Thursday, October 5, 2006 - The Michigan Daily - 9A Spikers adjust 'D' during skid By Dan Feldman Daily Sports Writer After following a 13-0 start with a four-game skid to begin Big Ten play, the Michigan volleyball team may change its lineup. Sophomore Kerry Hance was replaced at libero by freshman Megan Bower before the second game of the Wolver- ines's loss to Wisconsin Saturday, despite starting the entire season at libero. Michigan coach Mark Rosen didn't see a significant difference between the two in the game and is not sure who will be the libero this weekend when Michi- gan hosts Northwestern and Illinois. The player who does not start at libero will be the defensive specialist, a role nearly identical to libero. But the libero is in the game for five- and-a-half rotations, while the defensive specialist plays only three, so Rosen anticipates the two could alternate between those positions based on who is playing well at the time. According to Rosen's assessment of the three main skills required of a libero, Hance has been slightly better at passing, while Bower has been a slightly better defensive player. Their serving has been fairly equal. Hance has been expecting a battle for the position all along. Junior Stesha Sel- sky, last year's libero, beat out redshirt sophomore Mara Martin to start at set- ter, but Hance was ready to challenge Selsky if necessary. She also realized all four freshmen on the team (Bower, Cassie Petoskey, Veronica Rood and Kirstin Wagner) had the skill set to compete for the libero position. "I've been competing the whole time," Hance said. "...I knew Megan Bower was going to want to be on the court, like every other player on the team." And Bower has played like she wants more playing time. "Bower's done a very good job defen- sively, and it's given her more opportuni- ties because of that," Rosen said. "She's also been getting consistently better as a passer and developing in that role. That's certainly given us the opportunity to try to start using her a little more. That's probably the biggest factor in the whole equation." But Hance is in no hurry to return to the defensive specialist role she played last year. She's been practicing with associate head coach Leisa Rosen in the mornings, working on her digging abil- ity. Bower has missed some practice time this week with strep throat, but played last weekend with the condition. "If we were playing (Wednesday) it would (be a factor in playing time)," Rosen said. "But we're not playing (Wednesday). We're playing on Friday and Sunday. "We have to wait and see and see if they're both healthy and then who we feel like is going to make the most impact on that given night. ... The sick- ness has nothing to do with it. She'll be fine to play. She'll be ready to go." ANGELA CESERE/Daily Sophomore Kerry Hance is battling with freshman Megan Bower for starting libero. Home success earns Pumford spot on road By Michael Eisenstein For the Daily Nick Pumford's parents probably knew that their son would end up on the links before he was even born. With six aunts, six uncles, both parents and an older brother that play and a grandmother who owns a driv- ing range, it was inevitable that soph- omore Pumford would find himself wielding a golf club at a young age. At age eight, old Pumford began his golf career. He went on to wits Division III All-State honors three times and to be a 2004 Michigan Mr. Golf candidate at St. Charles High School in Michigan. The only question was when Pum- ford would get to make his first start for the Wolverines. After finishing second at the Wolverine Intercolle- giate while competing unattached, the question has been answered. He will start this weekend at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. The first word Michigan coach Andrew Sapp used to describe Pum- ford's performance is "spectacular," and there isn't a better way to put it. Pumford had a four-under-par score of 209 (67-71-71) and tied for a tournament-high 13 birdies in just his second tournament as a Wolverine. Capitalizing on his long game off the tee by converting on his putts was particularly important for Pumford, who feels his short game is his weak- ness. "The big difference for him this year than last year is that he's putting a lot better than he has in the past,' Sapp said. "He worked really hard on his golf swing this past spring and summer. And the difference was obvious. But despite his fast start to the season, Pumford has yet to prove hinself completely. He hasn't played yet played in a tournament where his rounds count toward the team score. "He works really hard and is a good teammate to everybody" Sapp said. "Now we'll find out how well