12,- The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 17, 1995 MAT s pikers face last homestand By Monica Polakov ~ Di Sports Writer This is a special weekend for the Michigan volleyball team. The Wolverines will face Ohio State tonight at 6 p.m. and Penn State tomor- row at 7 p.m. for their final home games of the season. Senior co-captains Shan- non Brownlee and Suzy O'Donnell will make their last appearances at Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan coach Greg Giovannazi will salute the seniors before the Penn State match. "It's going to be touching to see them go," Giovannazi said. "They're the first class that I coached." O'Donnell was a four-year starter and Brownlee has been a consistent player all season. "Shannon is the person we counted on all year," Giovannazi said. Brownlee has mixed emotions about the final home matches of her college volleyball career. "I'm excited," Brownlee said about her last home games. "It will be a fun night but it's going to be sad." The matches this weekend will also be significant for junior Colleen Minuik, who will start for the first time this season. The outside hitter has been hampered by shoulder and knee injuries all season. "She's an excellent passer," Giovannazi said. "She gives us depth and allows us to use Shareen (Luze) on the right side, which is her best position." The Wolverines (14-12 Overall, 8- 8 Big Ten), coming off losses to Min- nesota and Wisconsin, will try to re- gain their confidence this weekend. However, a win over the No. 8 Buck- eyes or the No. 9 Lady Lions will be PENN STATE Continued from Page 1 serve as parking lots for football games. Parking will certainly be at a premium in the isolated town. "I have been in constant contact with (Michigan Athletic Director) Joe Roberson apprising him of the situation," said Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley. "I've also been in touch with Jim Delany, the Commissioner of the Big Ten, to keep him informed and I'll con- tinue to do that up until game time." Over 300 volunteers have been work- ing to get the stadium ready for tomor- row. The field has already been cleared and the game is expected to go on. A year ago, the Nittany Lions came into Michigan Stadium and dropped the Wolverines 31-24 en route to an unde- feated 12-0 mark. Penn State lost its two key offensive weapons from that team, running back Ki-Jana Carter and quarter- back Kerry Collins, and have been beaten by Wisconsin, Ohio State and Northwest- ern this season. The big play threats on this year's team are receivers Bobby Engram and Freddie Scott. The man delivering the ball is junior quarterback Wally Richardson. "(Richardson's) made a lot of progress and is playing well," Penn State coach Joe Patemo said. "1 think the week off will help him. It will help to tie some things down like his timing." Richardson has posted 198.3 yards per gamepassingbut hisbestattributemaybe his ability to scramble. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and the Wolverines hope they won't see a repeat of what they saw two weeks ago with Michigan State's Tony Banks. "Anytime you have a mobile quarter- back you have the potential of a guy that can scramble around and hurt you." Carr said. "That's something we have to avoid." As far as Carr's offense is concerned, he should have tailback Tshimanga Biakabutuka back in the lineup. Biakabutuka left last week's game in the first half with a pulled calf muscle. Having theirtop runningback return to action isgoodnews forthe Wolverines as they figure to try to stay on the ground against the Nittany Lions. "I think both teams will want to run the football," Carr said. "The key to victory is that you're going to have to hit some passes. To do that - pass protection for both teams is essential." Michigan had quite a battle with the weather last week against Purdue and the Wolverines aren't going to let the ex- pectedcold weatherphase them this week. "Good football teams have to have the ability to win under all kinds of condi- tions," Carr said. "Our kids gained a tremendous amount of confidence in the last couple of weeks in learning how to practice in cold weather." Tomorrow's game will be the rookie coach's first chance to coach against Patemo, a 30-year veteran. "He has stood for all the things that I view are very positive in college foot- ball," Carr said. "It's going to be a great thrill to coach against him." TONYA BUAD/ The Michigan volleyball team will play Its final home games against Ohio State and Penn State starting tonight at 6 o'clock at Cliff Keen Arena. difficult. Michigan has only beaten Ohio State four times in their last 33- matches and is 0-11 against Penn State. A win against Ohio State would be especially nice for Sarah Jackson who will compete against one of the Buck- eyes' best players -her sister Jenny. "We're putting the most into Ohio State," Giovannazi said. "We'll have to serve tough and get in the mode of the side-out. It's the only way to win." If Michigan beats at least one of these teams and then wins its last two games against Northwestern and Purdue, it will have a very good chance of going to the NCAA tournament. However, the Wolverines are not worried about the postseason. They just want to play their best volleyball. "These games are not going to make or break us," Brownlee said. "If we don't win, it's not the end of the world. We just have to play our best." DA SR ONcott Darren Antoine W Ryan Picks are made against the spread. T VERSON P ITTSoIE Michigan (+4 1/2) at Penn St. Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Minnesota (+6) at Illinois Illinois Illinois Illinois Minnesota Northwestern (-5) at Purdue Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Indiana (+33) at Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St. Iowa (+7) at Wisconsin Iowa Wisconsin Wisconsin Iowa Alabama (+6) at Auburn Alabama Auburn Auburn Auburr Colorado (+3 1/2) at Kansas St. Colorado Colorado Colorado Kansas St. Virginia Tech (+4) at Virginia Virginia Tech Virginia Virginia Virginia Tech Arkansas (+11/2) at LSU Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Boston College (+7) at Syracuse Syracuse Boston College Syracuse Syracuse Best bet Virginia Tech Arkansas Northwestern Michigan Last week 9-1 .900 8-2 .800 6-4 .600 7-3 .700 Overall 57-42-1 .575 60-39-1 .605 55-44-1 .556 54-45-1 .545 Best bets 6-4 .600 7-3.700 6-4 .600 7-3 .700 G ridde! Drop off you're picks at the Michigan Daily sports desk in the Student Publications Building at 420 Maynard by 4 p.m. Friday. The most accurate prognosticator will receive a $15 gift certificate to Steve and Barry's University Sportswear. Contestants are limited to five entries per week only, please. 1. Michigan at Penn State 14. Colorado at Kansas State 2. Iowa at Wisconsin 15. Kansas at Oklahoma State 3. Minnesota at Illinois 16. Iowa State at Missouri 4. Northwestern at Purdue 17. California at Stanford 5. Indiana at Ohio State 18. UCLA at Southern Cal 6. Florida State at Maryland 19. Oregon State at Oregon 7. Virginia Tech at Virginia 20. Washington State at Washington 8 Clemson at South Carolina 21. Alabama at Auburn 9. Duke at North Carolina 22. Vanderbilt at Florida 10. North Carolina State at Wake Forest 23. Tennessee at Kentucky 11. Rutgers at Temple 24. Columbia at Brown 12. West Virginia at Miami (Fla.) 25. Notre Dame at Air Force 13. Boston College at Syracuse Tiebreaker - Michigan at Penn State, total points NAME: PHONE: Today is your last chance! 1995 UM-OSU BLOOD BATTLE --n R r -k - ~..- _ /MEWCO PRE SAVE A LIFE! BEAT OSU! Michigan Union Ballroom 9am-6:30pm Sponsored in part by; MSA, RHA, LSA-SG, APO, and the American Red Cross m m I'I