The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 1, 2000 - 21 I Shall1 we d ance? e Michigan women's tenni s am has an uphill climb to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA will decide the 64- team field by this Thursday, based on specific criteria: 1) won-loss record 2) strength of schedule £ eligibility and availability of dent athletes STRENGTHS - Ranked #57 - Key wins: #28 South Florida, #31 San Diego State played tough non-conference schedule including #13 Notre Dame, #18 Tennessee, and #29 Kentucky WEAKNESSES Record: 10-12 8th place in Big Ten - only 6 Big Ten teams were selected into last year's NCAA Tournament - Miami upsetting Notre Dame in Big East takes away one bid, 'M' netters bounced from BTT by Buckeyes By Joe Smith DAly Sports Wter Michigan women's tennis team co-cap- tain Danielle Lund took a seat on the bench during last Friday's quarterfinal loss to top-seeded Ohio State (17-6) in the Big Ten Tournament. Having lost the first set, and down 4-1 in the second, she put a blue Michigan cap on and buried her face in a towel wiping away the mixture of sweat and tears that dripped down her cheeks. She stared at fellow senior co-captain Brooke Hart, who was just a point away from losing her match, and probably wondered if this was the last time they were going to don the maze and blue. The eighth-seeded Wolvernnes (10-12) had lost the important doubles poit for the second straight d a and seeded toss in four of the six remaini sgles matches against the defendiig Ihig len chitmipion Buckeyes in order to extend their season 'It kind of crossed my mind" I und said. "I thought about it more vesterdav against Wisconsin" Michigan lost the doubles point in its first round match against the ninth-seed- ed Badgers on Thursday. This foretold trouble, for every time the Wolverines had lost the doubles point this season, they lost the match. But there are exceptions to every rule. The Wolverines proceeded to win three straight singles matches, giving them a 3- I lead. But, with their team just one vic- torv away from advancing to the next round, Lund and junior Szandra Fuzesi both lost their singles matches, at the two and three slots respectively. So it all came down to one match. Tied 3-3, with the season hanging in the bal- ance the pressure was placed on fresh- man Jetn Duprez, who wais fighting a three set ir Citb a familiar foe, \\ isetnsmts lone seior Denia Baritot \\ ien she w as in eiglith iade, Duprez plaed Bantiot at a junior state champi- onship tournament. Baritot as the No. I seed, but Duprez beat lter in three sets, Crushing Barntot's coni dence 'I know her Iairly cell and she told toe that she hadn't reallv goten over that loss until two weeks ago," Duprez said. This time, Duprez again found herself in a battle against Baritot. Duprez was down 3-1 in the deciding third set, and the eyes of the home crowd and her team- Mates focused on her every move. The freshman came through and took a 5-4 lead. Eight break points later, Duprez sent a forehand down the line, clinching the 4-3 victory over Wisconsin and keep- ing Michigan's season alive. "She plays well under pressure," Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said. "Dena didn't lose the match, Jen won it." But Duprez's efforts were not enough to help the Wolverines overcome the loss of the doubles point against the red-hot Bitckeyes on Friday. as Michigan lost 4-I1. The Wolverines' season will be over unless the NCAA Selection Committee Cives theim an at-large bid into tennis "Ma Maiednss" whent teams are selected this Thisrsday for the NCAA Tournament. Even if Michigan does not receive a bid. Ritt says that she has a lot to be proud ofthis year. -Nothing carse easily for tis team, not MARJORIE MARSHALL/Dal y Top-seed Ohio State defeated Jen Duprez and her Wolverine teammates. one thing," Ritt said. "A lot of things went against us this year and I'm proud of the way the players conducted theis- selves." 