The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 13, 1999 - 3B

'With new look, Blue heads in new direction

Rookie coach Rosen has Wolverines off to a
5-1 start; experience was rare for his starters

RICK
FREEMAN
Freeman of the Press

7 Y
m
R IRMW
Y:

By Jon Zemke
Daiy Sports Writer
Change is often a necessary, inevitable
*nd painful process. But for the
Michigan volleyball team change is
good, and the first two out of those three
ain't bad.
This season the Wolverines have start-
ed off 5-1, upsetting two top 20 teams
(No. 7 Brigham Young and No.16
Arkansas) while breaking into the top 25
for the first time in the program's histo-
ry. All of this with a team whose starters
rode the bench during last season's dis-
al12-18 (4-16 Big Ten) showing.
So the Wolverines began this year by
concentrating on their own development.
There weren't any long-term goals set
this preseason. First-year coach Mark
Rosen had his team thinking of making
themselves better players and not about
their record.
"I like the direction our team is going
right now;' Rosen said. "We're getting
better every match. We're learning things
v bout each other, ourselves and about
olleyball. That's our number one focus
right now, because we have a lot of room
to improve. I still think this team has a lot
of growing to do and if we continue that
preoess then who knows what our limit
That philosophy has worked well so
far with his team. Part of the reason is
the personnel changeover - five of last
years starters graduated. Their succes-
sors are mostly sophomores, so learning
&osen's new system hasn't been as chal-
lenging to them as it would to a seasoned
veteran.
One of the major changes from last
season is the establishment of a primary
setter - Shannon Melka. She has taken
charge of the offense, improving its pass-
ing immensely, Rosen said.
The other half of last season's setting
platoon Alija Pittenger has stepped up to
become one of Michiian's dominant

outside hitters. Pittenger had a big week-
end at the All Sport Challenge, leading
Michigan in kills in two of three games,
including spiking 21 against Arkansas.
But she is a versatile player, contribut-
ing both offensively and defensively.
Pittenger has lead or been close to lead-
ing the Wolverines in digs every match
this season becoming Michigan's prima-
ry defensive specialist and one of its
most potent offensive threats.
"I would be worried if I was on the
other team and Alija was playing defense
against me, "middle blocker Annie
Maxwell said. "She does such a great
job. She's got them a little bit scared
because she can hit both her deep shuts
and her tips. That makes them commit a
lot of unforced errors."
Pittenger's digging ability allows
Michigan's blockers not to worry about
their opponent tipping the ball over
them, so the Wolverines blockers con-
centrate can on blocking. They've done
well so far, out-blocking half of their
opponents while coming up with the big
play blocks to help win close games.
Annie Maxwell has led this wall of
rejection, establishing herself as one of
the best blockers in the Big Ten. The
combination of Maxwell, Pittenger,
senior Anne Poglits and junior Joanna
Fielder has allowed the Wolverines to
disrupt their opponent's offense, causing
attack errors and even sending the spike
back in their faces.
These blockers have established them-
selves as a presence at the net, and are
drawing praise. Fielder was named MVP
of the Outback Steakhouse tournament
and co-Big Ten Player of the Week.
Poglits is the most experienced blocker
on the team, seeing significant time last
season.
"Anne is such a big blocker that we
were able to release (Melka) up to go get
tips, because they can't really hit over
Anne," Rosen said.



Heartbreak and Cleveland
- why.sorts are relevant

SARA SCHENCK/Daily
Nicole Kacor spiked the last three kills in game four against No. 16 Arkansas to
win the match for the Wolverines.

