The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 1, 2004 - 11
Blue takes
to ice for
exhibition
By Jake Rosenwasser
Daily Sports Writer
It's just a weekend of exhibitions, but don't tell
that to the Michigan hockey coaches. New NCAA
rules have prohibited the veteran staff from run-
ning practices until tomorrow, but once the puck
hits the ice at Yost, the coaches expect to see a
Michigan team that is ready to compete.
The Wolverines will host Windsor tomorrow and
will play the Blue/White Intrasquad game on Sunday.
"We're trying to treat Windsor like a regular con-
ference game," associate head coach Mel Pearson
said. "It's going to be more difficult though, because
we've had no real contact with the players."
Captain's practice has had to make due in the
coaches' absence, and the team's experience
should ease the transition from practice to game
situations. The Wolverines return 10 seniors, while
adding just two freshmen, who have yet to get
acclimated to the college game.
"The fact that we have so many returning play-
ers makes things easier," Pearson said. "We have
an idea about our lines and we're trying to find
spots for our two freshmen forwards where they
can have some success."
The coaches have high expectations for new-
comers Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik. Both have
skated with the U.S. National Team Developmental
Program since 2002, and both have already been
drafted into the NHL.
"Kevin Porter is more of an all-around player,"
Pearson said. "He plays well defensively without
the puck and offensively he can really shoot it.
He's a hardworking, solid player.
"Chad Kolarik is a flashy player, who might be
a little more exciting to watch. He's a very good
skater with a lot of speed and creativity."
Tomorrow, the freshmen will be introduced to
Yost, but Michigan captain Eric Nystrom will sit
the weekend out with a rib injury. Despite par-
ticipating in practice, Jason Ryznar will also be
unavailable while he continues to recover from off-
season surgery stemming from when his head got
cut by a skate last season. Fortunately for the Wol-
verines - T.J. Hensick, last year's CCHA rookie
of the year and lead Wolverine scorer - will prob-
ably play in spite of a groin injury.
One of the reasons that the coaches are so seri-
ous about these games is that the real season opener
is just a week away. The Wolverines will travel to
Duo gears up
for record year
By Ben Voss
For the Daily
To a volleyball player, one of the
most satisfying moments is a per-
fectly executed kill. There is a short-
lived feeling of relief in knowing
one's team is another point closer
to victory. The feeling continues
through a quick round of high fives,
and the players prepare for the next
rally.
Senior outside hitter Jennifer
Gandolph knows that feeling well.
In her four years at Michigan, she's
had that feeling 1,372 times.
"My favorite (kills) are the ones at
the ends of long rallies," Gandolph
said, "It's the exclamation point at
the end of a match."
Gandolph already holds Michigan
records in both digs and attempts,
and is just 12 kills away from break-
ing Michigan's all-time record. Gan-
dolph continues to rewrite the record
books, but her main goal lies in sup-
porting the team.
"As long as I do my job and take
care of what I'm supposed to, (the
record) will come," Gandolph said.
Gandolph did her job on Tuesday
when she made the final kill against
Notre Dame, winning the match 3-
1 and scoring a career high of 26
kills.
While Gandolph is commonly the
player to put the point away, she said
she can't do any of it without the
help of fifth-year senior setter Lisa
Gamalski. Gamalski is also expected
to break the all-time setting record
by the end of this year.
"It has really paid off to have the
same setter for all four years," Gan-
dolph said.
Gandolph and Gamalski have
become a lethal duo on the court.
FILE PHOTO While they've been teammates for
four years, Michigan coach Mark
Rosen believes their effectiveness
ncoming has greatly increased this season.
going to Their chemistry might come as a sur-
prise considering they were once each
ad game, other's biggest club volleyball rivals.
ual Skate Four years ago, on a rainy Sunday,
can skate Gamalski was Gandolph's host dur-
ing the recruitment progress.
"I was a freshman at the time, so
I didn't really know my way around
yet," Gamalski said. "We walked
s around with our stuff looking for the
LAO Campus Inn for hours."
After a rough start, Gamalski
n. In the began a good relationship with Gan-
the items dolph and hoped she would join the
learned. team at Michigan.
ach other "I would have been devastated if
aid. she didn't come," Gamalski said.
pute not- Luckily for Gamalski, Gandolph
ppy with joined her and they started on a
ley have journey that has led them to break-
nd filthy ing records today.
is, home- "I knew I would have the same
with close setter for four years so I knew we
would have a ton of time (to devel-
op)," Gandolph said.
The two have similar values on
and off the court. Both coming from
athletic families, they have learned
the importance of hard work and
dedication.
