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. MICHIiAN (87A Asselin 36 711 57 411 0 3 U Smith 30 4;8 1.3 1-2 0 1 1f Vi gier 3 27 01 4-10 1 4 4 Reid 36 5;13 3.',3 3.5 6 1 15 Bullock 37 9719 5!8 14 5 328 Jons 17 34 2:304 0 1 9 Oier 1 0, 00o0000 Youig 20 11 00 2-3 1 3 ' 2 ?T"j** 8 143 .16:2516 21316 67 IFG%.492. FTi.640 3 tF- 9-22, .409 ({B~ulok"5-i0, Ri2:2 iith 1-2, Jones 1-2). 6i~cks: 1,(Siitti).,Stas.: 6 (Young 2, Jones, lIaijRl, k.Rid. SiM i). TUholcWCFoiW0. ii III is "l " \ -I1 '1st"l ur