OReiilSigTnSa SP R. michigandaily.com/sports sportsdesk@umich.edu WEDNESDAY Q OCTOBER 17, 2001 Mink anxious to get back on ice for Blue Senior leaders set an example for spikers By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Writer Mark Mink proudly displays his misshapen finger. After breaking it several years ago, he allowed the injury to heal on its own, rather than seek medical atten- tion. He can take it; he's a hockey play- er. The junior forward has been out of action so far this season because of a broken hand. This injury didn't have him especially worried, either. "There wasn't a whole lot of pain," said Mink, who had competed in 86 consecutive games before this season began. "It swelled up a bit, but I still had some movement." With the swelling subsided and the pain almost completely gone, Mink will return to action for the Wolverines this weekend. "I hope that (Mink's return) will mean a lot to this team," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We need all the experience that we can get on those forward lines." But the journey back to the ice was a struggle for Mink. Shortly after the cast was removed but before the swelling had gone down, he tried to convince Berenson that he was healthy enough to play in the "Cold War" against Michigan State. "Coach shook my hand ," Mink said, "and he almost broke it again." After this experiment, the coaching staff opted to sit Mink during the big game. "Obviously, I really wanted to play (against Michigan State), but I just wasn't ready," Mink said. He returned to practice last week with a new resolve, but his body just wasn't prepared for the grind. Mink was left off of the traveling roster for the Maverick Stampede this past weekend in Omaha. "It was my call," Mink said. "It was borderline, and I wanted to go on the road. But we decided that it would be best for me to rest it and be ready for the CCHA season." While his teammates were traveling to the land of cornfields and Big 12 football, Mink and just three other teammates were left in Ann Arbor. Mink followed the action in Omaha by listening to the radio, but during the third period on Saturday night, his reception went out. "The last I heard it was 2-2 and we were doing well," Mink said. "So when I looked on the internet later (the 3-2 loss to Minnesota-Duluth) was kind of disappointing. One Wolverine will be especially glad to see Mink return - forward John Shouneyia. "It's a great feeling to have him back out there," Shouneyia said. "He is excited to be back on the ice and I am excited to have him back on my wing." By Charles Paradis Daily Sports Writer This weekend, the Michigan volley- ball team (5-3 Big Ten, 9-6 overall) will face its greatest challenge at home this year. But the Wolverines will be in good hands - when they take on No. 10 Ohio State and No. 11 Penn State, they will be led by their senior co-cap- tains, Annie Maxwell and Shannon Melka, who both know what makes a good captain. "Some good qualities are confidence, level-headedness, a good communica- tor and a very hard work ethic," Melka said in reference to what characteristics a captain should have. Confidence is a major issue for Michigan this weekend. The unranked Wolverines must have confidence as they face two ranked opponents at Cliff Keen Arena. Fortunately, both captains recognize the importance of a confident leader and neither lacks confidence in themselves or their teammates. The Wolverines' co-captains may be different in their styles of leadership, but the team benefits greatly from both Maxwell and Melka. "We have two captains and I think that is really important to our success," Maxwell said. "It allows each captain to be good at what they are good at." Maxwell is and has always been an emotional player. She considers herself a very fiery player and uses this energy to lead the team. Melka, on the other hand, is very cool-headed. In her role as setter, she tries to keep a calm head to keep the offense running smoothly. "I can't get all fired up and sporadic, because that's going to affect my job and affect five hitters around me," Melka said. While the two seem like day and night where emotion is concerned, they both agree that the most important thing a captain must do is lead by example. To that end, both captains try to work hard no matter what the cir- cumstance. "My main focus of my whole entire career has just been to go hard for every single ball, whether it is in double days of practice or it's the end of the season at the NCAA Tournament on the court,' Maxwell said. This work ethic has earned the co- captains the respect of both their team- mates and their coach. "I think both of them have been great leaders," Michigan coach Mark Rosen said. "I think they have really helped the transition of the younger players." In particular, Melka has had a major impact on the team as of late. After returning to a starting role midway through the season, she has been a sta- bilizer and a motivator for the Wolver- ines. "(Melka) leads by