12 .- The Michigan Daily - Tuesday October 10, 2000
DUPREY
Continued from Page 1
edged at home in '98, 25-24.
And last season, Michigan State's
outside angle at the national title
game was promptly dismissed by
Purdue, 52-28, at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The Boilermakers give this team fits,
and will likely do it again Nov. 11.
Lastly: the Land Grant Trophy
game, at Penn State on Nov. 18. It's
another solid opportunity for State to
steal-a victory. But if they enter that
game 0-7 in the conference. the pres-
sure could prove too much. Plus,
Penn SMate-Michigan State games
tend to be close. regtardless of the
skill of the teams involved.
It' an outside chance, I'm aware.
Still, Michigan fans need some
ammunition to use against Michigan
State's basketball prowess.
Clowning the Spartans for an 0-8
Big Ten mark isn't as good as a
national championship of our own,
but hey, what the hell, we're sports
fans. We'll be petty if we have to.
Given the way our own team's
playing, it looks like we will.
- Chris Igne' can he reached at
c'up~re(aumich.edu.
Spikers' attitude 'rocks house'
.- .- -- - r'-C. --t- - --- - -a-
I I&
1 I
7( withthis
ad on any replan
sundae incudhn# Hot
Fudge.Banana S t
i Waffle Cone, Cookie
Dough Brownie
Sundae.
I *
1I
VERMONT'S FINEST *ICE CREAM FROZEN YOGURT,, i
X04 S. State Street o Ann Ar or, MI a 734-665-4440 1
Valid with coupon. One coupon per cutomer. Expires10/19/00
By Kristen Fidh
Daily Sports Writer
Energy, attitude and the drive to
fight characterized the Michigan vol-
leyball team this weekend, whether it
won or lost.
This past Friday, the Wolverines
beat Indiana 3-2 during their Rock the
House event. Saturday, they came up
short, barely losing to Penn State, 3-2.
One thing remained consistent
though - the Wolverines' positive
attitude.
If the announcer said, "Attack,
Nicole Kacor. Point, Michigan," the
Wolverines gathered and slapped
hands in celebration.
If the announcer said, "Net viola-
tion, Michigan. Point, Indiana," the
Wolverines gathered and slapped
hands in encouragement.
Maybe it was the nervousness of
being on the road that troubled
Indiana and Penn State. Nevertheless,
Michigan had the chemistry.
Ranked eighth in the Big Ten,
Indiana posed some competition,
especially in game three. Though the
Hoosiers won 15-2. Michigan rejuve-
nated their energy to come back for a
win.
"It would have been real easy to
just roll over after getting beaten 15-
2, but they found some heart, some
charisma and some character and
really competed," Michigan coach
Mark Rosen said.
If the constant encouragement
between plays didn't bring the game-
winning energy, Katrina Lehman's
on-court voice must have.
"Hit the ball!"
"Come on, Shannon!"
"Put it away, Jo!"
Lehman is a leader in pumping up
the team as well as scoring points as
one of Michigan's middle blockers.
"I feel like everyone has a different
role in the team, and I feel like that is
my role. I have to keep the team ener-
gized and keep the team positive."
Indiana and Michigan seemed
evenly matched, as both teams
excelled in attacking and blocking.
The problem for both, though, lied in
digging.
Utilizing its substitutions,
Michigan was able to step up the
defensive level, bringing in junior
Cobey Shoji, who earned a total of 17
digs.
"We have been struggling defen-
sively, and she hasn't been on the
floor," Rosen said. "She came in and
made a big difference - a big impact
in our defense."
Losing to Penn State, last season's
NCAA champs, Michigan's attack
lacked strength, but overflowed with
energy.
Until the last serve of the match.
"What keeps me going? I hate to
freaking lose," Nicole Kacor said. "If
that means we are down, the game
still isn't over, and we have to come
back strong."
The Wolverines came back strong
for two hours and 14 minutes, with
just one problem.
Michigan struggled defensively,
and the Nittany Lions did not.
Friday's defensive problems were
corrected by adding Shoji and Olson,
but the 18 allotted substitutions were
taken up by the constant switch of set-
ters Shannon Melka and Nicole
Poquette. Penn State's hard hitter,
Mishka Levy, played over Melka's
head, showing a need for Poquette's
height. Melka then came in when
Penn State had the ball, leaving no
room for Friday's defensive key.
