6B - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - September 15, 1997
Michigan volleyball snags second at Tiger
By Tracy Sandler
Daily Sports Writer
First is the worst. Second is the best.
Okay, first is the best, but second is nothing to scoff at.
Just ask the Michigan volleyball team. It has been the
runner-up in its last three tournaments.
The Wolverines' latest second-place finish came this
weekend in Baton Rouge, La., at the LSU Tiger
Invitational, where they beat Connecticut and Louisiana
State in their final two matches to improve their season
record to 5-4.
"The main thing is that with each weekend, we're get-
ting better," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "This
weekend we played without (junior outside hitter) Karen
Chase. There is a level of satisfaction, especially in the
last two tournaments, where we've lost Friday and won
Saturday."
Even before the tournament began, Michigan's trip to
Louisiana got off to a dubious start. Chase was unable to
make the trip due to a possible bulging disc in her back.
Chase is set to have a bone scan tomorrow.
In their first match, the Wolverines lost to Central
Florida, 15-8, 16-14, 13-15 and 15-8. Despite 66 kills,
when push came to shove, the Wolverines just couldn't
pull out the win.
Behind, 12-4, in the match's second game, the
Wolverines rebounded to tie the game at 12. The effort
was in vain, because the Wolverines ended up losing the
game to the Golden Knights, 16-14.
Even with the loss, the Wolverines had a star in middle
blocker Linsey Ebert. The junior accumulated 13 kills,
eight blocks and 11 digs on her way to all-tournament
honors, which she had along with setter Linnea
Mendoza.
"They were both dominating," Giovanazzi said.
"Linsey, I would say, was the premier blocker in the tour-
nament. She was a force at the net. She hit and blocked
really well. Linnea was great, because she spread it out
so well."
Invitational m
Although she was able to distribute the ball e1iinly,
Mendoza credits the talent of her teammates in hi ing
cover for Chase's absence.
"We have a deep lineup," Mendoza said. "Without
Karen Chase, we were able to adjust. It was definitely a
loss, but we were able to fill the hole. It gave some
opportunity to people who maybe wouldn't have had the
opportunity."
Frustrating as Friday night's match was, Michig
rebounded to beat Connecticut on Saturday.K 1
Wolverines dominated the match, winning, 15-10-,:1.5-1
and 15-12.
Later that night, the Wolverines overtook Lousiana
State in three games to earn second place. It was_& to-
ductive match for the Wolverines, as they had 54 kidjs
and hit .345.
Everyone contributed to the victory, Giovanazz'sai4,
including outside hitter Jeanine Szczesniak, who tadylt.
kills, along with outside hitter Jane Stevens and miidle
blocker Darlene Recker, who each had 10 :kjl
Freshman outside hitter Sarah Behnke led the teatis-w
15 digs against the Tigers.
"Both LSU and Connecticut have really nice .pro-.
grams," Giovanazzi said. "We hit over .300 it both'
matches, and we had a number of people contribute
offensively. We were very balanced Saturday."
A surprise for the Wolverines was the play of Behke,
who was filling in for the injured Chase.
"Sarah did a great job," Mendoza said. "She's powerful,
and quick. She's filled the outsider's spot nicely."
Still of concern to the Wolverines is the ability towin,
close matches.
"There are some confidence issues," Giovanazzi said.
"In our matches against Washington, Florida State ;ard
Central Florida, there's a game in each we have to wyin. It
would either put us in five or give us a win ... It's still '
50-50 thing.
"Until we win more of them, we're going to continue
to have confidence issues."
FILE PHOTO
Setter Unnea Mendoza and her Michigan teammates placed second at this weekend's LSU Tiger invitational. Playing without
outside hitter Karen Chase, the Wolverines lost to Central Florida before beating Connecticut and Louisiana State.
SOCCER
Continued from Page:lB
Bilvous shot a 30-foot rocket over
the head of Michigan goalie Jessica
Jones to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Bilvous's goal was only a tempo-
rary reprieve for the Eagles, however,
as Michigan added a goal five min-
,utes later. Limauro scored her third
goal of the year after receiving a pass
from Berendowsky, who broke down
the right side of the field.
"Berendowsky dribbled the ball
down the field, I was sprinting along
the side." Limauro said. "She passed
me the ball, and I scored."
