10 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 10, 1998
Wolverines hope to pay back Wisconsin at districts
By Evan Braunstein
Daily Sports Writer
A cross country race is based on a
very simple concept. All the runners
start at the same place, run the same
course and the first one to the finish
line wins.
But when you bring in 10 to 15
teams, each with about 10 runners
and put them all on the same course,
things can get a little chaotic.
During the Big Ten
Championships two weekends ago,
one team tried to use this chaos to its
advantage.
Changing their jerseys from red to
white and pinning their numbers
over the word "Wisconsin" on their
backs, the Badgers attempted to gain
a leg up on the Wolverines by blend-
ing in with the other runners on the
course and keeping Michigan run-
ners from recognizing them.
"They even kept their warmups on
until right before the race so we
wouldn't notice," Michelle Slater
said.
It was common knowledge that the
tournament would boil down to a
dual meet between the two power-
houses - Michigan and Wisconsin.
The five-point margin of victory that
Wisconsin managed to capture tied
for the second-closest score in the
18-year history of the meet. Only
Indiana's four-point victory over
Iowa in 1989 was narrower.
It seems fairly obvious that both of
these teams were looking for any-
thing that would propel itself ahead
of its rival.
Whether the Badgers' little trick
contributed to their success, howev-
er, it still unclear.
"In a cross country race, knowing
the other teams' colors is important,"
Slater said. "When you are gunning
for one team in particular, you look
for that jersey. It gives you an idea of
what you need to do.
"Most of the younger girls would
not have been able to recognize (the
Wisconsin runners), but the older
girls and I knew their faces. We real-
ized what was going on, so I don't
think it helped them any."
This deceptive tactic, however, did
nothing to curb the rivalry between
these two teams.
"I was pretty angry," Slater said.
"It just makes me want to beat them
even more. "
Junior Sarah Hamilton tried to be
more diplomatic about the situation,
but still did not pass up the chance to
knock the Wolverines' long-time
rival.
"We don't really know the reason
behind all this," she said. "We can't
be certain that they were trying to
confuse us, but every time we face
Wisconsin they are wearing some-
thing different. We are proud of our
uniforms."
The Wolverines will get a chance
to avenge their loss this weekend at
the NCAA regional championships
at Indiana State. The top two teams
in this tournament gain automatic
bids to the NCAA championship
race on Nov. 23. Thus, a first-place
finish in this competition would be
twice as nice for the Wolverines.
"We really want to beat Wisconsin,
but we also want to qualify for
NCAAs," Slater said. "So winning
the meet would accomplish all of our
goals."
After their defeat in the Big Ten
Championships, the Wolverines
enjoyed a week off to rest and pre-
pare for this weekend's competition.
After overcoming the initial letdown
following the race, the team is wel-
coming the chance to prove itself
once again.
"It was tough immediately after
Big Tens," Katie McGregor said.
"We focus on that meet all season, so
it took some time to get over the loss.
"But in the back of our minds we
always knew that we had districts
and NCAAs still to come. Now we
are refocusing all of our energy for
the meet this weekend."
0
Elizabeth Kampfe,
who finished
eighth at the Big
Tens two weeks
ago, hopes to
Improve on one of
her slowest fin-
Ishes of the year.
She will have
that opportunity
this Saturday in
the NCAA region-
al championships
at Indiana State.
DAVID ROCHKIND/Daity
Michigan volleyiball crowds dwindle
Michigan volley-
ball player Unsey
Ebert and the
rest of the N
Wolverines have 7
not played in
front of home
crowds that ,-
come even close
In size to those of
their Big Ten
counterparts this
season.
DAVID ROCKKIND/Daily
By Jon Zemke
Daily Sports Writer
One of the greatest matches in Michigan volleyball
history was played last Wednesday in front of a record
1,732 fans.
Coming back from being down two games to zero,
the Wolverines tied the match at two games apiece in
front of a raucous Michigan State crowd in Jenison
Fieldhouse.
Michigan ended up losing the fifth game and the
match, 15-9.
When Michigan State visited Cliff Keen Arena ear-
lier this season the Wolverines--------------
were routed in three games Hockey
before a tiny crowd of 846.
This has been the situation Comme/nt/ry
with Cliff Keen crowds all sea-----------
son. Whenever the Wolverines host a volleyball match
at Cliff Keen arena this season, the average attendance
is well below 600 people.
The total attendance for the season thus far has been
6,618. These numbers are less than last year's atten-
dance rates and even further behind those of most of
the Big Ten teams.
In Michigan's past three games, 3,862 people have
attended. Only 329 of those were in Cliff Keen.
When the Wolverines visited Minnesota, 1,801 fans
occupied the stands. There were only 883 when
Michigan hosted the Gophers earlier in the season.
The 'Rock the House' match that Michigan holds
once a year promotes the volleyball team and expands
the team's fan base. Traditionally, it is the Wolverines'
biggest draw of the season, and has progressively
drawn more and more people year after year. Except
for this past season.
Last year's Rock the House event set the record for
attendance at Cliff Keen when 2,346 fans witnessed
Michigan upset No. 16 Michigan State in four games.
"Rock the House last year was so crowded that I
heard people were climbing in through the windows;'
Michigan senior defensive specialist Chereena Tennis
said. "It was so loud that you can't even hear yourself
call the ball when it's coming to you."
This year at Rock the House, however, Michigan
barely drew one-third of that in upsetting No. 22
Minnesota in a three-game sweep. Of the season-high
883 people who attended this season, the electricity
wasn't even close to what happened in East Lansing
weeks later.
