Page 10 -The Michigan Daily -Thursday, March 21,1991 Softballers optimistic despite fatigue factor by Ken Davidoff Daily Sports Writer Women swimmers send 14 to NCAAs Most students, if given a chance to fly to California and miss two days of class, would jump at the op- portunity. However, that number woulda likely subside after being told it would be necessary to play a mini- mum of five softball games in four days against the nation's top teams while battling jet lag. Nevertheless, the Michigan softball team is look- ing forward to taking part in the Bud Lite National Invitational this week- end. The Wolverines (8-5) open the tournament tonight against No. 18 New Mexico, with whom they have split two games this year. Friday, they take on Missouri in a morning game and No. 12 San Jose State in a matinee. At this point, all the teams will be placed in brackets based on the performance in the three games, and a double elimination format will begin. The championship takes place Sunday afternoon. Although this is the major in- season tournament for the squad, as- sistant coach Carol Bruggeman views it more as preparation for the Big Ten season. "Our first goal this weekend is to improve at all of our skills," she said. "There are a lot of good teams out there; it will be a good compari- son to see where we are on a na- tional basis." Senior pitcher Andrea Nelson takes a different perspective, though. "We're looking to win this tourna- ment," she said. "We're in our sea- son now, and we're concentrating on winning. This is just as important as the Big Ten." The invitational, which is being played in Sunnyvale, Cal., is chock full of quality opponents, including five other top 20 teams - Arizona State, Iowa, California, Central Michigan, and Massachusetts. Nel- son, however, is not intimidated by the presence of these powerhouse teams. "Rankings don't mean a lot," she said. "On a given day, anybody can beat anybody. I'm kind of glad we're not in the rankings - there's no pres- sure on us." Nelson, who has a 3-1 record with a 2.84 earned run average, is expected to pitch a significant num- ber of innings, along with rookie Julie Clarkson, who stands at 2-1, 0.98. The Wolverines, batting .257 as a team, have a few offensive stand- outs. Sophomore infielder Karla Kunnen, who is hitting .333, paces the team with 9 runs batted in, and she has slugged the Wolverine's only home run. Sophomore out- fielder Patti Benedict leads the squad at .351, while senior catcher/outfielder Julie Cooper lends speed to the team with six stolen bases. Another factor to consider is fa- tigue from both the travelling and the rigorous schedule. "I don't look forward to the flight," Nelson admitted. "But play- ing the games is not bad at all." "There's actually good and bad (about playing so often)," Brugge- man added. "If you're on a roll, you get to keep on playing." by Andy De Korte Daily Sports Writer By dominating the Big Ten Con- ference, the Michigan women's swimming team has been encouraged to set goals higher than other squads. While most schools concentrate on dual meets during the regular season, Michigan looks ahead toward the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. After grabbing its fifth consecu- tive Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championship over spring break, much of Michigan's squad continued preparing for the three-day NCAA meet beginning today. Twelve swimmers and two divers will make the trip to Indianapolis. Eight of the 12 swimmers qualified for individual meets - the largest number ever for seventh-ranked Michigan. That feat is made more remark- able by the fact that the Wolverines graduated four All-Americans last year. Referring to last year's seniors, Richardson said, "We don't have the individual points returning from last year's (NCAA) meet. In order for us The Michigan women's softball team is in action this weekend at the Bud Light Invitational in Sunnyvale, Cal. The Wolverines will face a strong field, including seven nationally ranked teams and intra-state rival Central Michigan. to break into the top 10, we will need some outstanding perfo mances." Although last year's team was senior-oriented, Michigan still re- turns six All-Americans. Top Wolverine backstroker, ju- nior Lisa Anderson won the 200-yard backstroke at the Big Ten meet, set- ting-Michigan, conference meet, and Big Ten records with a 1:59.70. She also qualified for the NCAAs in th 100 back. Another All-American junior, Jennifer Love, who swam a 23.28 in the 50 free at the conference meet to set a Michigan record, will be joined by Kathy Deibler and Karen Barneg in the fight for the freestyle points. Michigan's sophomore All. American, Deibler, could prove cru- cial to the team's cause, swimming in both the 200 and 500 free. W While Michigan may score no points in the butterfly events, the breaststrokers could be a highlight. The rookie tandem of Tara Higgings, the current Big Ten champion of both the 100 and 200 breast, and Val Hyduk, the second and third-place finisher of the 100 and 200 breast have the potential of picking up huge points. In the individual medley, th Wolverines boast another two-event qualifier. Sophomore Mindy Gehre won the 200 IM at the conference meet and also qualified for the 400 IM, where she will be joined by An- derson. Unlike last year, two divers quali- fied to accompany the team to the NCAAs. Juniors Lisa Cribari and Margie Stoll earned NCAA bertl by taking first and third, respec- tively, with their performances last weekend at the NCAA Zone C Div- ing Meet in Columbus, OH. Since 1987, the first year of his current conference title win streak, Richardson has held his team on even keel at the NCAA meet, finish- ing 10th, 8th, 6th(tie), and 7th. He hopes to maintain the consistency the highest level of competition, deg spite the significant loss of the grad- uates. "For the seventh through 15th spots, there are eight or nine teams that are comparable," Richardson said. "I would put us in that group." Balancin. g Gymnasts go from cellar dwellers to contenders by Andy Stabile Daily Sports Writer In sports, as in many other aspects of life, the true measure of success comes from within one's self. It is directly related with the self satis- faction obtained from one's performance. So it is with the Michigati women's gymnastics team. By any measure, this season has already been a success. Just two years ago, the Wolverines were perennial cellar dwellers in the Big Ten. Enter coach Bev Fry. In her inaugural year, she led her team from the bottom of the conference to re- spectability. Now in her second year, the Wolver- ines are in a group of five closely matched teams that will contend for the championship. Michigan finished the regular season unde- feated in its four home meets - breaking a school record for total team points scored each time. The team also set a record at LSU, bring- ing the season total to five school records. In short, the team has performed up to, if not be- yond, expectations. The Wolverines know they have had a successful year - but it's not com- plete. The missing event is the Big Ten Champi- onships, held Friday and Saturday in Champaign. It is there that this year's Wolverine squad will look to find this season's true success. Through- out the regular season, they have shown they can compete with any team in the conference. But to beat them all would be the ultimate goal, the ul- timate success. They wanted to climb the steps, to leave the Big Ten basement; they did. They wanted a re- spectable program; they have one. Ultimately, they want to be the team that establishes tradi- tion in Michigan gymnastics. A Big Ten Cham- pionship seems to be the next step; they want one - now. Of course, this is a young team that should probably be looking to next year as 'its year.' It is also a team that knows opportunity does not necessarily knock twice, and opportunity is knocking now. This realization has set in, and evolved into a determination to win. However, to win may take more than deter- mination. To win a Big Ten Championship in a year where so many teams are so closely matched may take something closer to perfection. The outcome remains to be seen. Like Wolverine gymnastics teams of the past, this team will go to the Big Tens and give its best. What separates this team from those of the past is that this team's best performance is good enough to win. That in itself is the step this team has made this year. It's a step that had to be taken, but one without immediate glory. So the team looks beyond. And so they travel to Champaign knowing that, if each gymnast performs as well as she can, it's very possible the team will come home champions. More importantly, the Wolverines know that this entire season has already been an incredible performance. Even if this year's squad doesn't win the Big Ten title, it has already set the standard for Michigan gymnastics teams of the future. Even if this year's Wolverines do not win, this deter- mined young team will come back to Ann Arbor with some degree of satisfaction. It will come home with valuable experience, and it will prob- ably come home favored to win next year's Big Ten Championships. 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