he'll contribute from a scoring stand- point." With three consecutive tourna- ments coming up on the schedule for the Wolverines, Pumford will have a chance to establish him- self in team play and possibly go on to accomplish his goal for the season - to play in the rest of the team's tournaments. But last year was a much different story for Pumford. He didn't make any starts, describing it as a "learning experience." But it was the competitiveness of the sport and the fact that hitting the links is often a very humbling expe- rience that have kept Pumford moti- vated to keep playing golf. "It's a game of highs and lows, and it's the highs that keep me coming back," Pumford said. Even with last weekend's effort securing a spot in this week's start- ing lineup, Sapp said he's worried that Pumford may get the jitters in his first event away from campus. But there's no need to worry. After all, the game of golf is in Pumford's blood. Twins centerflelder Torii Hunter misplays Mark Kotsay's line drive, which allowed Kotsay to score on an inside- the-park home run. 0y 0 History repeats itself for Hunter in loss to A's MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Right after two of his Minnesota teammates hit back-to-back home runs, Torii Hunter tried to be the hero. Instead, the Gold Glove center fielder made an ill-advised dive for a sinking line drive. Sprawled on the turf, he could only watch as Mark Kotsay circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run that lifted the Oakland Athletics over Minnesota 5-2 yesterday for a 2-0 lead in their AL playoff series. "It was the worst feeling in the world. You can't do anything about it," said Hunter, who -blamed himself for this devastating defeat. A's starter Esteban Loaiza slipped in the sixth inning, surrendering consecutive solo homers to Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau that evened the game at 2. But with Jason Kendall on first base, two outs in the seventh and reliever Dennys Reyes pitching, Kotsay hit what should have been a single. Hunter, bothered by a sore left foot this season, charged forward. "There's only one person in this league that can make that catch, and it's Torii," said Cuddyer, who watched from right field. "Although it's as close as you come, he's not Superman." The five-time Gold Glover missed - by a lot - and the ball rolled to the wall. Kotsay raced all the way around to give Oakland a 4-2 lead. "Once you commit, you're kind of in no-man's land, and it's best to go," said Kotsay, also a center fielder. "He went, and for his sake, unfortunately, the ball took off." LIKE THE TIGERS? GROW OUT YOUR PLAYOFF Fu MANCHUS. Met w country Explore DAILY SPORTS. fnancit Said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire: "When he goes after a ball, I don't second-guess him. Ever." The A's handled the Boof - Bonser, that is - and here's the truth: These perennial playoff underperformers have arrived at yet another elimi- nation game. They're 0-9 in those since 2000, los- ing four straight first-round series. "This team knows what to do," said Eric Chavez, a regular on all four of those clubs. "We're hard- nosed baseball players that like to play the game. I don't think anybody here, regardless if they've been in this position, is going to take Game 3 lightly." The series shifts west Friday, with Twins right- hander Brad Radke taking his broken shoulder socket to the mound for possibly the final time of his 12-year career. Dan Haren, in his first postsea- son start, will pitch for Oakland. Bonser, a rookie, struck out three in six innings, giving up two runs and seven hits. Sidearmer Pat Neshek, who took the loss, started the seventh before yielding to Reyes. The A's - who got an RBI double from Marco Scutaro for the second day in a row - tacked one more on in the ninth when Nick Swisher doubled against Juan Rincon and scored on Joe Nathan's wild pitch. Huston Street worked the ninth for his second save in as many days after blowing I1 chances dur- ing the regular season. He gave up a single to Jason Bartlett and a walk to Luis Castillo, but retired Nick Punto on a popup on a 3-2 pitch with AL bat- ting champion Joe Mauer on deck. Get It, Hide It, Win Ito Get a Chance to Win an All-Expense-Paid Weekend in Vegas with $1,000 spending money at the 2006 Pure Vanilla Tailgate Tour pV is the leading provider of anonymous online payments through its ubiquitous stored value card and payment solution specifically designed for secure purchases. Purchase a pV card, register to win a trip to vegas*, ride our mechanical bull, enjoy meeting our girls and more at our tailgate bus. Michigan us. 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