The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 20, 1997 - 1A
Women netters off to fast start in Big Ten,
look to extend undefeated mark in league
By Alan Gomez
For the Daily
' With the added pressure of their
0ders looming over them during
'Parent's Weekend and two Big Ten
tems in town, the Michigan women's
tennis team must be hoping that they
continue their series of streaks.
The Wolverines will have two Big
'Tefi dual matches this weekend against
Michigan State and Purdue. These
eiratohes will be at the brand new
Varsity Tennis Center, where they have
a 2-0 record.
"We're anxious to play and stay
Tome in our new facility," Michigan
coach Bitsy Ritt said.
Even though Michigan has dropped
three of its past five matches, it has got-
ten down to business when it's needed
to. The Wolverines have won all their
Big Ten matches and sport a 3-0 confer-
ence record entering the weekend.
These streaks, as impressive as they
may seem, don't compare to the suc-
*ss they've had against this week-
end's opponents in the past. Michigan
has beaten the Spartans and the
Boilermakers every time they've faced
them this decade.
With winning streaks of seven and
nine matches, over the Boilermakers
and Spartans, the Wolverines should
feel pretty comfortable preparing for
these teams.
And comfort is something that is
setting in on the team. After a strong
start to the season, winning their first
four matches, the Wolverines slipped a
little over spring break.
A strong 6-1 victory over No. 50
Illinois, however, showed that the team
wouldn't let their break last any longer
than a week.
"We're playing well," Ritt said.
"Coming off a win against Illinois,
we're playing with confidence."
The comfort level starts with the
veterans on the team. Senior Sarah
Cyganiak is 7-2 in dual matches, unde-
feated in her three Big Ten matches
and two shy of her 90th career victory
at Michigan. Also, her 17 doubles vic-
tories on the season have gotten her
within two of her 50th career win.
Teaming with Cyganiak in doubles
this season and also doing some dam-
age is junior Sora Moon. After starting
the season 3-0, Moon had some trou-
ble picking up the fourth victory she
needed to reach 50 in her career.
She lost her next three matches
before finally picking up the big win
against Notre Dame.
Sophomore Tumeka Harris has got-
ten off to a rough start on the season,
losing 12 of her 21 matches.
But continuing with the trend set by
the team, she has risen to the occasion
when needed, amassing a 2-1 record in
the Big Ten.
Surprisingly, this is the end of the
list of experienced players for the
Wolverines. Most teams point to their
senior leadership or their experienced
players as key factors in their success.
The Wolverines might want to try
pointing at the five freshmen who
round out the rest of the team.
"The freshmen have made a huge
contribution to our program," Ritt said.
"They've strengthened our lineup,
they've won a lot of matches for us, and
I'm pleased with their performance."
Brooke Hart is leading with a 7-2
record in dual matches and is tied for
the team lead with Cyganiak with a 3-
0 record in conference play.
Danielle Lund and Eryn
Weggenman each sport a 6-3 record in
dual matches and a 2-1 conference
mark. Lund has also teamed up with
Hart for a 2-1 doubles record in the
Big Ten.
Redshirt freshman Jen Boylan,
whose 6-4 record last year was
stopped short. She has teamed up with
Weggenman for a 6-3 overall doubles
mark and a 2-1 conference record.
Tenley Hardin has seen limited play,
but has teamed up with Hart and Harris
to win both her doubles matches.
The Wolverines have had an up and
down season so far, but success
against the Spartans and the
Boilermakers along with their brand
new home should give them plenty to
smile about this weekend.
w iii in i s
NCAAS
Continued from Page 13A
As important as it is to be mental-
ly prepared for nationals, there are
still physical aspects that need atten-
tion. The coaches have been working
with each participant individually.
"The coaching staff had some sug-
gestions," Lacure said. "We worked
on small techniques. I have a tenden-
cy to shoot to one side more than the
other, so they had me focus on my
other side. I also worked on getting
my setups for takedowns more
defined and crisp."
Catrabone's main concern was
controlling his positioning, as well
as his setups in shots and takedowns.
Richardson has concentrated on
escaping from the down position.
"A common thread in my history
is not following through,"
Richardson said. "Everyone gets
nervous, but the person who is more
aggressive in his attack is usually the
winner.
"I have to have confidence in my
ability and let it all hang out."
Constant motivation is the season-
long preparation that has taken place
to get to this point.
"I just keep reminding myself that
it's been a long season, and we've
been working our butts off," Lacure
said. "This is what it's all about. It's
ironic, because we've been working
hard to achieve in the national tour-
nament.
"If we don't do well, even though it
hasn't been, it feels like it was all for
nothing. I don't want to worry about
the pressure. I'm just going to go out
and have a good time."
Lecture notes sold at Grade A Notes, second floor of
Ulrich's Bookstore and also at Michigan Book & Supply.
Call 741.9669 for more information.
JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily
is one of four Wolverines with a chance to grab a national title.
Open 7pm - 2am 7 days 0 19 & up except Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 21 & up
Roundtree Plaza next to Wal-Mart - 1-94 to Exit 181 " 434-0800
;:p~ic), 6-foot-10 sophomore center Phil
4Aekey, who is averaging more than
nine points over his last three games,
d 6-foot-8 freshman forward David
alazarian.
Meanwhile, Michigan's vaunted trio
of big men - sophomore center Robert
'-Jraylor and junior forwards Maurice
yIbr and Maceo Baston -- may well
b 4reduced to a duo for tonight's contest.
Baston sat out the entire second half
of Tuesday's game after injuring his right
big toe while diving after a loose ball.
The toe was so swollen at halftime,
aston had problems even putting his
oc back on, and his status is currently
uncertain.
Fisher said Michigan trainer Steve
Stricker compared Baston's ailment to
turf toe, an injury common to football
players playing on artificial turf.
"The toe injury has us concerned,"
Fisher said yesterday. "We'll have to
wait and see.'
In any case, Fisher said he likes the
Wolverines' attitude heading into South
end, and their chances of snapping the
luck of the Irish.
"Our kids said they wanted to be (in
the NIT), and they proved they did,"
Fisher said.