14A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 2, 1998

M' women's tennis heads to
Florida in search of upset

By Drew Beaver
Daily Sports Writer
Things look like they're starting to
come together for the Michigan
women's tennis team.
- After moments of streaky play and
close losses, it looks like things are
back on track for the Wolverines.
7Coming off back-to-back losses to
lowly Purdue and a tough Notre Dame
team, the Wolverines faced a potential
weep by the state of Indiana last week-
end when they faced the Hoosiers.
As Indiana swept the doubles play,
No. 42 Michigan fought back in the sin-
gles, and this time won a close match,
4-3, against the Hoosiers. The
Wolverines then rolled past Ohio State
to improve their Big Ten record to 3-1.
"I think the weekend helped build
confidence, especially in doubles,"
Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said. "When
you play good teams, it often comes
down to who can win two out of the

three doubles matches." Michigan has
battled back to a 7-6 record on the year,
after the loss to Notre Dame dropped
------------------------ them below
Friday's match .500 for the
Who: Michigan at Miami first time
Where: Miami,Fla. this season.
When:2 p.m. T h e
Notables: Michigan heads Wolverines
south after consecutive travel to
wins over Indiana and s ut h e r n
Ohio State. But the Florida this
competition gets tougher as
they face two top-4f teams. weeken d
for matches
against Miami and South Florida.
While the weather may get nicer for
the Wolverines' weekend matches, the
competition certainly will not.
On Friday, the Wolverines face
Miami and get another chance at
pulling off their first upset of the year
against the 27th-ranked Hurricanes.
Last year in the intense Florida heat,
Michigan beat the 'Canes 6-3. Miami's

strength is at the top of its lineup, fea-
turing No. 59 Lioudmila Skavronskaia
and No. 67 Elisabeth Habeler.
The Wolverines will then get a day of
rest before they square off against No.
37 South Florida on Sunday.
Michigan is looking to improve on
last year's poor showing against the
Bulls, a match they lost 6-3. South
Florida is also strong at the top, boast-
ing No. 60 Alicia Kerystyn.
The Wolverines did not do as well of
a job adjusting to the wind in that
match, something they hope to avoid
this year.
"We have to be ready mentally to
adjust to the elements," Ritt said.
Michigan has not been able to find
the keys to pulling off an upset this sea-
son. In four chances against higher-
ranked opponents, Michigan has com-
piled a 0-4 record. This weekend offers
the Wolverines two chances to capture
that elusive first upset of the year.

WARREN ZINN/Daily
The Michigan women's tennis team travels to Florida this weekend to take on ranked opponents Miami and South Florida
after victories over indiana and Ohio State.

