4B - September 24, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
4B - September 24, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
Michigan opens Big Ten play
with split vs. Indiana, Purdue
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Adam Grinwis allowed a pair of goals in Michigan's 2-0 loss on Sunday.
Northwestern edges past
in conference opener
By RAJAT KHARE
Daily Sports Writer
Facing Northwestern in
Evanston, Ill. on the opening
day of Big Ten play, the Michi-
gan men's soccer team entered
the competition with high
hopes of a victory. Instead, it left
with a 2-0
loss to the MICHIGAN 0
Wildcats. N'WESTERN 2
And to
say that Michigan Head coach
Chaka Daley wasn't pleased
with the teams past three per-
formances would be a grave
understatement.
After losing twice to ranked
opponents two weekends ago,
Michigan's struggles continued
against the Wildcats. The Wol-
verines competed formidably
against both Marquette and
Notre Dame - in fact they had
even been in positions to upset
both teams - but were unable to
come away with wins.
"It's a very challenging
schedule, the first seven games,"
Daley said. "It's a tough stretch
early on."
The Wolverines started off
in less than ideal fashion for a
team looking to pull off an upset
against Northwestern. Within
the first five minutes of the
game, the Wildcats (1-0 Big Ten,
6-0-2 overall) generated a cor-
ner kick and two shots, while
Michigan's first shot didn't
come untill the 31st minute of
the game.
The Wolverines' chances
were dealt their first blow in
the 21st minute when junior
Dylan Mencia was shown a yel-
low card. On the resulting free
kick, Northwestern's Chris Rit-
ter serviced the ball into the
box, and a quick pass by Nick
Gendron to Grant Wilson beat
redshirt sophomore goalkeeper
Adam Grinwis to give the Wild-
cats the lead.
"(Our approach) didn't
change much," Daley said after
the goal. "You've gotta move
on."
Going into the game, Daley
said he emphasized to his play-
ers the importance of defend-
ing, especially on set pieces.
Northwestern continued to
push for a second goal - pepper-
ing Michigan with 10 shots and
earning five corners before the
end of the first half.
Despite the deficit, Michigan
was familiar with the fact that
1-0 is by no means a formidable
score. Two games ago, the Wol-
verines led Marquette 1-0 at
half but ended up losing, 2-1.
But any hopes of a comeback
were shot when in the 53rd min-
ute Mencia earned his second
yellow card, which resulted in
his ejection, put the Wolverines
a man down.
"Mencia's red card, his sec-
ond yellow, really changed the
game," Daley said. "It became a
lot harder to keep up."
Northwestern exploited its
man advantage and, in the 61st
minute, tallied its second goal
of the match. Ritter headed the
ball in past Grinwis off a cross
by Wilson from the left flank
in the 63rd minute for the final
tally of the match.
Any positives to take away?
"It's only one game," Daley
said.
Michigan will look to bounce
back from its loss against rival
Ohio State in its Big Ten home
opener next Sunday.
By GREG GARNO
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan volleyball coach
Mark Rosen stood with his arms
folded, nodding in approval, as
he watched his starting lineup
take the court. After using a new
lineup for nearly every game of
the season, he finally appeared
content with the one that took
the court
on Friday INDIANA 1
against MICHIGAN 3
Indiana.
Fea- PURDUE 3
turing MICHIGAN 2
redshirt
senior Claire McElheny and
junior outside hitters Molly
Toon and Lexi Erwin along
with junior middle blocker Jen-
nifer Cross, the Wolverines put
out their most experienced line-
up of the season.
Fortunately, the array started
when needed most.
"Bottom line is, we're going
to play whoever is best," Rosen
said. "At practice, this group has
been playing pretty well. If we
need to make changes, and we
were close to that today, the nice
thing is that we have options."
Michigan (1-1 Big Ten, 13-3
overall) defeated the Hoosiers
(0-2 Big Ten, 8-2, overall) in four
sets on Friday before falling to
No. 17 Purdue (2-0 Big Ten, 13-2
overall) on Saturday in five sets
to begin conference play. It was a
similar start to last season, when
the Wolverines also topped Indi-
ana and fell to the Boilermakers.
Downby two to begin the first
set to Indiana, the Wolverines
used a 6-0 run to take the lead
and a 5-0 run midway through
the set to seize the lead for good.
The Hoosiers served at fresh-
man libero Tiffany Morales early
and often on Friday, testing her
inexperience. Morales struggled
to handle the increased action at
first, unable to control the ball,
but the freshman rebounded for
a solid day and ultimately a solid
weekend, totaling 17 digs both
nights.
"Sometimes I get in a little bit
Junior outside hitter Molly Toon and Michigan escapred with a weekend split.
of a rut, but serve me again and with 20 digs. Cross ended Friday
I'll get out of it," Morales said. with 21 kills and nine blocks.