"That was a tough one," Rosen
said. "It hurts. It' hard, and I know it
is even more so for the girls because
they put a lot into it. But, at the same
time, I think we played well, and I am
proud."
Men's tennis advances two
teams in doubles of JTA
The top singles performers this week-
end for the Michigan men's tennis team
were Junior Greg Novak and upstart
freshman Anthony Jackson.
Novak, improving with time after a
three set marathon (6-4, 6-7, 6-2), went
on to win his next two matches in more
dominant fashion (6-4, 6-4; 6-3, 6-0).
His run came to an end at the hands of
Martin Jirak in a 4-6, 5-7 loss.
Jackson battled back in his second
round match from a 1-6 thrashing to
take the final two sets 6-3, 6-2. With the
help of a no-show in the third-round, the
freshman advanced to the round of 32
where he fell in straight sets (4-6, 2-6) to
Jorge Haro.
In symmetrical fashion, Henry Beam
cruised through the first round 6-1, 6-1,
but came up short in the second round to
Magnus Kullenberg 4-6, 4-6.
Junior Ben Cox extended his week-
end one match further as he gave up
only 12 games in his first two matches
(6-4, 6-3) and (6-2, 6-3). In a lopsided
third round, Cox lost another 12 games
but this time it resulted in a 6-2, 6-1
defeat.
In doubles, Jackson and Cox enter the
third round of play after two 8-3 victo-
ries.
The No. I duo of McCain and Beam
walked throuh the first-round with a
bye, and escaped the second-round
when their opponent withdrew.
They will take on the team of Doug
Deviendt and Martin Jirak in the round
of 32. The Wolverines will be lookng for
revenge against Jirak, who ended
Novak's run in the singles competition.
- Mike Bloom
S BRIEFS
Mets provi ' bulletin
board materi for Cards
01
NEW YORK (AP) - The Mets
aren't shy about expressing their pref-
erence for playing St. Louis instead of
their nemesis, the Atlanta Braves, in the
NL championship series.
"I was a little relieved," reliever Turk
Wendell said of the Braves being elim-
inated. "That is a team that mentally
puts a lot of pressure on other teams. It
puts pressure on guys to think that they
have to be perfect."
New York has been far from it
against Atlanta. The Mets are 14-29
against the Braves the past three sea-
sons, including a loss in last year's
NLCS.
And while the champagne was
spraying throughout the New York
clubhouse Sunday after eliminating
San Francisco in four games, the Mets
were happy not to have to answer ques-
tions about why they are spooked by
Atlanta.
"Nothing derogatory against them, but
I'm glad to see them lose," first baseman
Todd Zeile said. "This team has not had
much success against them. But I dowt@
think anybody really cares who we're
playing, as long as we're there."
The Mets are 26-10 against the
Cardinals, making it is easy to under-
stand why the Mets are relieved they
are opening the best-of-seven NLCS
tomorrow night in St. Louis instead of
in Atlanta.
Mike Hampton (15-11) is expected
to get the start for New York against It.
Louis' Darryl Kile (21-9).
"I'm glad we don't have to answer*
questions about why we can't win in
Atlanta," left-hander Al Leiter sai.
"That became a nuisance"
The Cardinals head into their first
NLCS in four years well rested, having
swept the Braves on Saturday. The
Mets took an extra day to eliminate the
Giants, but both teams have their pitch-
ing rotations set up perfectly.
ALCS Preview
Game 1
Who: Seattle at
NY YANKEES
When: 8:12 p.m.
T.V.: NBC
PITCHERS:
Seattle:
Garcia (9-5)
NY YANKEES: Garcia
Neagle (15-9)
HISTORY: The two teams last
met in the playoffs in 1995 in
the divisonal series, when the
Mariners defeated the Yankees
in extra-innings of game five to
advance to the ALCS.
NCAA Football Leaders
RusHING Yds Yds/g TD
LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU 974 194.8 12
Michael Bennett, Wisc. 940 188.0 6
Damien Anderson, N'westem 1050175.0 13
Ken Simonton, Oregon St. 813 162.6 10
T 1 rn rk C Mlh . OSt 1 1 F)n R