14 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 13, 2000
Pittenger, Poquette keep killing pace for 'M'
Forward Fronzoni Alford-stays put:
nabs Big Ten honor denies interest in
TvqrI * n 9
By Albert Kim
l)ailySports Writer
On a team that is deep in talent,
but supposedly without a dominant
hitter, senior outside hitter Alija
Pittenger and redshirt freshman
Nicole Poquette have established
themselves as the two-headed spik-
ing machine that could lead the No.
23 Michigan volleyball team to great
things.
The two blend youth and veteran
leadership, and both are ranked in
Ile top five on the team in nearly
Cvery statistical category.
With injuries besetting the front
line of Michigan; both have stepped
up and picked up the slack, not only
offensively but defensively.
"Alija is the most versatile player
on the team, and Nicole is the best
blocker on the team," said sopho-
more middle blocker Katrina
Lehman, who leads the team in
blocks.
Pittenger leads the team in kills
through six matches, is second in
digs, and third in blocks. Through
her play, she has provided the senior
leadership that this team needs.
"Alija is an incredible player and
an amazing athlete," Lehman said.
"She's a quiet player on the court,
but she gets the job done."
Last weekend at the All-Sport
Challenge in Ann Arbor, Pittenger
not only led the team in kills, she
stepped up at every crucial moment
in the championship match.
Up by just one in the first game,
Pittenger served four straight points
to effectively put South Carolina
away. Down 11-7 in the third game,
Pittenger served five straight points
to stake the Wolverines to a one-
point lead and eventual victory.
"I feel pretty comfortable on the
court, and I just tried to stay consis-
tent," Pittenger said.
Poquette has quietly led the team
in an often overlooked category, kill
percentage, with an impressive .417.
That means that more than four out
of 10 sets to Poquette are kills. She is
also second in blocks.
"Nicole had to come in and fill
some very big shoes, since Sarah
was injured, and she did an amazing
job," Lehman said.
"She's confident, and she's only a
freshman.'
Lehman shined in the Challenge
leading the team in, not surprisingly,
kill percentage.
"I was a little bit more nervous and
excited here. I still felt I played pret-
ty well," Poquette said.
Two players, one near the end of
her Michigan career, and one at the
beginning. One season, and one goal.
Let the killing begin.
Michigan field hockey forward April
Fronzoni received the Big Ten
Offensive Player of the Week award
yesterday for her performance in this
past weekend's homestand.
The freshman scored a goal in the
Wolverines' 6-1 victory over American
University on Saturday.
The following day, Fronzoni posted a
natural hatrick in a 6-1 romp over Ohio.
On the season, Fronzoni is tied for
the team lead in goals with five. She
also holds an assist to her credit.
Fronzoni was a two-time prep All-
America while at Wyoming West high
school in Larksville, Penn.
inuian9 s vacancy
IOWA CITY (AP) - Amid all the
speculation and phone calls, Iowa ath-
letic director Bob Bowlsby said he
never had any doubt about Steve
Alford's future as the Hawkeyes' bas-
ketball coach.
Alford, a former Indiana star start-
ing his second year at Iowa, held a
news conference Tuesday to put the
rumors to rest: he has not been con-
tacted by the Hoosiers to replace Bob
Knight, nor does he want to be.
"It's September 12, this is the last
time I'm going to talk about it," Alford
said. "I'm not going to talk about
something that's not going to happen."
He said questions about whether he *
would replace Knight were getting in
the way of his recruiting and his team's
preparations for the upcoming season.
"I want them talking about what our
Hawkeye basketball team is doing on a
nightly basis, and that can't happen if
there's some uneasiness, uncertainty
with what's going on with the head
coaching position at lowa," Alford
said.
I t t X!, , - e
DAILY SPORTS
WANTS YOU!
The Michigan Daily Sports Staff is currently
seeking writers for the 2000.01school year. No
experience is necessary to write. Just stop by one
of our two remaining mass meetings and become
part of Michigan sports history (plus have a really
good time doing it).
