Field Hockey vs. Ohio State Today, 4 p.m. Oosterbaan Fieldhouse Si S Women's Volleyball vs. Illinois Tonight, 7 p.m. Cliff Keen Arena Wolverines own clear edge over Iowa Powerful Michigan offense should overwhelm weaker Hawkeyes By MICHAEL ROSENBERG Daily Football Writer If Michigan's past two games are an indication, coach Gary Moeller would like nothing more than to be losing with under ten seconds to play against Iowa tomorrow. But Moeller, a stubborn guy, will probably opt for the more conservative approach of trying to score more than the other team in the first 59:50. Taking that into consideration, and realizing that Iowa will take the same approach, here are the matchups. Michigan running game against Iowa run defense: Michigan is no doubt a bit dazed from its loss to Colorado. This would normally cause a team to come out sluggish. But don't count on that, be- cause Tyrone Wheatley figures to be his old self, running around or through defenders andjust generally giving the whole state of Iowa nightmares. Iowa is giving up 207.3 yards rush- ing per game, which is only better than Purdue among Big Ten teams. Wheatley needs a huge game to get back into the Heisman race. He should put on that kind of performance and leave enough yards left over for TshimangaBiakabutuka and Ed Davis. Advantage Michigan passing game against Iowa pass defense: Next time someone tells you Todd Collins is not a clutch quarterback, smack him. Unless, of course, that somebody is bigger than you, at which time you should say, "Yes, sir, he is most unclutch, sir." But in your heart, you will know that Collins is a prime time quarterback. He proved this against Notre Dame and Colorado. Collins has thrown for 200 yards or more in every game this year while facing some of the nation's toughest defensive backs. Iowa has none of the nation's tough- est defensive backs. All ithas isDamien. Robinson, a decent cornerback, andBo Porter, a free safety who plays in the Chicago Cubs' farm system, so he knows something about losing. After Robinson and Porter, there isn't a whole lot. Michigan's depth at receivercom- bined with Collins' rifle arm, should make for a long day for the Hawkeyes. Advantage Iowa running game against Michigan run defense: This is Iowa's strength. Sedric Shaw gets most of the carries, and he's a solid, productive back. Redshirt fresh- man Tavian Banks has carried the ball only 13timesbuthas gained109yards, so he figures to see playing time soon. Iowa coach Hayden Fry probably doesn't want to throw him to the Wol- verines, but if the Hawkeyes can't move the ball, he'll have no choice. Michigan's Jarrett Irons and Steve Morrison may be the best pair of run- stopping linebackers in the nation. But Michigan is sixth in the Big Ten in run defense, because the defensive line has been inconsistent. Iowa's best chance to beat Michigan may be by grinding out yards on the ground, which moves the chains and keeps the Wolverine offense off the field. Advanta Iowa passing game against Michi- gan pass defense: Sophomore Ryan Driscoll leads the Iowa passing attack and could be the latest in a long line of top Hawkeye quarterbacks. Harold Jasper and tight end Scott Slutzker are Driscoll's key long- and short-ball targets, respectively. Jasper averages 19.4 yards per catch, but only three receptions per game, because op- ponents focus on him. Michigan defen- sive coordinator Lloyd Carr should stick all-Milky Way cornerback Ty Law on Jasper. But Carr likely won't give up his zone scheme, which could mean big things for Jasper. Advantage Special teams: Jasper leads the Big Ten in punt returns, and Banks and Tim Dwight average 22 yards per kickoff return: Punter Nick Gallery is in a slump but should return to his solid 1993 form. Michigan's return men, Amani Toomer, Mercury Hayes and Seth Smith, are outstanding, but have not been had many open holes. Michigan's kicking game remains enigmatic. Advantage: None DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily ichigan's run defense will have another tough chore this weekend in Iowa after trying to handle Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam last week. Spikers defend turf in first home Big Ten action a F-W-11CL-AAL- WdY -1w- W, !!' ba-, !a i log A. I P 17 t"7 /l n IOU K. By RODERICK BEARD Daily Sports Writer Improvement will be the theme Ofor the Michigan women's volleyball team this weekend, as it begins the home conference season at Cliff Keen Arena Friday at 7:00 P.M. against Illinois and Saturday at 7:00 P.M. versus Purdue. The Wolverines (0-2 Big Ten, 4- 8 overall) hope to rebound from a tough opening conference weekend, in which they lost matches to Wis- consin and Northwestern. The two losses put Michigan at the bottom of the conference standings, along with Michigan State and Purdue. Illinois (1-1, 9-5), although a young team, will be a tough challenge for the Wolverines. Of the 13 players on the squad, three are sophomores and five are freshmen. The Fighting Illini opened con- ference play at home with a close five-game loss against Iowa and a five-game win over Minnesota. In the match with the Hawkeyes, Illi- nois' freshman outside hitter Erin Borske set a freshman single-match record with 25 kills, and followed that effort with 23 against the Golden Gophers. The Illini depend on senior out- side hitters Julie Edwards and Sue Nucci for leadership. Edwards was injured this week and did not hit in practice but should be available for the match tonight. Nucci is in the top ten in aces for Illinois, adding six versus Iowa, one short of the single-match record. As a team, Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten in aces and fifth in hitting effi- ciency. Purdue (0-2,2-9) also has a young team and could pose less of aproblein for Michigan. The Boilermakers have only one senior and two juniors on its 11-player roster. Carol Dewey, in her 20th season as Purdue's coach, is the winningest single-sport coach in school history. She has an overall record of 465- 242, including a 236-120 record against Big Ten schools, and has led the Boilermakers to four conference championships and six 30-win sea- sons. The Wolverines have had prob- lems beating Purdue in the past. In 31 meetings, Michigan has won only four times. They are improving, however, as they have won three matches in as many years, including last year's five-game win at Cliff Keen Arena. Sophomore middle blocker Brooke White heads Purdue's of- fensive attack. White, who started all 29 matches and played in every game as a freshman last year, is second in the conference in aces and seventh in hitting efficiency this season. Tonight's match versus Illinois will feature the "Rock the House III" promotion, with special giveaways, including plane tickets and a dash for cash, and contests planned. The first two "Rock the House" promotions have attracted more than 5,000 total fans. x1m JILP I&C7 lion T Take this quiz: When is the next special occasion with your certain someone? I 7 a) The V-M vs. Penn State football game b) The next episode of 90210 ) Sweetest Day If you answered: (a), then ask Cary Moeller to marry you, (b), then you need to get out of the house! (c), then you are as sweet as sugarl Prove that you are with a: 4S*/44 I"/T pq1.Y All You Can Eat on The Michigan Daily Classified Pages! Declare your love for only $1.00 per line (3 lines min. please). Your message will be published Friday, October 14. Deadline is 5 p.m., Wednesday, October 12. Look out for the form in upcoming issues. 'A BBQ Ribs o4 $67 Beef Back Ribs, slow cooked with a spicy Red Sauce. Meat so tender, it just falls off the bone. Served with fries and slaw Sundays 5:00 pm-midnight Make Ashley's Your Spot On State 338 S. State 996-9191 Tsis $0 Lg sleeTmhrts$1 Swathrts$3 3 Colors avilable S sh Gry ay le&Wite Dai yBoard Offc 420 aynrd,2nd"floo I I I w. Ad; " at SPIKE & MIKE'S"" BRAND NEW SICK AND TWISTEDsM ' R 23 For You PRO or FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION* PREMIERES ages 18 and over won't see THIS GRAM on Cable r network TV. Shnw Times Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 1994 Help us move! Purchase all in-stock merchandise for 50% off. Great Lakes Sports will be consolidating with its 5 I