The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com T c D - h y V.Monday, April 14, 2008-5B Blue finishes season on 21-game winning streak With 27 wins, Wolverines set program record for victories By RYAN KARTJE Daily Sports Writer With 21 straight victories to end the regular sea- son, the Michigan water polo team was certainly playing its best at the right time. And with three victories at the Terrapin Tourna- ment this weekend in College Park, Md., the Wol- verines finished the season with a 27 wins - the most in program history. It was a record-filled weekend for No. 11 Michi- gan, which also registered the first shutout in pro- gram history, a 13-0 win over George Washington, and also pulled out victories over Maryland, 15-12, and Bucknell, 7-6. The shutout was the cherry on top for the Wol- verines, whose defense has drastically improved over the course of the winning streak. Michigan (27-9) has held opponents to single-digit totals in 18 of its 21 victories. "(The defense) was the biggest reason we got the shutout," sophomore goalkeeper Kimberly Gero said. "I had a couple of blocks, but that was mainly because they controlled the ball and kept it where it was supposed to be." Gero registered five saves in the victory, continu- ing the team's stellar play between the pipes along with Michigan's other netminder, junior Brittany May.. Michigan coach Matt Anderson described the defense in the opening shutout as "outstanding." But the second game was a different story. .Although the Wolverines came away with a vic- tory over Maryland (20-12), it was a little too close for comfort for Anderson. "We just forgot how to play defense," Anderson said. The Michigan offense had to pull the team out of trouble. Junior Sharayah Hernandez posted a career-high eight-point effort to lead the Wolver- ines. Maryland scored with 1:38 remaining to send the game into overtime, and it took the Wolverines a second overtime to close the game out. Senior Michelle Keeley hit the back of the net to put away the Terrapins'in her final regular season game. "We just got caught up in only scoring points," Anderson said. "But the girls realized that defense was the only way to win" The Wolverines returned to their defensive ways against Bucknell (24-7). Junior Julie Hyrne led Michigan to a victory with her sixth hat trick of the year. Hyrne's outstanding play and leadership sparked the Wolverine offense that lost Michigan's all-time leading point scorer, Shana Welch, to graduation last year. "Julie has been a force to be reckoned with in the water this season," Anderson said. "She's been con- tributing for a while now." As the top-seeded Wolverines head into post- season play next week with a game against Penn State-Behrend in the CWPA Western Division Championship, the team knows that another slip-up on defense could mean the end of the season. "We know what we're good at," Anderson said. "It's just a matter of going out and being willing to play that tough defense." But for now, the Wolverines are just happy to make it out of Maryland with their winning streak and momentum intact. AP PHOTO Junior Tiffany Ofili posted NCAA Mideast Regional qualifying times in the 100-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash Saturday. in first outdoor races r Immelmar bests Tiger Woods m 11 upset victory at Masters South African golfer rebounds from . -1, Michigan records 10:, thought," Michigan coach James Henry said. "She was a little ner- qualifying times at vous. The competition was solid, but it wasn't the kind of competi- meet in Arizona tion she has looked for." The trip to Arizona offered the By ALEX PROSPERI Wolverines an opportunity to run Daily Sports Writer in great weather and compete against teams other than their Since winning the NCAA Indoor typical midwest foes. National Championship in the 60- Sophomore Charnee Lumbus meter hurdles a month ago, junior joined Ofili as a regional qualifier Tiffany Ofili had yet to compete in the 100-meter hurdles with her in her trademark event in the out- ninth-place finish (13.78). door season. And Ofili's ninth-place finish in But when that chance came at the 200-meter dash also qualified the non-scoring Sun Angel Clas- her for the regional and was one of sic in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday, Michigan's 10 qualifying times. she didn't skip a beat, qualifying Junior Geena Gall quali- for the NCAA Mideast Regional by fied by winning the. 800-meter running a 13.01 in the 100-meter run (2:05.88), and senior Nicole hurdles. Edwards did the same by winning "She did better than what I the 1,500-meter run (4:17.74). Freshman Emily Pendleton added another qualifier to her young career. She received her second NCAA regional qualifying throw in the discus (163-6) after her first-place finish in the same event two weeks ago at the Florida State Relays. Since Ofili hadn't run her best event in a month and Henry had to rest Edwards after an exhausting indoor campaign, the numerous qualifying times are impressive for this Michigan squad. "They have pretty much been our lead goal," Henry said. "(And) of course getting some good com- petition in good weather." After its third-place finish in the NCAA Indoor Championships, Michigan looks to be on the right track for the NCAA Outdoor