The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 18, 1995 - 23 'Blue waits for seeding Michigan women prepare for Big Ten tourney By Alan Goldenbach Daily Sports Writer Now the waiting game begins for the Michi- gan women's tennis team. The Wolverines will have to wait out an off- weekend Saturday and Sunday to see what seed hey will receive in the conference tournament :o be held April 27-30 in Champaign. It looks as if Michigan will be the No. 3 seed, behind an undefeated Indiana team and a Northwestern squad that has lost only once. The Hoosiers and Wildcats handed the Wol- verines theironly conference defeats this sea- son. The only way Michigan can finish higher than third is if Northwestern has a catastrophic final weekend. The Wildcats have only one conference loss and they need to drop two this weekend to give the Wolverines a chance to catch them in the conference race. Michigan is not counting on that to happen. Nevertheless, the Wolverines (8-2 Big Ten, 14-6 overall) closed out their regular season schedule in style last weekend, with victories over Illinois (7-5,11-7) and Purdue (5-3,12-7), 6-3 and 7-2, respectively. "I thought we played really well and had solid performances in all three doubles matches," Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said. The Wolverines' No. 1 player, Sarah Cyganiak, won twice last weekend, putting capping a perfect Big Ten season. Cyganiak won all 10 of her conference singles matches. She also finished the season leading Michi- gan in wins with 31, while suffering only 12 defeats. "Sarah has played just great all season long," Ritt said. Cyganiak is also in contention to be se- lected to compete in the National Individual Championships. Four players are selected from the Midwest region and Cyganiak did nothing last weekend to hurt her chances of being chosen. The Wolverines also haven't shown any decline in the caliber of their play since losing their No. 3 singles player, Angie Popek, three weeks ago to a season-ending knee injury. The new No.3, Sora Moon, won both of her matches in straight sets this weekend. She has won five in a row and has lost only once since moving up to the third spot. Ritt is especially confident in the Wol- verines' trio of doubles teams despite the absence of Popek. In fact, Popek's doubles partner, Liz Cyganiak, has won five straight matches with her new partner, Bojana Jankovic, at No. 3 doubles. This weekend the pair defeated the Illini tandem of Jessica Klapper and Sara Marshack, 6-4, 7-6, and Rachel Fiset and Hally Cohen of Purdue, 6-4, 6-44. "I'm really happy with the way Bojana (Jankovic) and Liz Cyganiak have played the last few weeks," Ritt said. "They have made our doubles team a lot stronger." Simone Lacher, paired with Jaimie Fielding at No. 2 doubles, won in straight sets against Illinois and Purdue last weekend 27~ ~7i~j Sof tb alllookiigfor thrd Sapionsp infour yearsZ 'M' track captures third in Kentucky: By Rebecca Moatz Daily Sports Writer The Wolverines' attempt to take revenge on Indiana at last weekend's men's track and field meet proved to be unsuccessful. Indiana outscored Michigan, 173-154, to claim second. The Wol- verines had to settle for third, while Kentucky placed fitt. The Hoosiers beat Michigan in the rivals' first meeting of the sea- son - and Michigan was hoping to prove that the encounter was simply a fluke. Themeet, held in Lexington, Ky., pitted the Wolverines against the WildcatsIndiana and Southern Illi- nois. Kentucky, the host team, walked away with honors, totaling 175 points. The Salukis followed Michi- gan with 141. Saturday's meet was the Wol- verines' third consecutive on the road this season. The team's fatigue was evident in its performance, with only three Wolverines taking first-place titles. Junior Trinity Townsend won the 400-meter dash (47.30), while two- time 1995 indoor NCAA champion Kevin Sullivan won the 800 rui (1:49.20) and sophomore Neil Gardner won the 400 and 110 hurdles (51.87, 14.33). Senior Tyrone Wheatley, who was preparing for the April 22 Na- tional Football League draft, was missing from the Michigan roster. In his absence, Gardner won the 110 hurdles. This absence, coupled with the pressure of upcoming exams and a tiresome road schedule, led to the team's third-place finish. But the meet was not a complete disappointment for the team. Several non-first-place finishes provided the team with important points. This included second-place fin- ishes by Scott Faculak and Ben Ludka in the javelin and high jump and a third- and fourth-place fin- ishes by Dave Barnett and Don McLaughlin (9:21.73, 9:46.22) in the 3000 steeplechase that provided the team with I1 points. These finishes along with a sev- enth-place showing by Brian Tewaldi in the 400 race (49.29) and a-five-six finish by Alex Langemann and Brian Smith in the long jump (6.18, 6.11). Smith's fourth place in the 40h hurdles (54.50) pushed the Wolver ines into third place. With the completion of examS: before the team's next competition the Wolverines should be able to enter their next meet with clear heads and few distractions. Wheatley should return as well. "Ilk By Doug Stevens Daily Softball Writer This past weekend, the Michi- gan softball team swept a four-game set from Minnesota. The wins ex- tended the No. 9 Wolverines' record to 15-3 in the Big Ten and 33-7 overall. With over half the Big Ten sea- son completed, Michigan is cur- rently atop the conference race. If the Wolverines can hold on for the title, they will grab their third regu- lar season championship in the last four years. However, before it can capture the Big Ten title, Michigan still has to