"It's just that easy for me and I Michigan played its fifth
love passing." five-set game of the season on
After a rough second set in Saturday against Purdue in an
which Michigan finished with offensive struggle. The team
a .093 attack percentage, the completed just one set with an
Wolverines bounced back in the attack percentage over .200
third set to hit .265. despite having four players fin-
Erwin and Toon each had four ish with double-digit kills.
kills in that third set (25 and 23 After Michigan jumped out to
kills for the two games of the an early lead, the Boilermakers
weekend, respectively), high- came back to tie the game at 19,
lighted by a 9-0 run to putthe set three straight attack errors by
out of reach. Purdue allowed the Wolverines
McElheny stepped up in the to take the first set.
fourth set to end the match, After the Boilermakers
executing her unique style of answered by taking the next set,
offense - she runs off of one Michigan came back to take the
foot. Returning from an injury, third set after starting 9-2. Pur-
she had 24 kills asa starter. due answered to win the next
"It feels good to finally get two sets and set up a decisive
back on the court," McElheny fifth set.
said. "Some of the old stuff is Tied at seven, Michigan
still coming back, and my com- pulled ahead to take a 9-7 lead,
petitive edge." but it was unable to stop an 8-1
"I think she brings a lot of run from Purdue.
speed to our offense. She still has "Any win in the Big Ten is
a long way to go, though. She's a good win," Rosen said. "Our
not elevating nearly to the level execution wasn't as consistent
she's capable of," Rosen added. as we expected it to be and as we
Sophomore setter Lexi needed it to be. We know that's
Dannemiller tallied 82 combined a work in progress and that it's
kills over the weekend, along going totake some time."
Morales shines in loss to Boilermakers
By DAVID BORGHARD
For the Daily
There was a silver lining for
the Michigan volleyball team,
despite losing a heartbreaker
against No. 17 Purdue (1-1 Big
Ten, 11-2 overall) on Sunday.
Freshman libero Tiffany
Morales emerged as a defensive
force, diving on the court for 17
digs.
Sophomore Jennifer Cross
and fifth-year senior Claire
McElheny were other bright
spots, and each recorded 14 kills.
Junior Molly Toon contributed
13 kills and junior Lexi Erwin
had 12. Erwin finished off the
night with a double-double, but
it was the freshman Morales
who, with her defense, led the
Wolverines the entire way.
"We want to
run our offense
... and have our
tenacity."
"We were going to go out
playing our game," Morales said.
"We want to run our offense and
our defense and have our tenac-
ity."
Morales proved to be a defen-
sive anchor for the Wolverines
(1-1, 13-3), and she led the squad
to a comeback victory on the
third set. Morales steered the
Wolverines in two major rallies.
When it looked as if Michigan
would lose the point, Morales
dove deep into the backcourt for
a save, and the crowd erupted.
She had even more digs in the
fourth set, bringing her total
to 13, but Michigan's offensive
game was nowhere to be seen.
The last set was nogdifferent,
with Morales finishing the night
up 17 digs, but Michigan ulti-
mately came up short.
"Lexi (Dannemiller) and I
Thanks to th
standout defen
senior goalkeepi
meyer was rare
action. The Badgi
7-3-0 overall) di(
on target until th
Kopmeyer and th
allowed just fou
son long, and no
at then No.-11 Lo:
"Kopmeyer is r
of our defense," I
back four are v
and very dis-
ciplined."
With
the victory,
Michigan
(3-0, 9-2-0)
maintained
its share of
first place in
the confer-
ence.
While
the defense
once again stole
Wolverine offe
plenty of firepow
Taking advantal
sin's aggressivei
played the coL
perfection. In th
junior midfiel
Toohey slotted a
junior Ezurike at
18-yard box. Ezu
the goalkeeper, dr
inside the far post
"It was a goo
said. "I just finish
The reigning B
player of the we'
just a minute into
When freshman f
Harris reroverec
turnover, the Wo
diately went on the attack. Harris
passed the ball to' Ezurike"who
returned it right away. Sprinting
downfield, Ezurike was in perfect
he Wolverines' position to receive a through ball
se, fifth-year from her teammate and fire a shot
er ,Haley Kop- past the Badgers' goalkeeper. It
ly called into was her fifth goal of the season
ers (1-2 Big Ten, and third of the weekend.
d not fire a shot "It was a great team effort,"
he 65th minute. Ezurike said.
ae defense have In the 77th minute, Christina
r goals all sea- Ordonez's tally sealed the win
ne since Sept. 2 for the Wolverines. The fresh-
ng Beach State. man gained possession of the ball
eally the leader about 30 yards from the Wiscon-
Ryan said. "The sin goal. Finding herself relatively
very organized unmarked, Ordonez dribbled
the ball into
the Badgers'
18-yard box and
"(The win slotted a shot
into the back of
was a very the net.
Though
dominating Wisconsin was
p er ranked 14th
performance. in the coun-
try, Ryan did
not consider
the victory an
the show, the upset. In fact, after scouting the
nse displayed Badgers during the week, he said
ver in Madison. he expected his squad to pull out
ge of Wiscon- avictory.
play, Michigan Ryan said he knew that the
unterattack to Badgers liked to send their
ie 16th minute, wing defenders forward, leav-
der Meghan ing their defense vulnerable. He
ball to fellow instructed thg Wolverines to rely
the top of the on sound defense to keep Wis-
rike, alone with consin off the scoreboard and
-ove the balljust make the Badgers pay for every
t. turnover by attacking as soon as
d ball," Ezurike they regained possession, and
ed it." it worked. Michigan's counter-
ig Ten offensive attacks caught Wisconsin out
ek struck again of position and led to all three
the second half. goals.
orward Corinne "We were by far the better
d a Wisconsin team," Ryan said. "It was a very
Averines imme- dominating performance."
ADAM SCHNITZER/Daily
Freshman libero Tiffany Morales has been a staple in the Michigan starting lineup this fall.
want to win the serve and pass play was soured by the Michi- Wolverines. Michigan will have
game," Morales said. "It's very gan loss. The team, though, kept another chance at Purdue in late
tough and they were a good team its composure the entire match. October in West Lafayette. The
and we definitely passed well all Maturity was not a problem here, Wolverines will take on Iowa
night." the Boilermakers just proved on Friday to try to improve their
Ultimately, Morales's stellar to be too overwhelming for the record to 14-3.
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