The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, September i, 1995 - 3B
VOLLEYBALL
*6* , ,. S Clum
Large crowds see UCLA, Cal wins
DARREN EVERSON
Darron to be Different
Lines make
picking the
winners a little
more difficult
Does the Daily advocate
gambling?
After looking at Friday's
paper, how can you think anything
else? On page 21, there they were
- the betting lines - in nice, big
text for all to see.
For no reason, Daily Sports has
unleashed these devilish numbers
on a naive student population. Or
perhaps there is a reason. Perhaps
we hope to corrupt our fellow
students and turn them into gam-
bling fiends just like us.
That was not our intention,
however. And that certainly will not
be the result.
By including the point spread in
our "Staff Picks" college football
predictions, the Daily was not
advocating that students gamble on
those games or on anything at all. The
lines were added at my suggestion
because they're ofinterest to the
average sports fan. Besides that,
they're for entertainment value only.
That sure sounds like a dis-
claimer, like something you might
read when looking up your horo-
scope. And maybe such a statement
is necessary, now that sports
gambling among college students
appears to be increasing.
But just like anything else that
appears in the paper, point spreads
are information that many people
want to read. What they do with that
information is up to them.
My guess is they won't do much.
To begin with, there are only 10
lines appearing each Friday. The
ones that we include are the point
spreads from the weekend's Big
Ten games, as well as the lines on a
few important national games.
Professional football or baseball
will not be included.
The reason for those rules is that
we are focused on Michigan and the
games that affect Michigan. That
means that Big Ten and significant
intersectional games deserve to be
mentioned, and that's all.
But instead of merely listing the
games, the football writers offer
their predictions. This goes on
throughout the season, which means
you get to see which of us (if any)
knows something about college
football, since our records will be in
print each Friday.
We did this last year as well,
following the same basic guidelines.
However, one thing was missing -
the point spreads. What the writers
did then was pick what team would
win each game, with no regard for
the margin of victory.
It doesn't take a tarot card reader
to predict what is destined to
happen with such an arrangement.
When it's Minnesota against Penn
State, Minnesota against Michigan
or Minnesota against anybody,
everybody is going to pick the same
winner.
Seven or eight of the typical
See EVERSON, Page 4
By Chris Murphy
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan women's volleyball
team struggled mightily as it dropped
both its matches in the Kaepa Chal-
lenge at Cliff Keen Arena this week-
end. Hosting three national volleyball
powers, UCLA, Ohio State and Cali-
fornia, the Wolverines lost to the Bru-
ins 15-10, 10-15, 8-15, 14-16 Friday
and the Golden Bears 15-9,8-15,7-15,
10-15on Saturday.
After starting the season 3-1, includ-
ing victories over Toledo and William
and Mary, Michigan (3-3) has dropped
its past two games.
IMPRESSIVE AT-
TENDANCE: Without
y fl official attendance
figures there is no
Notebook way to give statisti-
cal evidence of how
many people packed
into Cliff Keen.
However, suffice it
to say, there was a
sizable contingent on both nights cheer-
ing on the Wolverines.
"That was the best attendance we've
ever had on back-to-back nights," coach
Greg Giovanazzi said. "It was a real
great showing."
Despite it being a home-football
weekend, volleyball fans arrived in
droves looking to enjoy some of the
top-flight competition.
FIRST ENCOUNTERS: This weekend's
matches were Michigan's first meet-
ings with Califormia and UCLA.
However, the Michigan coaches are
no strangers to the Bruin program;
Giovanazzi and assistant Mora Kanim
are both UCLA grads. Giovanazzi ac-
tually coached both the UCLA men's
and women's teams from 1981-1990.
Kanim played under Giovanazzi from
1983-1985.
UPSET-MINDED: You can bet that the
Wolverines had an upset in mind when
they took the floor Friday night against
UCLA.
Playing in Cliff Keen Arena, the
Michigan players already had two up-
sets of a Top 25-ranked team under
their belts. The Wolverines upset top-
ranked Illinois in 1992 and 1994, both
at Cliff Keen.
KAEPA RIVALRY: The Kaepa Chal-
lenge, started in 1993, features compe-
tition between rival conferences, the
Big Ten and Pac-10.
It's not the Rose Bowl, but one can
always be assured of seeing some good
volleyball, as both leagues boast some
of the top teams in the nation. Last
year's national champion was Stanford.
This weekend, it was the Pac-10 that
seemed to have the decided advantage.
Ohio State defeated California Friday
15-4, 15-7, 15-7, but that was the Big
Ten's only win on the weekend.
UCLA beat Ohio State in a marathon
five-game match, 11-15, 15-11, 10-15,
15-9, 15-11.
BIG NUMBERS: There were some im-
pressive numbers put up this weekend.
With Ohio State and UCLA around,
fans were treated to some of the best
volleyball players in the nation.
The tournament MVP was Kim Krull
from UCLA. Thejuniormiddle-blocker
turned in impressive showings on both
nights, registering 32 kills and 37 digs.
In terms of the Wolverines, co-cap-
tain Suzy O'Donnell was the only
Michigan player to make the all-tour-
namentteam. The seniormiddle-blocker
scored 24 kills and 15 digs.
