6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 5, 1999 Rowers edged by Virginia By Emily Achenbaum Daily Sports Writer While No. 2 Virginia prevailed over the Michigan rowing team at Saturday's regatta, the Cavaliers probably shouldn't get too excited about their win. The Wolverines made a strong showing with their second varsity eight boat finishing a n'ere three seconds behind the Cavaliers, a notable improvement from one week before, when the same boat tailed Virginia by 13 seconds at the noto- riously competitive San Diego Crew Classic. "I think we scared them," senior Heather Uhring said. Michigan spent the past week eagerly awaiting their rematch with Virginia. The Wolverines came to Scioto River's Griggs Reservoir in Columbus, Ohio, wib.ha specific goal: surprise perennial 0, house Virginia. "We were so mentally focused against Yjlgnia" Uhring said. "We wanted to shcoweveryone what happened in San was not typical of Michigan erew, the sixth-ranked had several goals fr hir race against the Cavaliers, all of which but one - beating them - was achieved. "If we couldn't beat them, we wanted tat least cut the margin of time by mhc they won in half," Uhring said. The Wolverines finished the day in C td place behind Virginia in four varsity events and defeated No. 14 Ohio S t.and No. 17 North Carolina in three vasity races. After being on the water to ether for just three weeks, the team l. len steadily improving. Zbur learning curve right now is idicdible. I think we will peak at atnals - which is exactly what you want" Uhring said. Establishing themselves as one of the most formidable competitors in the mid- west he Wolverines have already been through the meat of their schedule. They won't face the nation's top competitors until nationals in May. t.-The most challenging upcoming regatta is over a month away - the cen- tral regionals. "We need to win that," Uhring said. Team morale is up, despite dropping to No. 6 in the first biweekly United States Rowing coaches' poll of'the sea- son, slipping three spots from their pre- season No. 3 ranking. The ranking comes after last week's fifth-place finish in-the Jessop-Whittier Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic, one of the most comp titive races in the country. All six teams in the Cup's Grand Final were ranked in this week's top 10. Uhring said that the extraordinary effort demonstrated by the Wolverines at last weekend's regatta is an exciting pre- view of what the team is capable of achieving this season. "We moved up;' Uhring said. "The team and coaches are all very excited" PR INTING LOWEST PRICES! HIGHEST QUALITY! FASTESTSERVICE! * 1002 PONTIAC TR. 994-1367 What rest? Tr off week to tr By Ryan C. Moloney Daily Sports Writer After a tiring and injury-riddled indoor sea- son, one might think that the Michigan women's track team would welcome an off- weekend with open arms. With relay meets nearly every weekend until the NCAA finals, this past week was a good time to take it easy, maybe throw a frisbee around on the diag, right? Wrong. "This was more of a week for hard training," high-jumper Nicole Forrester said. "This was a week for harder work because when you get into the bigger meets, you don't always have the time to train hard." A strict strategy, but also an effective one. A considerable amount of the success achieved by the team during the indoor season came via the sprint and distance medley relays. When the delicate combination of sprinters and middle and long distance runners translates into good results, there is one element which binds their varied training styles together - dedication. "There are just so many people who have improved over the course of the indoor sea- son," Forrester said. "Our relays look really good." What Wolverine left standi ly those tI "We ha event," as "Our mar lesser kno "It's a t Besides and the N a pair ofI Relays an Both m media exi More it meets pr pressure NCAA m Penn Forrester "In thos who are ranks," Fi ment that al and int If the V of the ind pay off in LOUIS BROWN/Daily Tiffany Hodge and the rest of the Michigan women's track team didn't lolly-gag during its week off. The Wolverines used the opportunity to train hard, preparing for the rest of the outdoor season. Michigans Panmwae' cutsdownPennState By Raphael Goodstein Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's tennis team is getting revved up, literally. Led by junior John Long's abil- ity to fire up the team, the Wolverines came out and improved their record to 11-1 with a 6-1 win over Penn State. And it was one moment in particular that got the team excited. After hitting a winner in a 9-8 (7-4) doubles loss to Mike Griesser - and Marc McCallister, Long got down on one knee and pulled an imaginary string, as if starting a lawnmower. Not surprisingly, he calls it "The Lawnmower." "We're a fiery team and I like to do my best;" Long said. "Unfortunately, it didn't work too well, cause we didn't win a point after that. We were up 4-1 in the tiebreaker and we lost 7-4" The rest of the team disagreed. "Of all our players, John is the most enthusiastic," Michigan coach Brian Eisner said. "As long as that type of thing is done in a positive manner, then you like to see those types of things. It really gets the rest of team excited. He can really energize the rest of the team." After Long and doubles partner Jake Raiton lost their first dual match of the year, he