88 - The Michigan Daily -- SPORTSMonday - September 29, 1997 0 Spikers claim Iowa, Minnesota as first weekend victims So far, so good for men's golf team By T.JBerka Daily Sports Writer It is often said that the ultimate judge of a task is not how it is started, but how it is finished. While things are almost always judged on the basis of the final product, the Michigan women's volleyball team could argue that a good start makes everything after that a lot easier. The Wolverines (2-0 Big Ten, 9-4 overall) started their Big Ten season this weekend by going on the road and sweeping Minnesota and Iowa. The Wolverines got their fourth-ever conference opening victory against the Gophers (0-1, 10-2) on Friday, winning a hard-fought five-game match, 6-15, 15-11, 16-18, 15-11, 15-12. Michigan also toughed out a five-game victory over the Hawkeyes (0-2, 7-6) Saturday, prevailing, 15-6, 15-9, 14-16, 8-15, 15- 10. The 2-0 record is the best start under coach Greg Giovanazzi and offers a change of pace from past beginnings, as ,Michigan owned a 3-12 record in con- ference openers before this weekend. "We are feeling pretty good about ourselves" Giovanazzi said. "We are a veteran team who has really come 'together the past couple of weeks.' Michigan can attribute much of its success this weekend to the play of junior outside hitter Jane Stevens. -Stevens led the way against Iowa with a match-high 23 kills and a .296 hitting percentage. She also added a then- career high 15 kills against Minnesota, second on the team behind freshman Sarah Behnke's 16. "Jane has done a really good job at all aspect of the game this season except for attacking, until the matches this weekend," Giovanazzi said. Behnke and Stevens weren't the only Wolverines who excelled against the Gophers, as two other Wolverines recorded double-digit kills. Senior mid- dle blocker Sarah Jackson and sopho- more outside hitter Anna Poglits record- ed 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Poglits "was on fire for us and in her limited court time she hit .390 with 11 kills." Giovanazzi said. "She took advantage of the Minnesota defense camping on our middle blockers." Jackson, a native of Alexandria, Minn., had a successful homecoming, adding eight block assists and nine blocks to go with her kills. The Minnesota match also saw senior setter Linnea Mendoza become the first Wolverine to surpass 4,000 assists. Michigan needed every one of those assists Friday, as the Gophers came out of the gates swinging, blitzing the Wolverines, 15-6. Sonja Posthume paced Minnesota, leading all players with 26 kills on the evening. "We made a couple of strategic changes after the first game," By Kevin Rosenfield For the Daily In a solid effort that appeared to answer many of the questions facing the inexperienced Wolverines, the Michigan men's golf team finished sixth overall this weekend at the 18- team Northern Intercollegiate in East Lansing. Led by top finishers Kevin Vernick (72-72-73) and Mike Harris (73-71-74), Michigan placed second behind Minnesota among the nine Big Ten finishers and 20 strokes behind the tournament champion, Kent State. Michigan coach Jim Carras was pleas- antly surprised with his team's perfor- mance.. "I'm delighted that we're among the top teams in the Big Ten," Carras said. "I really didn't know what to expect, but this puts us in good position (in dis- trict play). We've got a few uncertain- ties in our lineup and significant room for improvement, but we're headed in the right direction." Vernick continued his solid play, fol- lowing up his 15th-place performance of two weeks ago in the competitive ReliaStar Collegiate Invitational with a seventh-place finish in East Lansing (72-72-73). Harris finished tied for I l th place at 220 (75-71-74) while Keith Hinton tied for 15th in the 54- hole tournament at 221 (72-73-76). "I thought I played three solid and consistent rounds of golf," said Vernick, who made nine straight pars to open Sunday's front nine. "My putter was working for me and I really kept myself within my game (by not going fore much)." "I couldn't be more pleased with him," Carras said of Vernick. "He's worked so hard and come along so much as a first-year player." Despite the team's high finish, Carras indicated the five-member squad is still not