The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, 6ctober 28, 1997 -11 Muckalt draws attention from opponents while Herr is sidelined By Fred Unk Daily Sports Writer It wasn't supposed to be this way. As the Wolverines' captain and their leading returning goal scorer, Matt Herr should be on the ice leading the team. Instead, Herr has had to watch from the stands as the Wolverines lost two home games for the first time since his freshman year. Just two periods into the season-opening vic- tory over Minnesota, Herr tried to accelerate when he heard his groin pop above the crowd noise. Herr suffered a serious groin injury, and has been unable to skate since. In their two losses, the Wolverines have had difficulty scoring, losing 2-1 to Colgate two weeks ago and 4-2 to Michigan State on Saturday. In Saturday's loss, Michigan State shadowed Bill Muckalt, Michigan's only other proven scorer, hoping to limit his scoring chances. "Going to the port-a-potty, they sent some- one to escort me," Muckalt joked. "Even on the power play they had someone follow me around." With Herr in the lineup, teams would not be able to concentrate so much on stopping Muckalt. "It's a big loss," Muckalt said of Herr's absence. "With Matt (in the lineup) they have to concentrate on another guy. Matt's a proven scorer. He's a guy that if the other team doesn't pay attention to him he's going to put the puck in the net in a hurry." Despite the frustration that comes with not being able to play, Herr has kept a positive atti- tude about his time in the stands. "It's definitely frustrating to see (the losses)," Herr said. "But on a positive note, you get a good perspective on what kind of team we have ocei this year. I think I'll be a smarter, better player and captain when I get back because I'll have a different view after watching from the press box." Although his return is at least two weeks away, Herr has begun the first stage of his recovery. Last Friday, Herr skated for the first time since the injury. "It's coming along," Herr said. "I'm definite- ly at a frustrating stage right now but I'm feel- ing better. I've gone from limping to now I can skate. It's just something that's going to take time." MOTOWN CONNECTION: Against Michigan State, the line of Bill Trainor, Bobby Hayes and Dale Rominski was one of Michigan's best lines, accounting for both of Michigan's goals. "I liked Bobby Hayes' line the other night," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "I thought they had a real good game. It's the first time they've played together with Trainor on their left side." For Rominski and Hayes, playing together isn't a new experience. Before coming to Michigan, Rominski and Hayes played together on the Compuware team in the North American Hockey League. "I've played with Bobby in juniors," Rominski said. "Bobby and I know each other real well, and Billy Trainor is doing an excellent job. We're all from Detroit, so I guess it's the Metro line." SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: Losing games at home isn't something the Wolverines are used to. After practice yesterday, the players huddled on the ice in a players-only meeting to talk about what they needed to do to get back on track. "It was just getting team morale up," Muckalt said. "It's just one game - it doesn't make a season. As long as we learn from our mistakes we'll be fine. We just wanted to emphasize that and make sure everyone is or the right track." NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Originally, Michigan was scheduled to play Alaska-Fairbanks in Ann Arbor, but the schedule was changed over the summer to accommodate the Nanooks. Although the change was needed to accom- modate the Nanooks, it means that the Wolverines will have fewer home games than road games against conference foes. "We agreed to the Alaska change to satisfy their needs and to let the league off the hook with their scheduling problems," Berenson said. "But in the meantime we're facing a diffi- cult schedule, playing 14 home games and 16 on the road. We're the only team in the league with an unbalanced schedule." WARREN ZINN/Daily With center Matt Herr sidelined with a mysterious groin injury, opponents have been keying in on Michigan right wing Bill Muckalt. Herr won't be going to Alaska this weekend. 'M'soccei By Andy Latack Daily Sports Writer For the Michigan soccer team, Sunday's win over Michigan State was more than just a victory over their arch rivals. The game was special for other -reasons - it was the last home game 0or Michigan's senior class. Seniors Debbie Flaherty, Ashley -Marks, Ruth Poulin, Karen ,Montgomery and Alana Peters, who }were recognized in a pre-game cere- 4mony, make up the first-ever graduat- ming class from the fourth-year soccer program. 'They have seen the team grow 6om a shaky first-year program to a conference powerhouse in this time. Wjii Wolverines' 15 victories this yar, compared with 18 combined w-ffs in the first two years, is evi- Buckeyes i ft TJ. Berka Daily Sports Writer The Michigan women's volleyball team has impressed many teams with their resurgent play this season. Ohio State is not one of them. For. the 20th consecutive time, the Buckeyes (6-4 Big Ten, 15-7 overall) defeated the Wolverines, 15-7, 15-13, 13- 15, 159, Sunday night. The game, which was televised by Sportschannel/Fox Chicago, saw the Buckeyes beat Michigan (7-3, 14-7) for he 7th straight time in Columbus. The olverines have never won at St. John Arena. "Our passing broke down and our out- side hitters were flat,'junior outside hit- ter Jane Stevens said. "We weren't very excited or aggressive." The Buckeyes, led by Vanessa Wouters' game-high 24 kills, broke out of the gates quickly, blitzing the Wolverines in the first game. Michigan ought back with a vengeance in the sec- ond game, forcing a tie at 13. Ohio State finished the Wolverines off with a couple of kills. Michigan built on their near-miss in the, second game to capture the third. After falling behind,13-11, junior Linsey Ebert answered with a