Sophomore Nicole Kacor hasn't had a
problem getting the ball past defenders.
She has been near the top of Michigan's
kill chart all season, consistently spiking
the ball with more velocity than any of
her teammates. With Kacor, Michigan's
attack isn't dependent on one primary
attacker like last season. It is much more
varied with many more weapons.
"Personnel-wise, it's a different team,"

Rosen said. "A lot of the players who
were key players out on the floor aren't
here this year. It's a whole different envi-
ronment. This team is going to approach
this their own way and create their own
destiny. We don't know what that is
They're going to earn their place."

e row of mustard-colored seats
didn't have a chance against the
beer-fueled bitterness only
Cleveland fans can know. The rows of
slat-backed seats were uprooted,
unscrewed and passed, hand-over-hand,
to the field.
These men were dismantling the sta-
dium of my dreams, of my childhood.
One man, Art Modell, had already dis-
mantled my dreams - or tried to. I was
mere weeks into my first year in col-
lege when I came back to my dorm
room to learn that I had seen my last
untainted Browns game.
I don't even remember seeing my
first. It just seemed like we always piled
in the car on Sunday afternoons, drove
downtown and walked down to the
Stadium. It was what we did. I always
looked at the layers of paint on the riv-
ets and marveled at how thick it was. I
always dreaded the men's ____
room, a hot, steamy room Spot
that smelled of pee and wal
sweat. I loved the hot dogs, AV.A
wrapped in foil and coatedh ei
with Stadium Mustard - a h
spicy brown concoction brke
that ranks up there with th
Notso Fries and Corky and me!
Lenny's as Cleveland's gus- ThIS i
tatory contributions to the improi
world. On a
But enough about my hearts
pity by the lake for a sec-
ond. Today, as you read about the rein-
troduction of the Cleveland Browns to
the sports world, we celebrate another
sports tradition - The SportsMonday
Column. This space is reserved in
almost every SportsMonday for a col-
umn that takes a look at a side of sports
that might otherwise get overlooked by
a newspaper.
While the Cleveland Browns will be
the buzz on most section fronts today,
most columnists can't tell you about the
black powder under the seats in
Cleveland Stadium. When it rained, the
powder formed a thin film that never
quite seemed to leave your shoes.
Art Modell didn't build the place, but
he tore it down.
He can't touch my memories.
John Elway (a man whose name is
up there with Modell's and Jose Mesa's)

IS
len
hey
nd
s

led the Broncos on a last-minute drive
to tie the 1986 AFC Championship
game. Rich Karlis kicked a field goal in
overtime to break a city's heart.
I'll always swear it went over the
right upright - the Browns fans in the
seats directly behind the uprights,
cheering as the ball sailed past, will
back me up on this - and the refs
feared another two overtimes in the
Cleveland weather (the Browns topped
the Jets in double OT the week before)
and called it good.
Such are the excuses of a Cleveland
sports fan. We sound like procrastinat
ing students with our reasons for not
having a title since 1964. (It came cour-
tesy of the Browns, by the way.)
We were on the short end of Willie
Mays' over-the-shoulder-catch. We got
the wrong end of the Braves' long-
awaited World Series title. We lost on
Michael Jordan's second-
% iS a greatest shot ever.
of IThis is what life is like
in my hometown. Sports is
t our a way of having our hearts
broken, and then mended
1, and again with the hope of
bfn next season. This is a vast
bed. improvement on actual
a VaSt heartbreak.
ement When you're a nine-
tual year old kid freezing in the
reak. cold of a sudden start to
your offseason, as I was
that day almost 14 years ago, consola-
tion is tough to come by. I remember
what I did when I saw the officials sig-
nal my doom. I stumbled backward and
fell onto my back. I laid there in the
black filmy dust, and stared at the
rafters of the old palace.
I may be happy when it rains, but in
a way, that's one of my favorite sports
memories. I was heartbroken, but at
least it was just over a sports team.
I'd rather have my heart broken that
way any day. If Cleveland ever wins
something, I'll let you know how that
feels, too.
- Rick Freeman is the Managing
Sports Editor of the Daily. Although he
is afan of Notso Fries, he is proud to
be a West Sider Naturally, he hates the
Steelers. You may reach him via e-mail
at nckfree@umich.edu.


