SPORTS CALENDAR The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, March 18, 1996 -- 2B COMMLNTY SERVICE ST'uDM-ATLETEOFTHEWEFK Who: Tina Miranda Sport: Women's gymnastics Eligibility: Senior Year: Senior Hometown: Apopka, Fla. High School: Lake Brantley Why: This week, Miranda joined Michigan teammates at Haisley School to read in the SHARE program. She also volunteered with student-athletes Gia Biagi and Rick Turner in a blood pressure monitoring drive, sponsored by two Detroit churches. Background: National Gymnastics Coaches Association All- American in 1995 ... scored season best 9.775 at "Super Six" to Mirandahelp team to best-ever second place national finish ... scored a Miranda 9.775 on the uneven bars at the NCAA championsips ... Enrolled in College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in biology --- born March 25, 1974 THLe £Fdfia TE 11 ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Who: John Madden Eligibility: Junior Hometown: Barrie, Ontario Sport: Ice hockey Year: Junior Last team: Barrie Colts Why: The junior left wing scored three goals, and assisted on another, over the weekend leading Michigan to its second CCHA championship in three years. Madden netted his nation-leading 10th short-handed goal of the season, and he added an assist in the Wolverines' 4-3 victory over Lake Superior Saturday. Friday night, he tallied two goals, including one short-handed. Background: Madden is All-CCHA Honorable Mention ... second on the Wolverines with 27 goals ... third in team scoring with 56 points ... netted a hat-trick against Notre Dame Jan. 21, 1995 ... scored 163 points in 62 games to lead the Junior A Central Ontario Hockey League ... Enrolled in school of Kinesiology ... born May 4, 1973. :.:.r 4AAf Madden CHAMPIONSHIP Cincinnati Lack of focus plagues 'M' in loss to Spartans JOSH WHITE/aiy By Mark Snyder Daily Sports Writer How do you spell victory in volley- ball? F-o-c-u-s. -Why didn't the Michigan men's vol- leyball team win Friday night? Because of a lack of focus. Once again, Michigan faced a road- block, and once again it impeded the Wolverines' progress. Michigan State stopped the Wolverines cold Friday ,night in three sets, 15-5, 15-12, 15-12, in East Lansing Michigan has dropped two regular season matches to the Spartans this sea- son. To setter Justin Biebel, the result ,Friday night was reflective of the effort. "(The Spartans) were ready to play and we weren't," he said. Although it may not be that clear-cut, Michigan has struggled against the Spar- tans in the past. The Wolverines have yet to beat the squad from East Lansing this season and psychological factors may be creeping into play. The questions of"can we beat them?" and "do they have our number?" are the thoughts that come into play after such a long victory drought against one squad. While the fear factor may create a sense ofuncertainty on anotherteam,the Wol- verines are more concerned with beat- ing the Spartans and breaking the streak of 'Ls.' "It's not that we're intimidated, but there is a lot of importance put on the match because we haven't beaten them in a while," Biebel said. The encouraging aspect of the match against Michigan State was the improve- ment the team showed with each game. What began as an old-fashioned runaway became a closer contest once the Wolver- ines tightened up their mistakes and stood up to the Spartans. "Things improved as everyone loos- ened up andjust started playing the game," Biebel said. The third game saw Michigan peak when it held an 11-5 lead on the Spartans. But after that, the team fell apart. The Wolverines stumbled their way to a 15- 12 defeat in the deciding game, allowing Michigan State every opportunity to get back into the game - by not maintaining focus. "When we get a decent lead like that, we have a hard time maintaining the intensity to finish out the game," Biebel said. The Wolverines have talented players who have grown together as a team, but have yet to reach their full potential. The reasons for their struggles are vague. "A lot of (the problem) has to do with keeping mental focus," Biebel said. "The change (in improvement) has to do with everyone taking care of what's wrong in their own game." By starting with the individual effort, the team's fortunes should improve, and getting offto a fast start would contribute to that. Against Michigan State, the night started with no Wolverine taking care of their own game or anyone else's. The first set was characterized by all- around poor passing and setting. These simple mistakes in the basic components of the game just made it more difficult for Michigan to record the necessary kills. Kills or not, Michigan was at a loss before the match even began. The distinct advantage that Michigan State enjoys is its depth. The volleyball program is far more developed on the Spartan campus than the one that exists at Michigan. Michigan State fields four volleyball teams at varying levels of skill, with three of them competing as full squads. This gives the Spartans a great deal more talent to choose from when selecting its "A" squad. The Wolverines, on the other hand, have only two teams that are in competi- tion. And Friday, that lack of depth, as well as their lack of focus, doomed the Wol- verines. 3 f. ~1 4.' 4, PERSONAL VALUES: In or Out of the Classroom A dialogue on the place of personal values in the academic community PANEL Prof. Frederick Neidhardt, Medical School Prof. Larue Hosmer, School of Bus Ad Prof. Gabriele Boccaccini, LS&A Lisa De Boer, grad student William Plevnn seninr. LS&A The Michigan men's volleyball team dropped a three game set to Michigan State Friday, 15-5, 15-12, 15-12. The Wolverines have not faired well against the Spartans this season. Michigan State has won both regular season matchups between the two schools. I 0 COLLEGE Xwrnw , AF.U L .a JA a1w I