Men battle for conference supremacy
By Mark Francescutti Big Ten last season has improved tremendous- strong, however, and got their revenge 1
Daily Sports Writer ly, which is shown through Iowa's huge victo- defeating Michigan in the Big Ten cham
If there ever is a chance for Michigan to put ry over Minnesota and two straight clobber- onships.
some doubts about its Big Ten dominance to ings of Ohio State and Penn State. "Minnesota is a dangerous team," Goldbe
rest this weekend could be the perfect oppor- "In the past, Iowa was regarded as a weaker said. "They have a lot of big singles play
tunity. team in the conference, but their singles have and are always unpredictable."
The Wolverines (2-0 Big Ten, 7-3 overall)--------------been strong and The Gophers have shut out two of their 
will try to stay undefeated at the new Varsity Saturday's match they beat three opponents thanks to excellent play frc
Tennis Center when they host two Big Ten Who: Michigan vs. lowa M i n n e s o t a , " their top two singles players - junior Tc
g matchups - Saturday against Iowa and then Where. Varsity Tennis Michigan assistant Chicoine and sophomore Marl
finishing with a battle against Minnesota on Center, Ann Arbor coach Dan Michalowski.
Sunday. Nes:1a T. . Goldberg said. Chicoine has a 55-30 record the past t
Right now, Big Ten teams reside at the very host toBig 1 ~nvlthis But Michigan has years and Michalowski advanced to the qu
top or rock bottom of the standings. The weekend - iowa on Saturda the opportunity to terfinals of the Big Ten singles chaml
Wolverines, Hawkeyes and Gophers are all and Minnesotaon Sunda capitalize on Iowa's onships.
resting near the top of the standings, but that weakness - its "The key is to play solidly throughout, lea
will change dramatically after this weekend. doubles teams. Iowa lost the doubles point in no openings for them to take advantag
The only question left to answer is: Which all three of its Big Ten matchups, and with the Goldberg said.
team will fall? strong consistent play of the Michigan duos, Another important aspect of this weekend
Iowa (3-0, 7-4) has lost three straight to the the Wolverines could easily force Iowa to have the ongoing return of seiior captain Bro
Wolverines, but the Hawkeyes have a rejuve to win four singles matches to beat then. Blain to the singles lineup.
ated lineup with three freshman and two A victim of the Hawkeyes earlier this sea Blain took some time oftat the beginning
transfers. At the beginning of the year, Iowa son, the Gophers (2-1, 7-7) come in on Sunday March to concentrate on academics, but fin
coach Steve Houghton called this season's to face the Wolverines. ly returned to the lineup last Sunday, beati
recruiting class one of Iowa's best ever. Minnesota has entered into a role as a team Indiana's Ian Arons, 6-4, 7-6 at No. 5 singl
He may be correct. Iowa newcomers have that starts its season slow and finishes strong. "He played well for not playing in a f
EMILY NATHAN/Daily compiled a 32-13 record in dual singles play Last season Minnesota played poorly at the weeks," Goldberg said.
The Michigan men's tennis team, which sits at the top of the Big Ten standings, will look to stay unde- so far this season. start, losing to the Wolverines and even to last- Blain is scheduled to play No. 5 sing
feated when It takes on Iowa this weekend. The team that rested at the bottom of the place Ohio State. But the Gophers finished again this weekend.
M' krows din pursuit of top-ranked Huskiesnst
24 -.

By David Alfred
For the Daily
The Michigan women's rowing
team can certainly look forward to
arriving in San Diego, Calif. for its
meet this weekend. Unlike last week-
-end in Belleville, the weather forecast
for the San Diego Crew Classic is
expected to be partly sunny, with tem-
peratures in the high 60s.
Last weekend, under very windy
and at times nasty weather conditions,
the Wolverines displayed one of their
best overall performances in the histo-
ry of the program.
Imagine what the Wolverines could
accomplish under favorable weather
conditions.
The Wolverines are determined to
kick the No. I Washington Huskies off

their top-ranked pedestal.
"We are going to go after them from
the start,' coach Mark Rothstein said.
"They are the defending national
champions and are going to be a great
challenge."
Last year, the Wolverines had a bit
of a mishap while competing in San
Diego. They finished last in the
Whittier Cup race after one of their
boat's oars smacked into an oncoming
buoy.
But, in the consolation finals, the
Wolverines finished a close second
out of six teams, just behind the win-
ner, Stanford. The novice eight fin-
ished fifth in the finals of its race in
San Diego last year.
The Wolverines would like to paint
a bit of a different picture this year.

Since their No. 8 preseason ranking
was established, the Wolverines have
consistently climbed toward the top of
the polls. If they are to continue their
rise, the Wolverines will need a little
more of that "upset magic" this week-
end.
Coming off their upset victory over
No. 3 Virginia, the Wolverines are
looking to crush any hopes the
Huskies have of repeating as national
champs.
"We can do well if we row our best
race," freshman Alison Hickey said.
"We need to be relaxed and confi-
dent."
Hickey, a starboard on the varsity
eight boat, said that all of the basic
fundamentals of rowing need to be
intact in order for her boat to have a