4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 28, 1998 Volleyball touches off Big Ten season on sour note, drops two V By Jon Zemke Daily Sports Writer A second season is a chance for a team to correct whatever has been troubling it in the beginning of the season and start anew. It's a team's chance to forget the whippings it may have endured and concentrate fresh on the upcoming opponent. "We are in a second season, and we are rediscovering who we are the hard way right now," Michigan volleyball coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "We are really having a tough time. We had a lot of teams at the start of the season that we played better against, who have rolled over in the final game similar to what we've done the last two games. We've been pushed and haven't really responded in the final games." Illinois gave the Wolverines their worst defeat of the young season Saturday. The first game was back and forth, as both teams streaked ahead of each other and traded points until they were tied at 15. Michigan lost its poise, and the game to Illinois, as the Wolverines allowed the Fighting Illini to serve out the next two points. It was all downhill from there as Michigan lost its composure, allowing Illinois to race out to 10-1 lead. The Wolverines sputtered on to a 15-3 loss in the second game. The third showed slight improvement, but Michigan still dropped, 15-4. The Wolverines put up an attack percent- age of .136, 200 points lower than the Fighting Illini's attack percentage. Chase led the way with 14 kills and Ebert chipped in nine digs. Freshman Shannon Melka also contributed 16 assists to lead the team. "I'd say they've lost confidence," Giovanazzi said. "The focus part is defi- nitely lost. I want to know the root of that, and my observations tell me that there's a crisis of conflict because of all the different people being used. People have been under- performing and I think it just creates a dynamic out there that isn't very confi- dent." Friday night, the Wolverines opened the Big Ten season against Purdue in Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan put on a clinic for the Boilermakers in the first game, handily putting them away, 15-6. But it was all downhill from there for the Wolverines, as they were dropped in the next three games, 12-15, 8-15 and 8-15, respectively. "Tough," Giovanazzi said. "Really tough match. They did a great job of supporting their weaknesses. There were a lot of rallies that they kept alive with just pure hustle and great coverage after one of their players got blocked. I really thought that was the difference - the hustle." The Wolverines fell behind early in the middle two games, 8-4 and 10-3, respec- tively, before they embarked on a short- lived comeback. Michigan kept it close at the beginning of the fourth game, trading points with Purdue until the teams were tied at five po apiece. Michigan let go after Purdue rais d its level of play, putting the Wolverines away to end the match, 3-1. Sophomore Alija Pittenger led the way for Michigan in the loss with 33 assists and 13 digs. Senior Karen Chase again led the team in kills with 21, while fellow senior Linsey Ebert contributed two serving aces. Giovanazzi also credited Chereena Tennis with doing a nice job in the back row defen- sively. "I see us physically in a comparable tion, talent-wise. I don't see us in the same echelon as (Purdue is) right now," Giovanazzi said. "That may go out as a bil of challenge to the team, but they heard that challenge all week. I'm concerned in thai area. I'd like to see a more direct approach to matches. I think that is the number one biggest concern with this team." Michigan travels to Evanston totake n Northwestern this Friday. The Michigan spikers lost to Purdue and were swept by Illinois this past weekend as they kicked off their Big Ten campaign. Wanted: team leader for 'M' spikers 1 Giovanazzi looking for 'that person' to step up, take play to next level By Jon Zemke Daily Sports Writer A Michigan volleyball coach Greg iovanazzi issued a challenge to his team 'Saturday night. The challenge was for a team member to itep up and make this her team. "t'm really waiting for that person to step up," Giovanazzi said. R. 'fight now I don't know who it's going .0o be. But I think by the ---- ------ nd of this 'Weekend Volleyball somebody is going to make a move. They're COfmentaiy oing to change their -- - - world a little bit, even if it's just one. That's all it takes." One is all it would take. One is all the !i-lverines needed on Friday and Saturday > avoid embarrassing losses to upstart ,urdue and No. 29 Illinois. instead, Michigan's spikers (0-2 Big Ten, ;$-4 overall) looked lost and confused at ,imes against both teams. 'Against Purdue, Michigan came out :strong in the first game, but after that it fell apart, dropping the next three games. '-No one stepped up to lead the team Be fea vocally, or more importantly, make plays in order to pick up the rest of the team's per- formance. The match against Illinois was much worse, as the Wolverines dropped a close first game, 17-15. Michigan never regained what little poise it had. The last two matches were a rag-tag con- glomerate of unorganized chaos. Finding the team leader shouldn't be this challenging. In fact, finding the team leader is some- thing that should have been solved in the first or second match. Instead, it has turned into a major prob- lem that has gotten a very talented and hardworking team off to a terrible start in the conference. There are five seniors on this year's team. Two of them are in their fifth year. But not one of them has stepped forward to make this her team. Once that happens, not only will Michigan be back to its winning ways, as it was during the nonconference part of the schedule, but the team will also have its playmaker - which is essential to main- Michigan statistical leaders Kills Karen Chase 207; Anne Poglits 124 Aces Lindsey Ebert 17; Jenny Szczesniak 13 Assists Alija Pittenger 305; Shannon Melka 252 Digs Alija Pittenger 118; Jane Stevens 105 Blocks Lindsey Ebert 39; Joanna Fielder 36 taining the poise to put away tough teams when it counts. But, if a leader doesn't step up, the Big Ten grinder will turn this promising team into an underachieving one. The conference is too tough this season, with eight teams ranked in the top 30, including the No. I team in the nation. As was proven this weekend, upstarts of the conference, like Purdue, can .beat the Wolverines, and good teams like Illinois will make mincemeat of Michigan. 0 WARREN ZINN/Daily Jane Stevens and the rest of the Michigan volley- ball team will need to step up their play If they are to climb of an 0-2 Big Ten hole. j s t 3 ? .."d,.l r sa3 tz I et looft "Ar ki) itured in the 1999 Michiganensian Yearbook! Senior Portraits are the pictures that every Senior takes before graduating, which places them into the Graduates section of the University of Michigan yearbook. The only cost is a $10 sitting fee. Since the yearbook receives no funding from the University, we are forced to charge students to cover the cost of processing the picture and organizing the photo sessions. Simply call the phone number below! CALL TO DA Y! 9 9 9 Senior Portraits will be taken in the Michigan Union September 28 through October 31 daily. Present this coupon when you have your picture taken and save --- - .....___......-_....__®__I F-j $2 . oOO I