regrouped to beat Eric McDitz 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. "When we lost, it was~a reality check," Long said. "We were undefeated, and losing just made me take them more seriously. It really ticked me off. I was hoping to go the whole year undefeated but that was Wolverines lose,.. SOUTH FLORIDA Continued from Page 1B close to giving the Wolverines the one win nee ensure victory. Fighting hard and sending the match into an ex Sinclair and Fuzesi got nipped, 7-9. The Wolverines went on to lose four of six matches. Brooke Hart and Jen Boylan earned their secc tories of the day, at the No. 2 and No. 4 single; respectively. Michigan travels to Chapel Hill to face North C to complete its non-conference schedule today. The Wolverines hope for a strong performance, thing to ignite the team before the home stretch4 ference play begins. Michigan, 3-2 in Big Ten play, can look 1: Saturday's match for inspiration. Ritt's new lineup nearly swept the doubles mi barely falling short in an extra set. Also, Daniell almost pulled out a victory, sending her singles into the third game. not that realistic." One player that has gone the whole match season undefeated is freshman Ben Cox. Cox leads the team with an I1-0 record. "I think that the lawnmower thing really got peo- ple going" Cox said. "It got everyone laughing" Fellow freshman Henry Beam, who snapped a three match losing streak with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Marc McCallister, is hoping to see more of "The Lawnmower." "Next time, I hope to see him start hopping around like he's riding it," Beam said. The Wolverines will travel Tuesday to East Lansing to prepare for their Wednesday meet with Michigan State. "It should be fun," Beam said. "We know a lot of the players at Michigan State and their will be a lot of fans from both teams there" The Wolverines will have to play well if they are to add to their 80-17 all-time advantage over the Spartans. "I think playing on the road is a lot of fun" Cox said. "Spending all of that time together, and play- ing in front of their fans, especially since they have such a good crowd, it should be kind of a rush." The Michigan State meet will be the first of four consecutive road meets over the span of one week. If the Wolverines are to continue their eight-meet winning streak they will need to continue playing with a high level of intensity. Look for "The Lawnmower" to make a few more appearances. ack uses ain hard bodes especially well for the s is their balanced attack. The teams ng at the end of the season are usual- hat can compete in every event. ve a legitimate shot to score in evy ssistant coach Mike McGuire said. quce kids pick up big points but our )wn can also score in their events. cam effort across the board." the obvious big meets, the Big Tens CAAs, the team is looking forward to high profile meets - the Mount Sac d the Penn Relays. eets are huge in terms of entries and posure. nportantly, the competition these o ovide will prepare the team for e cookers that are the Big Ten and eets. Relays high-jump record-holder is looking forward to the challenge. se meets there are a lot of competitors professional outside the college orrester said, referring to the excite- goes with competing against nation. ernational caliber athletes. Wolverines can duplicate the forn loor season, all the hard work should the big meets. Matt Wright went 4-0 for Michi this weekend, winning a singlet and doubles match against Ohio State on Saturday and doing the same against Penn . State yesterday.' DHANI JONESDaly. s eams . in Big Ten "We are definitely capable of being Big Ten contenders." The team has proved itself Big Ten. worthy, climbing up the Intercollegiate Tennis Associatn national team rankings. The Wolverines began the spring at 59th and have moved to number 43 and then again to number 39 after posting two victories between rank-, ings. "We all have a lot of heart and a lot of fight," senior co-captain Will Farah said. "The guys hate to lose; and that's something that every team needs." a Michigan's big test will be agaitst Michigan State this Wednesday. The Wolverines have a four-match road trip ahead of them, starting in East Lansing and passing through Bloomington and West Lafayette. They have one more match at home before they face the number two team in the country, Illinois, an April 24. Men's tenni undefeated TENNIS Continued from Page 11B the best of their ability. "It's not just winning," Michigan coach Brian Eisner said. "You have to make sure that you are improving as a team. "Winning is great, it definitely builds confidence, but if you are going to be the best, you have to play at the highest level." The team has a 4-0 edge in Big Ten games, and its expectations are high. "We should continue to go on undefeated," said Cox, who is an undefeated 11-0 for the season. "With our talent, we have no reason not to." The perpetual winning has the team pumped up, high in confidence and ready to give 100 percent. "We are a very close-knit team;' junior Brad McFarlane said. "That's part of the reason we're doing so well. ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily The Michigan women's tennis team fell just a little short this' weekend against South Florida, losing 54. r Mic igan Bas all At The Fish" Wednesday, April 7th Eastern Michigan University 3 _.m. 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