to break loose," said Kurth, who also had two assists. "In our first three games we had just four goals and no wins." The Wolverines play their first home game of the season tommorrow night against Spring Arbor. The game is set for 6 p.m. at Mitchell Field. I . : tit;.T }: .;