Junior outside-hitter Kristen
Ruschlensky was overlooked for all-
tournament honors. Ruschiensky had
41 kills and 20 digs playing almost
every minute of each match.
"[Kristen] has had a great first six
matches,"Giovanazzi said."She'sbeen
the one to carry the load offensively."
INJURY UPDATE: This weekend's
matches included the return of junior
outside-hitter Shareen Luze. Luze, a
potential starter had been out for eight
days with an ankle injury.
Sophomore outside-hitter Chereena
Tennis is still out with a lower back
stress fracture. She isn't expected back
for about six weeks.
Junior outside-hitter, Colleen
Minuik missed the weekend tourna-
ment with a knee injury. She is ex-
pected back some time next week.
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daiy
Jeanine Szczesniak spikets against two UCLA blockers.
CHALLENGE
Continued from page 113
had propelled them in the previous
games. Thanks to aces by O'Donnell
and Mendoza and consistent powerful
kills by Brownlee and Ruschiensky,
Michigan had an 11-8 lead
The Wolverines then had numerous
chances to finish off the game with a
14-11 advantage. However, the Bruins
overcame the Wolverines with their
tremendous spiking and defensiye play.
UCLA successfully finishedoffMichi-
gan with a 16-14 victory.
Despite the loss, the miatch with
UCLA proved that the Wolverines could
hold their own with a legitimate na-
tional power. Michigan had seven more
kills than its opponent (68-61) and had
the same number of digs with 79.
For the Wolverines, Brownlee had
15 kills and 18 digs, Ruschiensky had
25 kills and nine digs, O'Donnell had
14 kills and seven digs and fireshman
Janine Szczesniak added five kills and
17 digs. UCLA was led by Kimr Krull,
who had 14 kills and 14 digs on her way
to achieving tournament MVP honors.
After the tough duel with the Bruins,
Michigan went into Saturday night's
match against California(1-2)botemo-
tionally and physically fatigued.
While the Wolverines had to endure
four tough games of battle with UCLA
which lasted overtwo hours, the Golden
Bears got swept by No. 10 Ohio State,
15-10, 15-7, 15-7, in a match which
lasted only 1:25.
"(On Friday), we were really, really
pumped," O'Donnell said. "We have to
be better at giving equal focus to both
games. We need a better ability tio get
over a loss and get ready for the next
game."
Despite the different match lengths,
Michigan lookedtough inthe firstgame
against California as the players tmain-
tamed their enthusiasm, not to mention
their level of play, in cruising to a 15-9
win. Sparked by strong blocking and
the setting ofMendoza, the Wolverines
had 22 kills to the Golden Bears' eight.
However, it was not to be for the Wol-
verines as their timing and executing be-
gan to fall apart as fatigue set in by the
second game. Simultaneously, sparked
by the setting of All-Tournament team
selection Louella Lovely who finished
the match with 46 assists, the California
offense really began to gel. This spelled
trouble for the Wolverines who went on
to drop the last three games by scores of
15-8, 15-7 and 15-10.
"We weren't able to capitalize on
Cal's mistakes," Giovanazzi said. "We
didn't take advantage of our opportuni-
ties. It was a combination of physical
and mental fatigue."
Mendoza played valiantly in leading
the Wolverine offense.contributing 36
assists and 26 digs. O'Donnell had 10
kills and eight digs in earning All-Tour-
nament team honors. In addition,
Ruschiensky had 16 kills and 11 digs,
Sarah Jackson had 1 kills and 10 digs,
and Brownlee added 13 kills and 12
digs.
In the other match Saturday, UCLA
defeated Ohio State, 11-15, 15-11, 10-
15, 15-9, 15-11.
The MIchIgui
women's
volleyallteam
lost a parr of
ma tches at ClOf
Keen Arena tM s
weekend. The
Wolverines lost
in four games to
UCLA Friday, and
then fell In four
games to
Califomia
Saturday.
MARK FRIEDMAN/OAWy
"Skate where the Wolverines Skate!"
(Right down State St.)
YOST ARENA PUBUC SKA77NG
7DAYs A WEEK!
.F
Admission:
Students/Youth $3
UM Staff $3.50
Adults $4
Mon. - Fri.
Thur.
Sat. (nosessiondunngtootall)
<nosesiondunnghoceY)
Sun.
12- 12:50 pm BIGGEST
8 - 9:50 pm STUDENT
2 - 3:50 pm NIGHTY
7 - 8:50 pm EVERW.NES
2 - 3:50 pmATYST
We have HUNDREDS of skates for rent!
uv
This
year..s.
So, The Daily and Dream on Futon want
to give you a FREE FUTON
(or one of these other cool prizes).
,Ihe Office of Academic Muiticultural Initiatives &
Tie Office of Minority Student Services
in conjunction with
the UnitetAsian American Organizations,
tie sianlacfic American Studies Trogram &
tre Association of Asian Tac American Faculty and Staff
enrfiaf(fyif11n ftva lint i
" We're the Featured Choir
at the American Choral
Directors' Convention
" We're performing at
Orchestra Hall in Detroit
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Beethoven's 9th Symphony
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America
. . plus a whole ot rore
So what are YOU doing
this year?
. N Ni " .ri' nvi!