The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Pok September 2, 2014 - 7B a, After '07, defeat means more to Mountaineers By ALEJANDRO ZU1NIGA Managing Sports Editor In 2007, Appalachian State shocked Michigan in Ann Arbor, 34-32, in what is recognized as one of the greatest upsets in college football history. That team wasn't led by current quarterback Kameron Bryant or running back Marcus Cox. It was a different Appalachian State, one manned by Armanti Edwards and Dexter Jackson. The 2014 Mountaineers, making their FBS debut, were no match for the Wolverines on Saturday, providing little resistance as Michigan rolled to a 35-point halftime lead and an eventual 52-14 win. And because of Appalachian State's history in the Big House, this one meant a little bit more. "I can just imagine how the guys in '07 (felt)," said defensive lineman Ronald Blair. "We tried not to look so far back into '07. This isn't the team from '07. "We just tried to put our own stamp on it, and it didn't end the way we wanted it to." The small contingent of visiting fans did their part, donning shirts and pins that read, "Been there, beat that." But these Mountaineers couldn't stop Devin Gardner (13-of-14 passing, 173 yards), or Devin Funchess (three TDs), or Michigan's running backs (336 yards). "Those things happen when you play good teams," Bryant said. "When you play a team like Michigan, you don't get those mistakes. You've got to play almost a perfect game." Appalachian State's struggles were systematic as much as they were a product of facing a superior opponent. Michigan's defense employed tight, man-to- man marking, and Bryant had been prepped by his coaches to face a zone system. Last year, Bryant and the Mountaineers thrived on quick throws out of the shotgun and picking up yards after the catch. The Wolverines' corners, though, disrupted the rhythm and bought enough time for the defensive line to burst into the backfield. The result was an Appalachian State offense that managed just 74 yards in the first half. Bryant finished the game 8-of-19 for just 58 yards. "This game was not what (Michigan) had shown all last year," said Mountaineers coach Scott Satterfield. "Why they did that, I don't know." As Satterfield explained earlier in the week, many members of his current team committed to Appalachian State in part because of the 2007 upset, which stunned the college football world and landed the small school from Boone, North Carolina on the cover of Sports Illustrated. It marked the first time a Division I-AA (now FCS) team beat a ranked opponent from Division I-A (now FBS), derailing Michigan's national championship hopes before they could really begin. But in Saturday's rematch, the Wolverines asserted their dominance from the opening kickoff, and the 2014 Mountaineers couldn't replicate their predecessors' magic of 2007. "Heck yeah, that was in (Michigan's) minds the whole offseason," Satterfield said. "What else do they hear? 2007, App State came and beat you guys. That's all they've heard. You're dadgum right they were determined." ALLISON FARRAND/Daily Sophomore middle blocker Abby Cole had 46 kills and 10 blocks, earning herself a spot on the All-Tournament Team. 'M' takes two 1n Arkansas By JACOB GASE the momentum. Daily Sports Writer "We probably should have won that match if we had a little The Michigan volleyball more experience and were a team has plenty of talent and little more consistent," Rosen experience in its starting six this said. "(Arkansas) is a good team, season. Except half of it didn't see there's no question about it. But action this weekend. I think we're better than them. With junior outside hitters I think we had a chance to win Ally Davis and Kelly Murphy out that match." with injuries and senior setter The Wolverines rallied to force Lexi Dannemiller sitting out the a fifth set, but they were unable tournament due to an "internal to finish off the Razorbacks, as rules" violation, coach Mark they fell 17-25,25-23,25-15,19-25, Rosen started two freshmen 15-1. and a junior setter with only one The loss doesn't mean career start. Michigandidn'tfindanypositives The youth and inexperience overthe weekend, though. led to mixed results in the first "I'm really proud of our team," regular season action as the said sophomore middle blocker Wolverines rolled past Stephen Abby Cole. "I think we have alot F. Austin and Tennessee State of heart, and we began to show before dropping their final match that." to Arkansas in five sets. Cole was arguably Michigan's After takingthe first set against most dominant player over the the Razorbacks, Michigan weekend, riding some career was overwhelmed by the best performances to a team-leading opponent it faced all weekend. 46 kills as well as 10 blocks. Arkansas's blocking game closed Her performance over the down the Wolverines' attacks weekend landed her on the All- and caused the young team to Tournament team. make unforced errors. They Joining her on that team were committed nine errors in the junior libero Tiffany Morales second set and 10 errors in the - who combined with fellow third set, ultimately losing both junior libero/defensive specialist and handing the Razorbacks all Lindsey Lerg to hold down the back court with 83 total digs - and junior setter Carly Warner, who did a remarkable job (126 sets, just one attack error) filling in foroneofthebestsetters inthe country despite her inexperience. "(We need to) stay steady and consistent," Cole said. "We have a lot of talent, and we fell short in the Arkansas match because we just kind of hit a wall." Michigan (2-1) downed the Ladyjacks and the Lady Tigers in four and three sets, respectively, losing the only set to Stephen F. Austin by two points. For most of the weekend, the lineup's youth infusion appeared effective enough to pull off the clean sweep. The two freshman starters, defensive specialist Caroline Knop and opposite hitter Katherine Mahlke, slid comfortably into their roles. Knop, a natural libero playing on the outside because of injuries, finished the weekend with 23 kills and 31 digs. Mahlke nearly matched her, picking up 20 kills and 28 digs in her first three collegiate matches. Freshman outside hitter Adeja Lambert established herself as a legitimate attack threat on an injury-depleted bench, recording29 kills. PAUL SHERMAN/Daily Michigan rolled to a 35-0 lead at halftime, squashing hopes of a 2007 repeat CAMPUS