deal with second-place North- western, intra-state rival Michigan State and Ohio State. "Northwestern is the next Big Ten team we play," co-captain Kelly Kovach said. "They are always a good team. Every year they are in the top three or four (in the Big Ten). Michigan State always plays its best against us." A Big Ten Championship would be a sweet way for Wolverine se- niors Lesa Arvia, Michelle Silver and Kovach to wrap up their colle- giate careers. The trio has already won two Big Ten titles and is focus- ing on a third. Winning the regular season pen- nant race would enable the seniors to play their final Big Ten games at home. The winner of the Big Ten regular season championship will host the Big Ten Conference Tour- DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily Michigan blocked out Wisconsin to win the Big Ten Championship. a i crosse ins Bi~g Tens in overtime Northwestern is the next Big Ten team we play. They are always a good team. Every year, they are in the top three or four (in the Big Ten)." - Kelly Kovach Michigan softball player nament May 12-13. In terms of long-range hopes, Michigan is shooting for a win in the conference tournament which would provide it with a good seed in the NCAA Regional Tournament. A win there would grant the Wol- verines their ultimate goal - a first ever appearance at the NCAA World Series in Oklahoma City. "Our goal for every year is to win the Big Ten (regular season title)," Kovach said. "It is hard to think that far down the road to Oklahoma. It would be like a dream. I would say our main goal right now is just to win (the Big Ten)." WE HAVE TO STUDY: The Wol- verines will get their only weekend off from this Saturday and Sunday as they prepare for final exams. Following Michigan's double- header against Central Michigan to- morrow at Alumni Field. The Wol- verines will take a nine-day break from competition. The team will return to action April 29-30 when it hosts North- western in an important four-game series. ON A ROLL AGAIN: After winning 19 consecutive games, the Wolver- ines began to struggle, dropping four of six to Toledo and Iowa from April 6-9. However, Michigan has re- cently found its winning ways. It upended conference opponent Penn State in a doubleheader by scores of 10-2 and 14-0 April 12. With the recent victories over the Golden Gophers, the Wolverines are riding a six-game winning streak heading into its doubleheader with the Chippewas. CHASING THE RECORD BOOK: In her complete game win over Min- nesota last Saturday, Kovach claimed her 66th career victory and pitched her 707th inning. Both achievements broke long- standing school records held by former Wolverine Vicki Morrow. In addition to these two marks, Kovach is also chasing Morrow's career strikeout and shutout records. Silver is quickly approaching Patti Benedict's career record for hits .(224) and Kari Kunnen's career mark for runs scored (121). By Chris Carr Daily Sports Writer Can you say "six-peat?" The Michigan men's lacrosse team can. This weekend, the Wolverines continued their dominance of the Big Ten by capturing a sixth-con- secutive conference title in Champaign. But the road to glory was rough as Michigan came very close to being dethroned. With 27 seconds left in the final against Wisconsin Sunday, the Wol- verines trailed by a goal and the Big Ten was less than half a minute away from seeing a new champion. This was the most difficult time we've ever had ' winning the championship, but it was also the best. It took real champions to win this game" - Bob DiGiovanni Michigan lacrosse coach As the Badgers were celebrating on their sideline, Michigan midfielder Lyle Shirley caught a pass from my senior year by losing Big Tens." The Wolverines didn't waste any time at the start of the sudden-death overtime. Michigan won the faceoff and Tauber brought the ball from be- hind the cage and took a shot while being hit by several Wisconsin de- fenders. Attackman Doug Henke scooped up the rebound and netted the game-winner to finish off the Bad- gers. "This was the most difficult time we've ever had winning the champi- onship, but it was also the best," Michi- gan coach Bob DiGiovanni said. "It took real champions to win this game." Part of the reason why Wisconsin gave the Wolverines so much trouble was because the championship game took place shortly after Michigan squeaked by Illinois, 12-10, in the semifinals. "Wisconsin had an advantage be- cause they unfairly played their semi- final game Saturday," Kolakowski said. "The score was so close in the finals because we came out flat due to fatigue." After manhandling Western Illi- nois, 23-0, Saturday, the Wolverines overcame a three-goal deficit in the final quarter to beat the Illini Sunday. "I'd have to say that this was one of the best comebacks in the history of Michigan lacrosse," DiGiovanni said. The Wolverines ended the season with an 6-0 record in Big Ten play and a 12-5 mark overall. "It was a great season," DiGiovanni said. "We lost three one- SOFTBALL Continued from page 21 in the bottom of the seventh which scored the game-tying RBI. Arvia has been able to lend a hand to her teammates from the bench. "It was her attitude that was going to decide how we were going to react to it," Kovach said of her co-captain. "Her positive attitude has really helped us deal with it and we really appreci- ate that." "She leads by example," thirdbaseman Tracy Carr said. "We're recovering pretty good and we're all sticking together." ............. i pmmmmmmimm.m I NOW THAT 5C BE OUR C e SUNI ALTERNATIVE & T e TUES S"HOMESICK NIGHTW T"HE I P.J. TOM SPINS ALL * POST PUNK & NEW ® 9 P.M. 18+ $1.3 w