3ymnasts finish 6th at NCAAs Raa Ensor the floor before you can blink an eye" to be in our favor," Plocki said. ly SpotsWnter Plocki said. -It's happened to the best, Cain carne in second to Ileathe: "Sarah r Brink ometimes even the best fairy tales 't have happy endings. he Michigan women's gymnastics m learned this lesson at the NCAA ampionships in Boise, Idaho from ril 13-15. he Wolverines scored a 195.725 to sh sixth in the nation, finishing eventual champion UCLA. result was both a surprise and a appointment to Michigan, which ered the meet as the country's top- ked team and as one of the favorites ring home thcitle. 'We were obviously very disappoint- with how things finished, because we much higher aspirations," Michigan ch Bev Plocki said. "It was a disap- nting way to end a very good season." * Wolverines' problems centered the balance beam, an event whose Ilenges Michigan had conquered ughout the regular season. n the preliminary round of competi- Michigan tallied a 48.150 on theap- atus, its worst score since the season- ning Super Six Challenge. The next ht, in the team finals, Michigan drew least desirable rotation and had to in competition on the beam. 'On day two, when we drew to start ince beam, it was doubly bad," c rsaid. "To end on a low note on m the first night and then to have to e back and start on beam where you w you had problems the night ore? Those kids came with great atti- es and great effort, but they were king one thing - don't fall." ut fall they did. After a shaky perfor- nee, the Wolverines were forced to nm c fall for a score of 48.100. That in sixth place after the first ation and created a deficit that was possible to overcome. 'When you're on the balance beam, I you have the tiniest error, you're on and it happened to us tilts year" Fortunately, things went better for the Wolverines in the individual finals. Senioritri-captain Sarah Cain was naised a first-teaim All-American in the all- around, vault, floor exercise, and uneven bars, capturing third place honors in the floor exercise and vault and second place in the all-around. But, even with these triumphs came disappointment, as Cain lost the all- around title to Nebraska's Heather Brink by a mere 0.025 points. "Unfortunately, nothing really seemed by a quarter of a tenth, which is heart- breaking. If anybody in the history of Michigan gymnastics deserved to leave here with a national title to her name, it's Sarah Cain." Despite the repeated disappointments of the championship weekend, those involved recognize that the season over- all was still a success. "As I told my team afterward, this was not a disappointing season'" Plocki said. "We did not underachieve. We won Big Tens, we won regionals, we were No. I in the country" Want a free trip to Europe? what are you doing this summer? want a tree trip to europe? rockcity.com will take you there- -... be a cast member of rockcity euroge our second roaystow exclusively on the net. visit rockcity.com to apply. The University of Michigan WHAT'S REC Department of Recreational Sports HAPPENING 22! INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM SOFTBALL SAND VOLLEYBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Thursday 5/4 ONLY ENTRIES TAKEN: 5:00 PM, IMSB Thursday 5/4 ONLY 6:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $55 per team ENTRY FEE: $40 per team MANAGER'S MTG: MANDATORY MANAGER'S MTG: Thurs 5/4, 5:00 PM MANDATORY Thurs 5/4,6:30 PM PLAY BEGINS: 4&ow Sun 5/7, Elbel Fields A PLAY BEGINS: Tues 5/9, Elbel Courts 3-on-3 ROLLER BASKETBALL HOCKEY ENTRIES TAKEN: ENTRIES TAKEN: Thursday 5/4 ONLY - Thursday 5/4 ONLY 7:30 pm, IMSB 8:00pm, IMSB ENTRY FEE: ENTRY FEE: $20 per team $45 per team MANAGER'S MTG: MANAGER'S MTG: MANDATORY MANDATORY Thurs 5/4, 7;30 PM Thurs 5/4, 8:00 PM POWERBAR PLAY BEGINS: PLAY BEGINS: Tues 5/9. Elbel Courts Tues 5/9, Ebel Pad The deadline for Tennis Singles and Doubles entries is Thursday May 25 while Golf Two-Person Team Scramble entries are due Wednesday May 31. OFFICIALS NEEDED! Join us at the IM Official's Clinics. SOFTBALL: Wednesday May 3 All Clinics begin at 7:00pm and are held at the IMSB. For Additional Information CtakCt:sItramural Spots Program, IMSB, 606 E. Hoover, Ani Artor, MI 4t109-3717, (734)763-3562 https://ww receoroxtstich.edu