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... calt u$-we listen, we care. PROBLEM PREGNANCY H ELP' 975-4357 Any time, any day, 24 hours. Fu11y coufidenaL. Servhng $t.4dents sInce 1970 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. o- A~~ I If you want it in your HEAD you need it in your i Y t, q4 roc! rii. 00 J,- t 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 I 9