Cham- pionships in June. surgery to win first major tournament AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Trevor Immelman felt goose bumps as he listened to a phone message left by Gary Player, his childhood idol and the last South African to slip on a green jacket at the Masters. Player told him to believe in himself, to be strong through the adversity that was sure to find him during the wind-whipped final round at Augusta National. "I took that all to heart," Immel- man said after a three-shot victory. "And I'm sure he's proud of me." For more than just his golf. Only four months ago, Immel- man was in a hospital in South Afri- ca as doctors prepared to remove a tumor from his diaphragm, learn- ing only after the operation that it was benign. Yesterday, as he stood over a slippery 20-foot putt for par as Tiger Woods was trying to make a charge, Immelman passed his biggest test in golf Immelman came up clutch around Amen Corner, stretched his lead to as many as six shots, and held on for a 3-over 75 to become the first South African since Player in 1978 to wear the coveted green jacket. "This has been the ultimate roller-coaster ride, and I hate roller coasters," Immelman said. He wins a tournament in South Africa. He's in the hospital a week later as doctors slice open his back to remove a tumor. He struggles to contend when he returns to golf. And only last week, he misses another cut on the PGA Tour. "Here I am ... Masters champi- on," Immelman said. "It's the cra- Trevor Immelman strikes a pose after becoming the Masters champion on Sunday. ziest thing I've ever heard of." Reached by telephone in Abu Dhabi, Player told his assistant: "I am so proud of Trevor. What a thrill it was to see him come back. from major surgery and beat Tiger. I can't wait to see him and shake his hand personally." Player is among five players to have won the career Grand Slam. Among active players, Immelman becomes the third South African to capture a major, joining Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. As for that calendar Grand Slam, that will have to wait until next year for Woods. He never got within five shots of the lead when he was on the course. He twice missed birdie putts inside 8 feet. And he had to settle for a 72 for his fifth runner-up finish in a major. "I learned my lesson there with the press," Woods said with a smile. He was the one who started the talk about a Grand Slam by stat- ing three months ago that winning all four majors in the same year was "easily within reason." The only slam possibilities now belong to Immelman, a 28-year-old with a polished swing and quiet determination. "I knew he was going to make a run," he said, referring to Woods. "To win a major while he's playing, and lie's playing at his peak ... it's a hell of an achievement. I'm not sure if I'll ever get it done again, but I'll be trying my best." Even after Immelman dunked a 7-iron into the water on the 16th hole with a five-shot lead, he regrouped to make double bogey, saved par from a bunker on the 17th and hit the final green despite his tee shot landing ina deep divot. Free Blue Books, for Fina s!, 22 tpyheA r Ceuter inbb d s Fe r Stop by the Alumni Center (main lobby doors), 200 Fletcher St., at the corner of Fletcher and Washington, to get up to six blue books for free! All you have to do is show your student ID. The building is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ALUMNIASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN www.umalumni.com 800.847.4764 ROWING In Columbus for second straight week, Wolverines leave with four victories Varsity and novice boats rebound from losses to Virginia By CLAIRE ABRAHAM For the Daily Dreary weather, choppy water and two formidable opponents couldn't hinder the No. 15 Michi- gan women's rowing team Satur- day. In their second consecutive week racing at Griggs Reservoir in Columbus, the Wolverines won four of the seven races, with victo- ries from the first varsity four and eight boats and both novice boats. The first varsity four boat came in 10.6 seconds ahead of No. 11 Ohio State. Bucknell and No. 9 Tennessee finished third and fourth. In the day's next race, the sec- ond varsity eight clocked in with a third-place time of 7:12.2, behind Ohio State and Tennessee. Michigan's first varsity eight fed off of the day's earlier victo- ries, though. Tennessee held a slim lead for much of the race, but the Wolver- ines edged the Volunteers at the end, coming in just two-tenths of a second ahead of their competi- tion. Ohio State came in a boat- length behind the Wolverines. "We're about racing every sin- gle stroke of 2,000 meters," Mich- igan assistant coach Veronika Platzer said. "It's approximately 220 strokes in a 2,000 meter race, and every stroke matters. We're. not about jumping out into the lead and hanging onto it for dear life and hoping somebody else won't beat us." That philosophy drives each boat to be consistent and gain momentum each week. A loss to Virginia last week challenged the team to perform and outdo their opponents this week. Platzer said Michigan feels confident it will continue to improve through practice and by making changes to its weekly lineups. The Wolverines will compete at Minnesota next week before host- log the Big Ten Championships two weeks later.