settled. While Vernick, Harris and Hinton are locks, the remaining two spots are still up for grabs. Scott Hayes, Kevin Hinton, a Kevin Harris have all played in the t positions this season. Hayes posted a 235 (75-80-80) this weekend, while Hinton finished at 236 (78-81-77). "The fourth and fifth men haven't been getting it done," Carras said. "It's hopefully due to a lack of experience, but I may make a few changes. I hope to have my lineup settled by Tuesday." The Wolverines continue their fall season on October 13-14 in Mempl* Tenn., amid newfound optimism. "We're still trying to figure out what we can do," Vernick said. "But we showed some good things this weekend and proved that we can play with. any- one." fuses---"-'--------- FLE PHOTO Sara Jackson and Jeanine Sczcesniak led the Wolverines to wins in each of their first two Big Ten matches this weekend. Giovanazzi said. "We switched Jane (Stevens) and Sarah (Behnke), putting Jane closer to the center because she was hitting better this weekend." The Wolverines regained their com- posure, taking the next set. After losing a hard-fought third game, Michigan pulled out the match with victories in the final two games. Michigan took a different approach in the Iowa match, bolting out to a two- game lead. The Hawkeyes, paced by Julie Williams' 21 kills and Jennifer Bell's 17 kills, outfought the Wolverines in the third game and smacked Michigan in the fourth game to knot the match. Michigan had five players record double-digit kills against Iowa. After Stevens, Behnke recorded 15 kills. Jackson also compiled 14 kills and juniors Linsey Ebert and Jeanine Szczesniak helped out the Michigan cause with 13 and 10 kills, respectively. The Wolverines, in a welcome change from previous years, start their home Big Ten schedule in first place. Northwestern, who also beat the Hawkeyes this weekend, comes calling on Wednesday. Vitale stops at Union I Congregation Seed of Abraham Zera Avraham _____- Mesa eshCaa, I "Belleving that Yeshua (Jesus) is The Promised Messiah" Services Sabbath - Saturdays at 10 am Rosh Hashama-Wed.10/1,7:30pm Thurs.10/2, 10am Yom Kippur- Fri. 10/10,7:30 pm Sat.10/1 1,10 am Meeting at University Reformed Church 1001 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor Dr. Mark Kinzer, Congregational Leader For more information contact: Congregation Zera Avraham PO Box 2025, Ann Arbor, M1 48106 313-663-3573 A By Chris Duprey For the Daily Dick Vitale, one of college basket-+ ball's most recognizable voices, made a guest appearance at the Michigan Union on Friday afternoon to sign auto- graphs and talk basketball with all com- ers. Vitale has earned a solid reputation for his enthusiastic broadcasts of col- lege games on both ESPN and ABC. He stopped for an hour to promote excitement for the upcoming basketball season as well as to sign copies of his most recent book, "Holding Court: Reflections on the Game I Love?' The book was published in 1995, co- authored by Vitale and Dick Weiss. Vitale and Weiss also teamed up in 1991 to write "Time Out, Baby!" "Ann Arbor's a great town. I'm glad I was able to stop by today to answer some questions and sign some auto- graphs," Vitale said. "It was a thrill." "Holding Court" takes college bas- ketball issue by issue, with Vitale's enthusiastic tint narrating each one. Thd well-known commentator gives his opinion on players leaving school early for the NBA and the agents and busi- ness aspects of college basketball, among other topics. Vitale eagerly gave his thoughts on the investigation-plagued Wolverine, men's basketball squad. "It's so sad to see such a great school damaged by something that is out of their control,"Vitale said. "Steve Fisher is a man of integrity, and I know he would never intentionally cheat." Vitale also said that, despite a lack of depth, the Wolverines will enjoy greater success in '97-'98. "Robbie Reid is a great competitor. He's a winner who can play, a great team player also," Vitale said. "He'll real well in replacing (departed guard Brandun) Hughes:' Salomon Brothers 4 cordially invites University of Michigan Seniors to discuss 4 W CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN INVESTMENT BANKING Tuesday, September 30th, 1997 4:30 P.M. Business School Paton Accounting Center, Room 1018 I H ofI I ii