The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 13A Momentum carrying netters into Iowa City Playing outside tough for Blue By Brian Schick Daily Sports Writer After one of the most successful weekends in the history of the Michi- gan women's tennis team, coach Bitsy Ritt decided after winning three matches in three days her team earned itself a rest. The Wolverines (3-4 Big Ten, 10-8 overall) took Monday and Tuesday off from practice in preparation for their final road match of the season in Iowa City this Sunday. This will be the first time since March 2 that the team has had a solid week to focus on just one opponent. "They were very energized and very focused," Ritt said of her team's return to practice. "They were very up from the win and eager to work really hard in practice this week. They'll remember how hard they worked in matches this past weekend to win and remember how much fun it was to win." As the team returned to practice yesterday, the players were in good spirits and optimistic about the rest of the season. After winning three matches last weekend - two against SMITH Continued from Page 11A response. "You know why I didn't shoot more? Because I know my role," Got- fredson said at the banquet. Adebiyi, another former "Soul Patrol" practice squad member, didn't give a fairwell speech. He will find himself in a familiar position next year. The Ann Arbor native will return for a fifth year - just like Gotfredson - to be one of the tri-captains of a young group of Wolverines. Amaker needs example-setters, guys who undoubtedly buy into his system and can pass that message along to the melting pot of players on next year's team - whether they are McDonald's All-Americans or Amadou Ba. Adebiyi "is a great leader," Michi- gan assistant coach Chuck Swenson said earlier this season. "He's a spokesperson in the lockerroom. And people listen to him because he does- n't take any crap from anybody - Pujols likes what he sees in his Tigers DETROIT (AP) - Bobby Higgin- son doesn't want the Detroit Tigers to think about their record or even look at the standings. Detroit's losing streak stretched to . eight - its worst start in a half-cen- tury - as Frank Thomas capped a five-run fifth inning with a three-run homer that led the Chicago White Sox to a 7-5 win yesterday. "You can't think about it, or you'll be 0-16," Higginson said. The Tigers, the major leagues' lone winless team, also started the 1952 season 0-8. They are off to the worst start since the Chicago Cubs lost their first 14 games in 1997, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. "It's not cool," Dmitri Young said. "All the sudden, everybody is turn- ing their backs to us and now it's us against everybody." Detroit has lost two games since Luis Pujols replaced Phil Garner as manager and general manager Randy Smith was fired. The Tigers are batting .154 with runners in scoring position, .230 overall, and have compounded a 6.22 ERA with numerous defensive mistakes beyond their six errors. "It's a 162-game season, if this was football, we'd be in a big hole," Matt Anderson said. "It's April. Who remembers what you did in April?" If the Tigers keep losing and threaten Baltimore's major league record 0-21 start in 1988, it will be an April to remember. The White Sox, meanwhile, barely remember what the Windy City looks like. They won three of four to split an eight-game road trip, heading into tomorrow's home opener against Baltimore. "Spring training feels like it was two months ago," said Keith Foulke, who earned his second save. "I can't wait to get home." opponents ranked in the top 40 - the Wolverines improved their record to two games above .500 and moved into the middle of the Big Ten stand- ings. With any good win comes a boost in momentum, and the three recent wins can only add to the roll the Wolverines are currently riding. Michigan has won six of its last eight, and even with the time off, Ritt feels her team will be equally prepared - if not more so - for Iowa. "We needed the time to rest and recover and now to get ready for our next dual match," Ritt said. "The momentum will carry over into the match, and our confidence will be high. They learned a lot from these matches and that will help us." Confidence should no longer be an issue this week, as the Wolverines enter the match against the Hawkeyes (2-4, 5-11) with their highest ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Associa- tion poll so far this season. The 43rd- ranked Wolverines assume the roll of favorites in this weekend's match against No. 63 Iowa. This is the only time this season Michigan has been a he'll say something to anybody, no matter if its LaVell or a freshman." If Adebiyi can demonstrate that