couple of kills to* tie the game at 13. After trading sideouts, Ebert, who ledl the Wolverines with 18 kills and a blis-I tering .517 hitting percentage, served up an acee to put Michigan ahead. Senior Sarah Jackson ended the game with one1 of her game-high seven blocks. She also I added 14 kills in the match.1 The Buckeyes regained control in the i finalgame, breaking out to a 13-6 lead.l r graduates dence of the team's progress. soph The seniors had plenty to say about when how the program has advanced since plish they first arrived. work "I probably couldn't even put it com into words," Poulin said. "On the first M day, everyone was a little scared and was nervous. Both the players and the coac coaches didn't know what to expect." then With lopsided victories over first- Pouli year programs Illinois and Iowa this the o year, Flaherty is reminded of the -- ai growing pains needed to become a "T contender in the Big Ten. ers ec Even more so, the senior from no tr Sutton, Mass., recognizes the diffi- They culty of the second and third years of were a newly inducted program. N( "It's really hard to come in as a care first-year program, because the con- of th ference is so competitive," Flaherty That said. "I think the hardest time was my the s first 4-year omore and junior year, though, Wolverines n we were expected to accom- "When y things. Then, when it doesn't players, it's out, that's when the tough times everyone," e. " you grow as ichigan coach Debbie Belkin freshmen to a rookie herself when she began ed." hing the new team in 1994. Since Poulin at she has seen the program grow. first and in, Flaherty and Montgomery - Michigan's only seniors to play all four years have obvio ded that growth tremendously. scoring to hey were forced to become lead- team. ary on," Belkin said. "There was Sophomo radition for them to come into. and freshm established the tradition, and rently secor the pioneers of the team." list - certa ow, as their college soccer records in tl ers draw to a close, the founders "It just e program look to pass the torch. going to he task shouldn't be too tough with next few ye killed crop of young players the ed in the rig class currently boast. you have talented young an easier transition for Flaherty said. "The more a team, the easier it is for come in and feel accept- nd Flaherty are currently third, respectively, on career points list. They usly given their knack for the youngsters on the re Amber Berendowsky an Kacy Beitel are cur- nd and fourth on the same in to surpass their elders' he future. shows that Michigan is ave great success for the ars, and that we are head- ght direction." Poulin said. maintain stranglehold on spikers Michigan got to within four points at 13- 9, but the Buckeyes finished the deal with two consecutive kills. "I think the long weekend had a lot to do with our performance," junior defen- sive specialist Chereena Tennis said. "With (the match) being on Sunday, it really stretched out the weekend." The Wolverines did have some success this weekend, sweeping Purdue, 15-8, 15-7, 15-3, Friday night in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers (0-9, 7-13) were powerless against the Michigan attack and remained winless in the con- ference. The Boilermakers were flustered all night by the Wolverines, scoring only 18 points in the entire match. Purdue's leader in kills during the match, Katie Gibbons, registered only nine. Overall, the Boilermakers hit a paltry .150. "We were pretty dominating all over the court,' Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "Linsey Ebert, Karen Chase, and Sarah Behnke each had great hitting nights and Sarah Jackson's serv- ing kept Purdue out of its offense." In contrast to the Boilermakers, the Wolverines had their second-best match of the year percentage-wise, hitting .352. Chase led the Michigan attack, register- ing 14 kills and hitting .478. Ebert and Behnke also compiled double-figure kills with 10 each. Ebert also led the way in the block category with five. This weekend's action marked the end of the first half of the season, which saw the Wolverines get off to their best con- ference start ever at 7-3. Michigan starts the second half of the conference sched- ule tomorrow night in Evanston against Northwestern. JOHNKHAT/Daily Ruth Poulin and four other Michigan seniors played in their last home game for Michigan on Sunday. Beautiful, Sexy & All Yours Cheerleader Swimsuit CALENDARS.& CD Rom interactive SCREEN SAVERS. 12 poster-like pages+48 more photos of the lucious ladies will make 1998 your year. Now Available: COWBOYS, BRON. COS, DOLPHINS, RAIDERS. Call NetWorks at 1-800-550-8164. Calendars $12.95. Screen Savers $29.95. Plus S+H. Checks, money orders & credit cards. JOHN KRAFT/Daily Ohio State took only four sets to bump off the Michigan volleyball team, Sunday. The Wolverines have not beaten the Buckeyes in 20 tries. Michigan tennis wilts under hot California sun A By Usa Subranianlan Daily Sports Writer Sunny California just wasn't that sunny for the Michigan women's tennis team last week. The team was ih Pacific Palisades, for the Women's All-American Tennis Championship, the second leg of the Rolex/ITA Collegiate Grand Slam. Because the tournament was an important national "I didn't play well," Moon said. "I'm still trying to get back in the swing of it all." Brooke Hart and Danielle Lund both got past the first round. Hart defeated No. 5 GeeGee Garvin. Hart was winning the first set, 6-5, when Garvin retired. Lund performance was the best of all the Wolverines. She won her first match against Washington State's Andrea Reisz, 6-3, 6-4, and her second match against They will be a good team. It's kind of hard at first see- ing a different person next to you." According to Zawacki - though the results may not show it - the Wolverines put forth a strong effort. "They played really well," she said. "We felt very pos- itive overall. It was a very competitive tournament, prob- ably as competitive as the NCAA's will be. "The tournament was great experience for the girls,