M' comes back from harsh defeat for upset

VOLLEYBALL
Continued from Page 1B
hitter Pittenger stepped up to bring
the game back into the Wolverines'
favor.
Pittenger spiked a kill from the
left side of the net to give the pos-
session back to Michigan. It was her
first of five kills, leading the
Wolverines to score six consecutive
points.
The team effort of outside hitters
Pittenger and Nicole Kacor on the
attack, with the presence of Fielder,
Poglits and Maxwell at the net,
pulled the momentum back into
Michigan's favor.
Setter Shannon Melka's excellent
passing and setting and a few of
Pittenger's many kills allowed the
Wolverines to go on a 11-4 run.
Kacor finished off the win by
authoritatively spiking the last three
kills.
"We've been talking about me
swinging harder at every ball,"
Pittenger said. "So, I was just swing-
ing."
Pittenger was swinging faster than a
windmill in a tornado, hitting a team-
high 21 kills and scooping out 19
digs. She was also referred to as the
best defensive player by Rosen and
her teammates, keeping many rallies
alive. Her most important digs came
at a decisive fifth point in game four
where Kacor slammed three spikes
before she finally killed the rally.
Kacor also had an exceptional
game, registering 16 kills and a
team-leading 20 digs. She often had
a commanding presence at the net,
spiking the ball with the most veloc-
ity.
"Nicole has been struggling the
last couple of days," Rosen said.
"Her knees have been bugging her a
little bit. She hasn't been jumping as
well as she normally does, limiting

her shot... But she found a way in the
middle of the match, especially in
game four, to change that around a
little bit."
Michigan also had strong perfor-
mance at the net. Middle blocker
Annie Maxwell rejected five
Arkansas spikes, one solo, to lead
the Wolverines at the net. Blocker
Anne Poglits assisted on four blocks.
Because of Joanna Fielder, Maxwell,
Poglits and Pittenger, the
Razorbacks resorted to tipping a lot
of their attacks over Michigan's out-
stretched hands, trying to catch the
Wolverine defense off-guard.
"From day one (Pittenger) defi-
nitely held us defensively," Maxwell
said. "She's done a great job of not
only digging the line shots, but being
ready for those tips."
The first game against unranked
Syracuse was a breeze for Michigan.
The Wolverines swept the
Orangewomen, 15-3, 15-8, 15-12.
Maxwell lead the Wolverines with
1 1 kills and a team high .733 hitting
percentage.
In the Wolverines loss to No. I1
Pepperdine, Michigan played strong,
but was unable to keep pace with the
Waves, losing in straight games.
After a slow in the first game
Michigan came back with strong
play late in the game, but lost 15-4.
That momentum carried on to the
second game as the Wolverines took
a 4-1 lead. Pepperdine came back
and eventually won, 15-11. Strong
play in the third game by Michigan
was once again not enough, as they
lost, 15-10. Pittenger led the team
again with 12 kills and 15 digs.
Michigan travels to Columbia,
S.C. for the Carolina Classic on
Sept. 17-18. The Wolverines will
take on South Carolina, Virginia and
Connecticut. South Carolina and
Virginia both made the NCAA tour-
nament last season.


You're a sports nut.

SARA SCHENCK/Daily
Alja Plttenger (6), one of Michigan's front blocking four, was the team leader in
kils against Arkansas with 21 and second in digs with 19.
www.michigandaily.com

U U

A Taste of Chicaqo


r
s
I
I
I

r id Iiere in Ann Atcr'
Hi e of woIJ
H O u: a ch paWi!.
. winners of
Call 995-5095 . Bes 1ipati
frv 2man n toI


SOCCER MANIA

Woodland Plaza
2276 South Main Street
Ann Arbor Michigan 48103
(734)994 -5292
T - Shirts, Shorts and Sweatshirts

MASS MEETINGS

I
I
I
I
I