The Wolverines added their final
goal with about three minutes left
when senior forward Ruth Poulin
received a pass from sophomore for-
ward Jen Stahl and one-timed it into
the goal to conclude the scoring.
Michigan was led by the combina-
tion of Beitel and Berendowsky, who
each had a goal and an assist.
Berendowsky, who set the team
record with 19 points last year, has 15
in her first six games.
The win over the Eagles made for a
perfect weekend for Michigan, as the
Wolverines beat Butler in overtime,
2-1, Friday.
Stahl ended the game six minutes
into the extra session with her first
goal of the season.
t TIN41 1 4/ a 1
No holds barred in physical soccer game
Wolverines, Eagles resort to unconventional tactics in crosstown slugfest
If you think you're pregnant...
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By Andy Latack
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan soccer team had
yesterday's matchup with Eastern
Michigan marked on its calendar for
a long time.
Since many players on both teams
played club soccer together, the
game served as an opportunity to
catch up on old times.
There were smiles and laughter,
and the players took special care not
to play very hard so nobody would
get hurt in the contest.
Right. And then they all sat down
for milk and cookies afterward.
In a game characteristic of past
meetings between the Wolverines
and the Eagles, both teams came out
as if their respective mothers had
been insulted.
"They're our cross-town rival, so
they're always out to get us,"
Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said.
"They're usually a very physical
team, and they play hard."
In Michigan's 5-1 victory, the lop-
sided score did not curtail the inten-
sity on the field.
In a game that featured grabbing,
pushing and tripping as much as
passing, shooting and scoring, both
teams emerged battered and bruised.
Eastern Michigan star B.J. Jones
went down at the end of the first half
after knocking heads with Michigan
defender Erin Gilhart on a header
attempt.
Jones, one of Eastern Michigan's
leading scorers, would not return to
the game.
"Once B.J. went down, we were in
trouble," Eastern Michigan coach
Paul Scicluna said. "She's one of our
best offensive weapons."
Injuries like that are becoming the
norm in the hard-fought meetings
between Michigan and Eastern
{, ::;mem
Michigan.
In the Wolverines' 7-1 victory last
year in Ypsilanti, Michigan forward
Jessica Limauro suffered a broken
nose, while defender Vanessa Lewis
fractured a cheekbone.
The Wolverines knew to expect
their share of bruises when the
Eagles came calling.
"We know that when we play them,
it's going to be physical," freshman
Kacy Bietel said. "There were a lot
of bumps going on today."
Some of the Wolverines took
exception to Eastern Michigan's
physical play.
"They were pulling shirts and
kicking us from behind, even when
we didn't have the ball," sophomore
Amber Berendowsky said. "They're
known to be hackers, anyway."
Why the dislike for each other?
Since they were teammates earlier in
their careers, shouldn't the players
------.--L -
take it easy on each other?
According to Belkin, it's nothing
that serious.
"We play every game equaly,"
Belkin said. "We don't play any
more physically from one game- to
the next."
Scicluna agreed, contending th
none of the actions in Sunday'sgame
were the result of malevolence.-
"I would describe the game, as
aggressive, rather than physical','
Scicluna said. "There was noting
that went on today that wasn't done
in an attempt to win the game."
Judging by the scoreboard,-the
unranked Eagles did not appear to
pose any threat to the I6th-faiked
Wolverines. i.
But with Michigan poised to 6start
the Big Ten season next week, the
slugfest with Eastern Michigan
could be just the thing they need to
prepare.
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If you want it in your
HEAD you need it in your
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JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Freshman Kjersten Kuhlman and her teammates instilled fear into Eastern
Michigan this weekend, defeating the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, 5.
The External Relations Officer of the LSA student government will be selecting ten LSA
students with experience in publicity and public relations to serve as associate members of
the LSA student government for the 97-98 school year.
If interested, email Gregg Lanier at gmlanier@umich.edu by 9/25.
Get involved in deciding academic issues. Apply to be on the Joint Student/Faculty
Committee. Meetings are every Tuesday at 9:00 am. Deadline for applications is Friday
9/19. Positions are also available on the Student Advisory Panel to Academic Advising.
Deadline for applications is 10/1. Both applications are available at the
LSA student government office, 4152 Michigan Union.
IlSA
STUDWT GOYVII NT
-.4-
Early birds can get something
a whole lot better than worms.
i
Enroll in any of our Fall '97 graduate courses
:r x
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