leadership and help out fellow tri- captains Gavin Groninger and LaVell Blanchard - while showing the same class that Gotfredson did - this may be Amaker's smartest move yet. IOWA CITY Who: Michigan (3-4 Big Ten, 10-8 overall) vs. Iowa (2-4, 5-11) When: 11 a.m. Latest: The Wolverines have won six of their last eight and look to wrap up their road schedule this weekend against a struggling Iowa team. favorite when both teams are ranked. "I think the schedule has helped us (move up in the rankings)," Ritt said. "We've had lots of opportunities and were able to take advantage of learn- ing from the schedule. We've played a tough schedule, and its paying off now. We are pleased that we moved up in the rankings but need to keep in mind (there are still three matches left.)" Although Michigan will play the role of the favorite this weekend, Ritt said she will be careful not to allow her team to become overconfident. As her team demonstrated last weekend, ranking is often not a perfect indica- tion of a team's actual performance. The road has been unkind to Michigan this season - the Wolver- ines have won just three of the six matches away from the Varsity Ten- nis Center. However, Iowa has strug- gled recently, dropping five of its last six, three to Big Ten opponents. Should Michigan win, it will be Michigan's second season in the last six that it would have a winning record on the road. By Brian Steer. Daily Sports Writer The coming of spring always means that another season of outdoor tennis is ready to begin. After spend- ing the entire winter indoors, players must adjust to the sudden change in conditions. The Michigan men's tennis team (3-4 Big Ten, 12-6 overall) will try to garner its first outdoor win of the year this weekend, at home against Iowa (3-3, 11-6), which has won two of its last four games. In last weekend's match at No. 14 Ohio State, the Wolverines struggled in the unfamil- iar, open-air surroundings fered a 6-1 defeat. VARSITY7 CENT Who: Michigan( 12-6 overall) vs.I 11-6) When: Noon Latest: Michigai its home sched against Iowa a to rebound afte State snapped match winning and suf- loss to the Buckeyes. "We're practicing outside pretty much for the rest of the year," Jack- son said. "Hopefully that will help us out this weekend and at the Big Ten Championships. With just three matches remaining before the start of the conference tournament, TENNIS Jackson knows that rER event is lingering in the minds of all the players. (34 Big Ten; "We're all gearing up Iowa (3 3, for the Big Ten Champi- onships," Jackson said. an wraps up "For our seniors, this is dule their last year. We want nd hopes to get a Big Ten Cham- erOhio pionship, and we feel a four- like we have a great streak. opportunity." In addition to the con- ference tournament, an invitation to the NCAA tournament is a presti- gious honor that Michigan has earned the past four years. But an above-.500 record in the Big Ten seems to be a requirement for selection, considering the Wolver- ines' prior history. Over the past 12 years, Michigan has made the NCAA tournament seven times - each time with a winning record in the confer- ence. Currently standing at 3-4 in the Big Ten, the Wolverines must beat Iowa this weekend to have a chance at an above-.500 finish. This weekend's match will also bring an end to the careers of Michigan's three seniors: Henry Beam, Ben Cox and Greg Novak. With Beam and Cox playing No. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, and Novak taking the No. 5 spot, Michi- gan coach Mark Mees knows their presence on the team will certainly be missed. "They have been a huge part of our lineup this year," Mees said. "It's going to be tough to replace that level of play. There certainly have been times where all three of them have come through in some big matches for us." "It was our first outdoor match of the year, and I would say the weather was a factor," sophomore Anthony Jackson said. "We've played indoors pretty much all winter, and it was an advantage for Ohio State to play out- side." Because of this lack of experi- ence, the Wolverines have been practicing outside ever since their So you want to be a doctor... Why Wait? Lease Now for Fall and relax! . Low winter rates * Westside location near U of M " On bus route " Pets welcome Call 734-761-1897 Applying to medical school? Credential review Application assistance Personal, individual advising Judith K. Levine www.PremedAdvising.com (914)631-7996 Former medical school director of admissions A D V I S I N G SERVICE S Joe Smith can be reached at josephms@umich.edu. Apply for a summer internship working on an episode of Music In High Places, starring Unwritten Law. 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