MASS MEETING DATES;
Tomorrow -?7p.m.
Monday, Sept.18 - 7 p.m.
Mass meetings take place at the Student
Publications Building on Maynard Street across
from Helen Newberry and next to the Student
Activities Building
We're looking for sports photographers too! Stop by
tomorrow and Monday for more infomation.
Bowlsby said he knew Alford would
not leave Iowa City.
"That's the kind of person he is, and
that's what first attracted us to him,,"
Bowlsby said. "While others were
wondering, I really wasn't"
Alford's relationship with Knight
was strained in recent years. At their
highly publicized meeting in
Bloomington last season, Knight greet-
ed Alford warmly before the game but
went into a tirade when a reporter
asked about his dealings with Alford.
Indiana won that game 74-73.
0
Knight accuser
harrassed, leaves IU
BLOOMINGTON (AP) The
Indiana freshman who said Bob Knight
grabbed his arm might leave school
because of threats he has received.
Jerry Harvey, father of Kent Harvey
and his brothers, Kevin and Kyle, told
The Indianapolis Star that the triplets
had left the state with their mother and
stepfather, Chris and Mark Shaw. He
said the trip could include visits to
other schools.
"Their freshman year is1 now in
shreds," Jerry Harvey said.
Jerry Harvey said Kent has received
threatening e-mail.
Kent's roommate, Dejavieur Speller
said threatening phone calls have been
made.
University officials have given
Speller an unlisted phone number and
removed his name from the school's
online listing of students.
The Harvey brothers and two friends
were at Assembly Hall on Thursday to
pick up football tickets when they
encountered Knight. Kent Harvey said,
"Hey, what's up, Knight?"
Both sides say the basketball coach
then grabbed Harvey's arm to admon-
ish him. Knight, his version of events
backed by assistant coach Mike Davis,
said lie was not as aggressive as Harvey
and the other boys said he was.
MAJORL BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST DIVISION GB
New York
Boston g
Toronto 1
Tampa Bay 4.4 2
CENTRAL DIVISION GB
aenand7-4 5
etroit 44
Kansas City
Minnesota
WEST DIVISION W itGB
Seat e 7~
Qakiand 7
Anaheim r v
Tex as 6Y 13
Yesterday's Games
Detroit 10, Chicago 3
Texas 9, Baltimore 1, 1st game
Boston 8, Cleveland 6
N.Y. Yankees 10, Toronto 2
Baltimore at Texas, inc.
Kansas City at Seattle, inc.
Minnesota at Oakland, inc.
Tampa Bay at Anaheim, inc.
Today's Games
Minnesota at Oakland, 3:35 p.m.
Boston at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.
Toronto at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Texas, 8:05 p.m.
Detroit at Chicago, 8:05 p.m.
Kansas City at Seattle, 10:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Anaheim, 10:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST DIVISiN
01
0
W L Pct GB
Atlanta 84 60 .583 -
New York 82 62 .569 2
Florida 69 74 .483 1
Montreal 61 82 .427 2
Philadelphia 59 85 .410 2
CENTRAL IVISIONW L Pct G
St. Louis 83 61 .576 -
Cincinnati 74 71 .510 9
Houston 63 81 .438 2
Milwaukee 63 81 .438 2
Pittsburgh 61 82 .427 2
Chicago 60 84 .417 2
WEST VIVISION
W L Pct G
San Francisco 85 58 .594 -
Arizona 76 66 .535E
Los Angeles 75 69 .521 1
Colorado 73 70 .510 1
San Diego 71 74 .490 1
T esday'S Games
Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati 1
Montreal 1, Philadelphia 0
N.Y. Mets 10, Milwaukee 2
Cl i nF A4.-tlntaA r
,Q
iB
2
4.5
2.5
5
B
.5
20
20
1:5
23
GB
8.5
10.5
12
15
0