The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
ThursdayOctober 4, 2007 -A
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Coach has instant
impact on the court
Wig adjusts, excels in
move across the border
By ALEX PROSPERI
Daily Sports Writer
Even an onlooker has no prob-
lem recognizing Michigan vol-
leyball coach Mark Rosen and his
wife, assistant coach Leisa Rosen,
during matches: Both are always
standing and shouting instruc-
tions to the team.
But pan your eyes down the
bench and you will see another
coach, one who is just as energetic
and intense as the Rosen couple
but who tends to stay in his seat a
little more. That's assistant coach
Gregg Whitis.
Whitis may not be the most
noticeable Wolverine staff mem-
ber, but his importance is immea-
surable.
A 1991 graduate of Olivet Naz-
arene University, Whitis is the
recruiting coordinator for the
16th-ranked Wolverines (1-3 Big
Ten, 13-3 overall). He has already
brought in an impressive fresh-
man class for next season and has
quickly made a profound impres-
sion during his short time at Mich-
igan.
"I think that Gregg is one of best
recruiters in the country," Leisa
Rosen said.
Before Whitis arrived in Ann
Arbor, Leisa did the majority of
the team's recruiting. In 2004,
she brought in current seniors
Katie Bruzdzinski, Stesha Sel-
sky, Sarah Draves and Lyndsay
Miller, one of the best freshman
classes in the country. She also
got an early commitment from
current freshman Lexi Zimmer-
man, who was ranked the No. 1
prep setter in the nation by pre-
pvolleyball.com.
But with Leisa on the recruiting
trail, she couldn't contribute her
on-the-court knowledge as much
as she wanted.
The addition of Whitis has
allowed Leisa to become more of
an on-the-court-coach - a role
that helps her concentrate her
energies toward the team and pre-
dominately the middle blockers.
Whitis has been around volley-
ball for most of his life. He played
three seasons in college, and before
joiningthe Wolverine staff, Whitis
coached volleyball and taught Eng-
lish at St. Anthony High School in
Effingham, Ill. Later, he served as
an assistant coach for Clemson,
Southern Methodist University
and Northern Michigan.
But the personable Whitis has
always been a Midwest guy, mak-
ing Michigan a perfect fit.
"I was saturatedby the Big Ten,"
Whitis said. "As a volleyball coach,
you always have a desire to work at
the highest level possible. The Big
Ten is one of the better volleyball
conferences in the country."
Whitis isn't wrong. Michigan,
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Penn
State are all ranked in the top-16
in the CSTV/AVCA Division I Top
25 Coaches Poll.
Whitis's competitive nature
and loyalty to the team is easy
to see. He's never hesitant to
respond to a questionable call,
and he continuously gives his
two cents to the referees, always
ready to back up his players.
For this Michigan squad, the
feelings are mutual. The team
knows Whitis is committed to
excellence at Michigan.
"As a coach, you'd like to try
and see if yourtalent can measure
up against the best competition,"
Whitis said. "From that stand-
point, it's tremendously reward-
ing to be able to compete against
some of the best programs in the
country. What we're doing now is
building this program into that
type of category."
By NICOLE AUERBACH
For the Daily
She's an athlete in a new coun-
try and a freshman at a prestigious
school. And she's on ateam for the
very first time.
Meet Kari Wig of the Michigan
tennis team.
The Canadianschool systems do
not emphasize high school sports,
and so Wig had never played on a
tennis team before she arrived at
Michigan.
"High school sports are so
much weaker in Canada than here
because the universities don't give
athletic scholarships," Wig said.
"It's completely different. If the
athletes want to play in college,
they go to the U.S."
Wig is thrilled for the opportu-
nity to celebrate accomplishments
with teammates.
"I really like the cheering,"
Wig said. "With tennis, because
it's such a proper sport, you usu-
ally just clap. I love that we cheer. I played on the international tennis
can't wait to play matches with lots circuit, with most of the tourna-
of people watching." ments in the United States.
The Michigan team consists of Her international travels have
nine players and two coaches, and also included tournaments in Chile,
the coaches are able to offer advice Argentina and Uruguay.
to players during matches. Wig Wig was the top-ranked girls'
said that before college, she never player in Alberta for 18-and-under
had in-match coaching, which from 2004-06.
helps her focus and make immedi- She was ranked as high as No.
ate adjustments. 382 in the International Tennis
Timely advice helped Wig, as the Federation (ITF) and won53 career
Calgary native played wellthis past ITF tournaments.
weekend in her Michigan debut at International competition
the Wolverine Invitational. focused more on individual perfor-
She claimedrunner-uphonors in mance than on team cooperation.
the Blue singles draw. After defeat- Now, Wig will contribute to a team
ing Notre Dame's Denise Ellison tennis effort and try to help Michi-
(7-5,6-2) for her first career victory, gan accomplish its goal of a Big Tena
Wig edged both Purdue's Alejandra title.
Boeker and Notre Dame's Kali
Krisik in super-tiebreaker sets
to advance to the final against
second-seeded Katie Potts of W t
Notre Dame. Potts beat Wig
6-4,6-0 in the final. Show up?Ad dakquir[yconed
WhilelivinginCanadaWig
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