22 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 14, 2000 Women's netters start preparations for BTT with road trip By Joe Smith Daily Sports Nritr It's crunch time. With the end of the conference season rapidly approaching. and the top six teams within one victory of each other . it's time to separate the women from the girls. For most teams, oiiur matches remain on their schedule - four opportunities to improve their seed for the Big Ten Tournament, and make their case to the NCAA selection committee regarding their position in tennis' "May Madness." The eighth-placed Wolverines (1-5 Big Ten, 7-9 overall) are coming off two heartbreaking 4-3 losses to conference foes this past weekend, and are hungry to get back on the winning track. With most of the Big Ten elite battling each other in the next few weeks, the Wolverines have a shot at sneaking up in the standings and snatching one of the ever-important first-round byes in the conference tournament. Michigan will host the Big Ten Tournament from April 27-30, with the top five teams receiving a free trip into the second round. "It is important for us to get the bye;" freshman Jen Duprez said. "Playing on Friday will give us a chance for an much-needed extra day's rest." Michigan has been hampered by injuries and illnesses all season, with Duprez just getting clearance this past Thursday to play after being sick for a couple of weeks. Sophomore Jen Vaughn has been sidelined with a nag- ging hip injury since early March, and her presence has been missed at No. 5 singles and also in doubles. Senior Erryn Weggenman has been missing in action since March 6, spend- ing the last month in Portland, Ore., with her family following her brother's death. But she returned to practice last week and could possibly be ready to go for this weekend. The Wolverines could definitely use Weggenman's .750 winning percentage in doubles - Michigan has struggled with the important doubles point this year. Her experience at No. 6 singles will give her team the added depth it sorely needs as the Wolverines attempt to turn things around. Michigan isn't the only Big Ten team having aches and pains, as the entire con- ference has went through nagging injuries - which can have a huge effect in tennis. One player can indeed make the difference. "All teams are just one player away from being average,' Indiana head coach Lin Loring said. "Whoever can put six healthy players out on the court will be the ones who come out on top." Case in point: No. 15 Northwestern. The defending Big Ten champions jumped out to an impressive 4-0 start in the conference. But a key injury at the top of their lineup has left them vulnerable, and the Wildcats lost their last two matches. Even without the injuries, every team in the conference is so competitive - no easy wins. "Seven or eight of us can beat each other on any given day," Iowa coach Paul Wardlaw said. Wardlaw's squad has been one of the only teams in the conference to avoid the injury bug thus far. Actually, Iowa hasn't had a player niiss action in three years. The Hawkeyes (4-2, 7-10) will be one of Michigan's next opponents this upcoming weekend, as the Wolverines will travel to Iowa City to face a red-hot squad. Iowa has won four of its last five, and will be hosting the Wolverines on Senior day with two Hawkeyes bidding their last farewell. "It will definitely be emotional for our seniors," Wardlaw said. This matchup might also contain a sis- ter-sister showdown, with Michigan junior Alison Sinclair possibly facing off against her younger sister Jennifer at No. 6 singles. But the Wolverines can't look ahead to the family reunion quite yet, as they have face Wisconsin (1-5, 6-12) on Saturday. The two teams are tied for eighth place, with the hosting Badgers having lost five Up for grabs It's ntO w or never for the Wolverines, who are currently in eighth place in the Big Ten. With four matches remaining, Michigan needs to make up some ground if it has any hopes of receiving a bye in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament which it will host on April 27-30. The top five teams at the end of conference will receive a bye, but com- petition is heated as the top six teams are separated by just one match. Team Minnesota (37) Ohio State (40) Illinois (28) Northwestern (15) Indiana Conference 5- 5-1 5-1 5-2 5-2 Overall 13-3 12-6 9-10 15-4 12-8 7-10 9-10 7-9 6-2 7-6 7-6 Iowa 4-2 Purdue 3-4 Michigan 1-5 Wisconsin 1-5 Penn State 0-6 Michigan State 0-6 (*) National ranking as of April 10, 2000 owl x 4.00 42. MICHIGAN REMAINING SCHEDULE: Saturday April 15 at Wisconsin Sunday, April 16 at Iowa Saturday, April 22 vs Penn State Sunday, April 23 vs Ohio State April 27-30 Big Ten Championships (Varsity Tennis Center) JU _ _ _ of their last six - including being blanked by first-place Minnesota last weekend. But Wisconsin won't be easy prey for the Wolverines, with its No. 49-ranked doubles tandem of April Habler and Lara Vojnor, which could give Michigan fits in doubles competition. "We need to pull out just one match, and then the rest should follow along with it' Duprez said. moving home doesn'ft have to be this difficult! Dollar Bill provides full service UPS shipping to all 50 states. Shipping materials are available for a small additional charge. Fortunately for the Wolverines, t it last two matches of the season will be back in the friendly confines of the Varsity Tennis Center, as they face both Penn State and No. 40 Ohio State from April 22-23. The Nittany Lions (0-6, 7-6) will be looking desperately for their first confer- ence victory in two years. But this streak is misleading, for Penn State has fought every foe to the end this year, including tight 4-3 losses to both No. Northwestern and No. 40 Ohio State After attempting to tame the Nittany Lions, Michigan will volley it up with the Buckeyes (5-1, 12-6), who are currently in a three-way tie for first place. Hosting Ohio State gives the Wolverines a much better shot, for the Buckeyes have been perfect at home with a 9-0 record. "The conference is wide open right now" Ohio State coach Ch Merzbacher said. "It'll come do who wants it the most" For senior co-captains Brooke Hart and Danielle Lund, along with fellow senior Weggenman, this will be the last hurrah for a class that has definitely made its mark in Michigan tennis his- tory. -Our goal is to win everything;' Hart said. Although the Wolverines are in eighth place, their goal is definitely a possibi Michigan is using the 1998 India squad as inspiration. Those Hoosiers were a No. 6 seed in the conference tournament that year, but See NETTERS Page 26 Album on sale atE COME INSIDE 8OOKS, MUSIC, VIDEO, AND A CAFE. .1 They say your home is your castle! But whether your home is a castle or your college dorm, Michigan law requires the same residential address on your driver license and voter registration. We make that easy. 1. Change your driver license address and we'll change the address on your voter registration. 2. Change your voter registration address and we'll send you a change of address sticker for your driver license. 3. Change your address as many times as you need to at no fee. It's possible to have an alternate "mailing address" if you don't want to receive mail at your primary residence. Wharp van liv is vnnr hnminecc N