10 - Friday, December 1, 2006 Blue ready for Poly By ANDY REID Daily Sports Writer The Michigan volleyball team has been fighting an uphill battle throughout the 2006 season, and it won't have any opportunity to rest anytime soon. Last weekend, the Wolverines finished one of the most brutal regular-season schedules in the nation only to be placed in one of the NCAA Tournament's toughest sub-regional brackets. Michigan will kick off its Tour- nament run against Cal Poly, the host of the sub-regional, today at 11 p.m. at Mott Gym in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Very few teams envy the level of competition the Wolverines have faced this year, with eight of Michigan's opponents currently in or receiving votes for the top 25. Six of these teams are in the Big Ten, which means the Wolverines had to play them twice. But being so battle-tested might give Michigan an advantage over its tournament opponents. "This (sub-regional) is one of the toughest three in the whole tournament," Michigan coach Mark Rosen said. "We've seen this level of competition week-in and week-out, though. None of these teams really scare us, but at the same time we know they're very good." If Michigan makes it past Cal Poly (13-1 Big West, 22-5 overall), it will square off tomorrow night at 10 p.m. EST against the winner of the Louisiana State-California game. Cal Poly and Michigan played three common opponents in the regular season - Minnesota, Pacific and UC Irvine. The Wolverines beat Pacific and UC Irvine while split- ting their series against Minnesota. Cal Poly swept Pacific in its series, split with UC Irvine and dropped its match with Minnesota. Second-year coach Jon Steven- son has revitalized Cal Poly, which is just two years removed from posting a five-win season. Steven- son has led his Mustangs to the Big West conference title and the team's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2002. Cal Poly has won 15 of its last 16 matches this sea- Icers welcome intrastate foe By NATE SANDALS Daily Sports Writer If you ask NHL scouts, Michi- gan should have no problem beating Western Michigan in this weekend's home-and-home series, which beings tonight in Ann Arbor. Twelve NHL Draft selections pad the Wolverine lineup, includ- ing four first-round picks. Just two draftees skate for the Bron- cos - and both were selected in the seventh and final round. Although Western Michigan appears to pose a limited chal- lenge to a skilled Michigan squad, senior alternate captain T.J. Hen- sick knows the contests will be more difficult than the numbers indicate. "They're usually tough," Hen- sick said. "Last year (when) we played them, we had two injuries in the first five minutes based on hits. It's really a game that we look forward to playing because of the intensity." Adding to Hensick's fun is the fact that a number of his friends from high school attend the uni- versity. His father is a Western Michigan graduate as well. The Howell native's 13 points in six games versus the Broncos doesn't take away from the enjoyment of playing them, either. But despite the "intensity" of the matchups, Michigan (7-2-0 CCHA, 11-4-0 overall) has had the better of the Broncos recent- ly. The Wolverines have won six consecutive games against their conference foe, and no member of their current roster has ever lost to Western Michigan (4-6-1, 5-6-1). That said, Michigan's coaching staff is making certain its play- ers don't look past the Broncos to next week's series against No. 5 Notre Dame. "(Western Michigan) always plays us tough," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We know we're going to get their best games." Berenson added that Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo is a par- ticularly difficult place to play. Michigan's last loss to Western Michigan came at Lawson in January 2003, when the Broncos scored three goals in the final 12 minutes to win, 4-3. Western Michigan 'and Michi- gan are also members of the same conference cluster, which means the teams will meet four total times this season. All season, Berenson has stressed the importance of doing well within the cluster, and the Wolverines have obliged his urg- ings, holding a 4-1 record thus far. When the Broncos arrive in Ann Arbor hoping to win their first game at Yost Ice Arena since 1995, they will see a slightly dif- ferent Michigan lineup. One change is the addition of freshman Anthony Ciraulo, who is slated to skate on the fourth line with Brian Lebler and Jason Bai- ley. Bailey and Lebler's strength should complement Ciraulo's quickness nicely. Ciraulo has been scratched in every game this season, but the coaches have been impressed with his work ethic in practice, especially since he came back from a separated shoulder he suf- fered in early November. The Clinton Township native hopes to make the most of his first opportunity, but said he isn't expecting too much. "I'm just looking to keep it simple and, hopefully, get two big wins out of this weekend," Cirau- lo said. NOTES: Junior forward Kevin Porter was named the CCHA Player of the Month. The North- ville native was Michigan's lead- ing scorer on the month with eight goals and 10 assists in just nine games. The Wolverines went 7-2-0 over that stretch. Porter is currently riding an 11-game point streak, and his 1.80 points per game rank fourth nationally. Junior Katie Bruzdzinski, Michigan's offensive star, and who some of the Big Ten coaches call the league's best player, will hope to get Michigan past Cal Poly in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines' first game is tonight at 11 p.m. son. nament teams - they played 14 ment. Despite their opponents' recent matches against teams in the field "Pound-for-pound, I think she success, the Wolverines believe of 64 - is also a bonus for the Wol- is the best player in the Big Ten," they have a good matchup. Michi- verines, but their offensive star, said Purdue coach Dave Shondell. gan, registering almost 17 kills per junior Katie Bruzdzinski, is the On Nov. 10, Bruzdzinski tallied 24 game, is the more aggressive of the true key to success. kills to lead Michigan's upset of the two teams, but the Mustangs have Last weekend, Michigan State then 16th-ranked Boilermakers. a slightly higher hitting percent- was the first team this year to bot- "Cal Poly will be prepared to age. tle up the powerful outside hitter play Michigan, but they won't Rosen, who is 4-1 at Michi- effectively. The Michigan offense see many players as good as her," gan in the opening round of the struggled to get into rhythm with- Shondell said. Tournament, emphasized that out her presence. With Bruzdzinski andher team- the Wolverines (8-12 Big Ten, It could be a tough weekend mates getting a shot to play on the 21-12 overall) have more experi- for the Wolverines if Bruzdzin- national stage for the first time ence against higher-level compe- ski - who was awarded first-team since her freshman season, expect tition. All Big Ten honors this week - is the Wolverines to be ready for the More familiarity with Tour- heavily guarded in the tourna- challenges that face them. Voted HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR Best Used FOOTBALL BEAT WRITERS? CDs 2005 PJ'S RECORDS & CHECK OUT OUR BLOG, "THE w USED CDS GAME," FOR MORE ON THAT STORY, 617 Packard AND ALSO FOR LIVE BLOGGING Upstairs from Subway DURING.MEN'S BASKETBALL payog$4s6 AND HOCKEY GAMES FROM OUR fec tsp CD's is topteodition. BEAT WRITERS THIS WEEKEND. Also buying a premium LP's and cassettes. MICHIGANDAILY.COM. ' Open 7 days 663-3441 The selection is ENDLESS Headaches Hurt. But it wouldn't hurt to consider our research study. 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