During the past four years, these
athletes have excelled in their abili-
ties with the help of their teammates,
coaches and family.
"My parents have been awesome,"
Gandolph said. "They've missed
only four games in the whole four
years."
Gamalski was originally an out-
side hitter like Gandolph, but she
was told that if she joined the team,
she would have to become a setter.
"As a setter, you're very subservi-
ent," Rosen said. "You don't start or
end the play."
The conversion took hard work
and a lot of faith in the program by
Gamalski, and she came through
with flying colors.
"I told her she's been everything
we've hoped for in a setter," Rosen
said.
Even though Gandolph and
Gamalski are breaking individual
records this season, their main goals
concern the team.
"More than ever, I want a Big Ten
(championship)," Gamalski said.
"I'd rather have that than my name
in a record book."
Tonight, the team plays Purdue.
With just 12 more kills to go, Gan-
dolph will likely break the all-time
record.
Although the statistics are what's
written in the record book, Gan-
dolph and Gamalski prove that it's
teamwork that writes them.
Because of a rib injury, captain Eric Nystrom must remain on the bench this weekend.
Dayton on Oct. 8 to participate in the third annual
Lefty McFadden Tournament, where they will take
on Northeastern and Boston University.
"We need to get in a game - we need to play
against an opponent," head coach Red Berenson
said. "I want to see a sense of urgency from our
guys. And I want to see the young players. It's
always exciting to get a look at the i
freshmen. I think both these players are
be real good players for us this year."
On Sunday, after the Blue/White Intrasqu
the Dekers Blue Line Club will host the ann
with the Wolverines. Fans who are on hand<
with the players and get autographs.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Kickers a
By Matt Singer
Daily Sports Writer
Every year, thousands of University
students embark on an epic journey.
These young men and women emerge
from the safe confines of dorm life and
bravely set out on their own, ventur-
ing into houses and apartments. This
year, five sophomores on the Michigan
women's soccer team have taken that
leap together - and so far, they've loved
every second of it.
"It's fun to live with more than one
person," defender Brenna Mulholland
said. "I definitely think that living with
four other people on our team will help
us all become better friends."
Mulholland shacks up with teammates
Katelin Spencer, Judy Coffman, Lindsey
Cottrell and Megan Tuura in a five-bed-
room apartment.
While the adjustment to their new
housing situation has been a positive
experience, each athlete has had to learn
to accept the quirkier aspects of their
teammates' personalities.
"We decorated our bathroom all cute
and stuff before (Tuura) was here," Spen-
cer said. "And then, when she got here,
there were SpongeBob SquarePants tow-
els and a rubber ducky. We have to be
accepting of her trinkets."
"I think she'd want to go on a date with
SpongeBob," Mulholland added.
While Tuura fawns over cartoon char-
acters, Spencer has difficulty keeping
track of her personal items. Mulholland
recounted a recent situation in which
Spencer had misplaced some cheddar
cheese.
For three days, Spencer frantically
searched the house, swearing that she
had set it down "somewhere."
"Katelin freaks out about anything
and everything," Cottrell said.
But it was Mulholland who happened
to come across the missing cheese -
which had somehow found its way into
the fish food drawer.
"I sporadically place things like that,"
Spencer admitted.
What won't be misplaced in the house
are dishes, at least if Mulholland has her
"
djust to nc
way. The "tidy" member of the household
has come up with a theory to explain why,
thus far, the house has stayed clean.
"Our house, in general, is very clean,
but as soon as one dish gets in the
sink, there's like 20 dishes in the sink
about three seconds later," Mulholland
explained. "So as long as we keep the
sink empty, our house is clean."
While keeping a close watch on the
sink, Mulholland apparently wasn't
paying attention to the fridge, the site
,l
w living conditio
of the house's most intense political machine gun magnet in retur
battle. After the Ann Arbor native and end, cooler heads prevailed, t
John Kerry supporter placed a mocking were returned and a lesson was
dress-up of President Bush magnet on "They're fair about letting e
the refrigerator, Tuura responded with voice their opinions," Spencer s
a Bush-Cheney bumper sticker. But she The occasional political dis
didn't stop there. withstanding, the girls are ha
"The machine gun that you could their new surroundings. Th
dress Bush up with went mysteriously gladly traded in dorm food a
missing," Mulholland said. bathrooms for their own room
Mulholland took the bumper sticker cooked food and quality time v
and held it for ransom, demanding the friends.
SHUBRI OHRI/Daily
Jennifer Gandolph Is poised to break
Michigan's kill record this weekend.
l
S O M M O O M M M M E
"Don't let your
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