example and the team really responds to that," Rosen said. "They play really hard for her." A DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily Junior forward Mark Mink is eager to return to the ice for Michigan. The two juniors have been playing hockey together for seven years. Dur- ing their time at Michigan, Shouneyia estimates that they have been on the ice together at least 75 percent of the time. "I've definitely missed him a lot," said Shouneyia, who has just one point this year after finishing third on the team in scoring last season. "We really know where each other are on the ice." In addition to the sixth sense the two forwards have developed, their styles also match up well. "Mink is pretty much a shooter, and I am pretty much a passer," Shouneyia said. "We work well together. If I can find him, I know that he'll bury it." vii a After difficult losses, Wolverine By Rohit Bhave Daily Sports Writer With a tough Big Ten game against Wisconsin (0-2 Big Ten, 6-5-1 overall) Sunday, the Michigan men's soccer team needs a productive week of prac- tice. The Wolverines (1-3, 7-4-1) have struggled recently, going 0-3-1 in their last four games. This includes losses to Big Ten leader Indiana and third-place Michigan State. Although the recent losses have dropped Michigan to fifth in the Big Ten, the tough matches against quality competition have taught the Wolverines a great deal about the team's strengths and weaknesses. This week, coach Steve Burns is pri- marily concerned with his team's health and overall fitness. "This is the time of the season when the starting unit is very fit but also very banged up," Burns said. "This is a time when the reserve players do not have the same fitness level but are very healthy." s regroup Against Michigan State, the Wolver- ines fell prey to many breakaways. While the Spartans' strategy may have played a part in generating scoring chances, the Wolverines' heavy legs may have also contributed. "When fitness goes, the mind goes with it,' Burns said. "This is most evi, dent on the defensive side of the ball and in transition from attack to defense." While Michigan runs itself into shape in practice, it will also work to imple- ment a three-forward look. The Wolver- ines are blessed with three strong attackers in forwards Jody Keeling and Robert Turpin and midfielder Mychal Turpin. Burns will use Mychal Turpin the rest of the year to take advantage of his dazzling array of ball-moves. "By moving Mychal Turpin up front into one of the three forward positions, I feel we may be better using his explo- sive attacking nature and not exposing ourselves as much defensively," Burns said. While putting Mychal Turpin in bet- ter position to score, Burns is also call- ing out Keeling and Robert Turpin. In recent games, both have had decent scoring chances, but have failed to cash in at crucial moments. "Both (Keeling and Turpin) need to 0 a ALYSSA WOOD/Daily Robert (No. 15) and Mychal (No. 9) Turpin will need to start scoring more if the Wolverines want to end their four-game winless streak. find their form and start putting the ball into the old onion bag," Burns said. On defense, the coaching staff believes placing Matt Niemeyer at defensive midfield will give the Wolver- ines a player who can read plays and disrupt offensive attacks. This move will further strengthen the defense by shift- ing Kevin Taylor back to sweeper, his natural position. While Burns may be displeased with his team's recent defensive lapses and missed offensive opportunities, he is certainly proud of his team's cohesive- ness and competitiveness. "First and foremost," noted Burns, "this is a team that will stay together and pull'for one another." The Faceof the New Public Service I AMERICAN UNIVERSITY W A S H N G TN , D C School of Public Affairs Meet us at the Michigan Graduate Recruitment Fair October 24, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Michigan Union Programs: - Public Administration - Public Policy - Government/Political Science " Justice, Law & Society - Organizational Development Blanchard a Naismith candidate LaVell Blanchard is one of 30 pre- season candidates listed for the. Nai- smith Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Last season Blanchard led Michigan in threen categories as a sophomore. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per : game, and also led the Wolver- ines by making Blanchard 40 percent of his three-pointers. Earlier this year, Blanchard was named to the Playboy preseason All- American team. Blanchard earned All-Big Ten sec- ond-team honors for the 2000-01 sea- son and was Big Ten Freshman of the Year in the 1999-00 season. Duke junior point guard Jason Williams was listed as the top presea- L- Try All The Win Q HOT POCKETS brand stuffed sandwiches @ LEANPOCKETS' LEAN stuffed sandwiches CROISSANT POCKETS brand stuffed sandwiches ming Varieties! Available at Kroger, Meijer, Spartan and other fine stores in your area (in the freezer section) i i i i i i i i i -- i i i i i i