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The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, September 19, 1994 - 7
*Men's soccer deserves
shot at varsity status
Fans from all around the
orld jammed football-
turned-soccer stadiums this
summer as the world's biggest
sporting event came to the United
States. World Cup fever infected
the country for two months,
especially when
the U.S. squad
made the
second round
for the first time
since 1950.
For the past
ANTOINE PITTS decade the
popularity of
Pitts Stop soccer has been
on the upswing. A Los Angeles
Times study shows that the number
of American youths, high school
students and collegians playing the
sport has doubled over the past 10
years. Nearly 450,000 compete in
the state of Michigan itself.
Many new soccer leagues have
arrived in the past decade. Two
indoor leagues and two outdoor
leagues currently exist, with Major
League Soccer on the horizon for
next year.
The University's athletic
department finally jumped on the
soccer bandwagon this fall with the
installation of a varsity women's
soccer program. However, as the
university showcased its 22 varsity
teams at yesterday's Michigan
Experience, you had to wonder if
one group of people was missing.
Many argue that Michigan has the
best athletic program in the nation,
but here in 1994 the department is
one of few major schools without a
men's soccer program.
. . .
Steve Burns came to Michigan
in 1984 primarily to get an
education, but he was also
interested in playing soccer for the
school. He had heard that the
Wolverines would be going varsity
by the time he reached his junior
year. Ten years later, as Burns
begins his second year as coach of
the men's club team, the squad is
still fighting to gain varsity status.
Other players who have been
offered scholarships by other
schools have passed them up,
opting to come to Michigan instead,
thinking that the program would
soon go varsity. Junior midfielder
Ian Kurth is one player who was
recruited to play soccer at other
schools.
"(Coach) Aaron Smith was here
my freshman year and when I
called, he said the program would
be varsity by my junior year,"
Kurth said. "They've been telling us
for the past 10 years that it's going
to be two years from now."
At this point, the club soccer
team is a success. Burns had 65
players try out for the team this year
as they try to improve on last year's
mark of 13-5-6, including a ninth-
place finish at the national club
championship in Phoenix. This
season, the Wolverines play a
schedule that features NCAA
Division I, II and III schools, as
well as NAIA schools. Only a few
club teams are included in the
schedule.
"All we're trying to do right
now is show the athletic department
See PITTS, Page 8
VOLLEYBALL
Continued from page 1
players to fill the gaps. Injuries to
sophomore Shareen Luze,junior Suzy
O'Donnell, and senior Aimee Smith
prevented them from making the trip
to Virginia. Giovanazzi expects medi-
cal reports on their status today.
Filling the holes were freshmen
Sarah Jackson and Berit Volstad and
sophomore Colleen Miniuk. Jackson
led the trio in three key statistical
areas with her 36 kills, nine blocks
and .319 hitting percentage over the
three games.
Miniuk and Volstad, meanwhile,
made their presence known from the
outside hitter position. Volstad con-
tributed 24 kills and 33 digs, while;
Miniuk powered seven aces.
"We noticed the injuries, but we
had to play without them," Miniuk
said.
"I felt we played well, especially
with such ayoung lineup," Giovanazzi
said. "Our young players were out-
standing, especially Sarah Jackson,
Berit Volstad, Colleen Miniuk, and
Chareena Tennis."
The young replacements weren't
the only ones to excel, however. Jun-
ior Shannon Brownlee, along with.
Miniuk, made the all-tournament
team. Brownlee, a middle blocker,
had a pair of tournament bests, tally-
See BIG TEN, page 8
I
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Michigan's women's soccer team has achieved varsity status, unlike the men.
Daily Sports.
Lots of words and stuff.
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