Raucous crowds are "just really exciting because
that just makes you focus all the more," Tennis said.
"There are so many distractions in the crowd and there
are so many people firing you up it just makes you
focus in so much better than if there wasn't a crowd
there."
Why have the crowds dwindled so much this year?
The team was unable to put together a winning
streak since an initial one at the beginning of the sea-
son. For the first time since Sept. 6 of the '97 cam-
paign, the Wolverines are at .500.
Also, there is a new marketing crew in charge of
promoting the Wolverines which is, as Michigan coach
Greg Giovanazzi said, "just getting their feet wet."
The marketing crew has put together multiple give-
away promotions, including advertising in local papers
and giving away hundreds of free T-shirts and wall
magnets.
Tennis also said the team did a lot of self-promotion
last year, including putting up team posters on campus.
But the same self-promotion strategy was not carried
out this year.
"We thought that it would just carry over to this year
and it didn't," Tennis said.
Perhaps the biggest reason why there is an average
of 500-plus fans at a volleyball match and 100,00- plus
at a football game is familiarity. Midwesterners have
been around the major sports of football and hockey,
and a majority of them know how the game is played.
The same is not true for volleyball in the Midwest -
a majority of people don't know the rules of the game.&
Volleyball, a major sport in California, draws large
crowds at college matches on the West Coast.
"Spectator education would be really important,"
Tennis said.
I.
WWW.MICHIGANDAIL Y. COM
...,
ANNOUNCING
A SET OF COURSE OFFERINGS IN MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
FOR WINTER TERM 1999
Microbiology 301 Lectures are designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of
microbiology and immunology applicable to the health professions. Topics include
structure, function, genetics and general biology of microorganisms, immunology,
virology, medical microbiology, and organ-based infectious diseases. It is recommended
that students also take the accompanying laboratory course, Micro. 350. Micro. 301 and
the accompanying laboratory course Micro. 350 are the required courses for
pre-pharmacy students and are open to all students in the health professions with
permission of the Director. This course will be offered MWF from 9-10 AM in 5623
Medical Science Building II.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Department of Biology will be
continuing a series of courses set in a modular format. Each one credit module runs for
one third of a semester. In some cases multiple modules can be combined to make up a
traditional course. Students ma choose from the various modules to create a program
that best fits their educational objectives and interests.
Microbiology 607, 608, and 609 are three modules focusing on mechanisms of
microbioal pathogoenesis. They are designed for graduate students and advanced
undergraduates. These modules will be offered consecutively and will meet TTH from 10-
11:30 AM in 5623 Medical Science Building II.
Prerequisites for the modules - Introduction to Microbiology (Biology 207 or Micro 301)
and introduction to Immunology (Micro 502) and first year Biochemistry and Genetics or
permission of course director.
Module 1(1/7-2/4)
Microbiology 607- Host-Pathogen Interactions (1 credit)
Module 11(2/9-3/16)
Microbiology 608 - Mechanisms of Extracellular Pathogenesis (1 credit)
Module Ill1(3/8-4/20)iooy - h
icrobiolgy 609 Mechanisms of Intracellular Pathogenesis (1 credit)
The first module addresses the effects of microbes on the infected human host at both the
individual and population levels. The second module explores the mechanisms of!
athogenesis caused by mucosal and toxin producing pathogens. The third module
acuses on host pathogen interactions in infections caused by intracellular pathogens.
Microbiology 641 and 642 are two modules focusing on molecular and cellular events in
the immune response. They are designed for upper-class advanced undergraduates and
graduate students interested in the health sciences. These modules will be offered
consecutively and will meet TTH from 1-2:30 PM in 5631 Medical Science Building II.
Prerequisite for the two modules - first year Biochemistry and Genetics; permission of
instructor for undergraduates or NCFD.
Module 1(117-2/4
Microbiology 64- Molecular and Cellular Immunology I
SAVE FOR 10 DAYS ONLY!
ACTION
Continued from Page9
sparked was on defense. Michigan held
the Athletes to 31 points in the second
half, and 35-percent shooting. But
Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said he
was most proud of the way "we kept our
feet on the floor;"he said.
And Asselin's dunk, he said, was
nothing special. It was as usual as guard
Louis Bullock leading Michigan in scor-
ing, which his 28 points did last night.
"It's a spectacular play for the fans,
but for us, it's a fundamental play;'
Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said.
"Josh can do that.'
Asselin scored most of his points b
putting back his teammates' errant
shots, but his final score of the evening
was a 15-foot rainbow that most big
men shouldn't take, let alone make.
Remember who else did that? He was
sitting right there on the bench, in jeans.
When only about 20 seconds.
remained, Brandon Smith (10 points);
leapt over the scorers' table after a loose.
ball. Perhaps remembering a simila
scene in Traylor's last game as
Wolverine, a small group of students
stood. Clapping in time, they chanted
"Put-in Tractor, Put-in Trac-tor!"
No need, Josh can handle it.
HOLD YOUR HORSEs: Blue-chip
recruitLaVell Blanchard, of Ann Arbor
Pioneer High, said at last night's game
that he would probably decide on a
school later, rather than sooner
In addition to Michigan, Blanchard
said he is considering Californi
Georgetown and Virginia. "It doesn'7
natterto me' whether or not he'll go to
a school where he can start right away,
Blanchard said. "you gotta earn your
spot wherever you go.'
- Daily Sports Editor Prtnay Reddy
contributed to this report.
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Bullock 37 9719 5!8 14 5 328
Jons 17 34 2:304 0 1 9
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Youig 20 11 00 2-3 1 3 ' 2
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