_.... _ ._ 'M' wrestler named national coach Former Michigan wrestler Steve Fraser was named the National Greco- Roman Coach for USA Wrestling, effective in October. The All-American lettered for Michigan coach Dale Bahr from 1978-1980 and became the first.U.S. wrestler to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman competition while at the 1984 Olympic Games. As full-time coach, Fraser will work with some of the top Greco-Roman wrestlers in the nation. Page 10 Wednesday vcAcrrrcr c ar lI Q wlw , .r 9 Men's soccer digs itself a shallow grave in 3-1 loss By Susan Dann Daily Sports Writer The, Michigan men's inaugural soc- cer game at Elbel Field was a little different than most inaugurations: it opened with a eulogy. Rest in peace Jim Mitchell. The Western Michigan player is on one fan's hit list for kicking Detroit's Dom Vella in the face, causing severe jaw damage and sending the player to the bench for at least nine weeks. The Wolverines were unable to ful- fill this fan's death wish, but were suc- cessful in writing their own eulogy as they fell to the Broncos, 3-1, after lead- ing the game well into the second half. Michigan controlled the ball early in the game. The newly adopted 5-3-2 formation allowed Michigan to send s defenders into the attack, executing passes and finishing runs. Michigan scored 14 minutes into the first half. Play developed in the Wolver- ines' end, asjuniordefenderDaveColliver pressed into the offensivethird andcrossed the ball from the left flank. Sophomore -Eric Frickel connected with the cross to score on a solid one-touch shot. "The first 15 minutes, we really played with intensity," Michigan coach Steve Bums said. "We executed a text- book goal." For the remainder of the first half, play was concentrated in the middle third of the field, with both teams hav- ing flashes of scoring opportunities. Michigan goalkeeper Mike Milman tallied 11 saves for the day, including Man impressive diving catch on a West- ern free kick from 25 yards outside the goalbox at the end of the first half. Play in the second half continued much like it had at the close of the first. Neither team capitalized on free kicks, most within scoring distance. Burns explained that it is still early in the season and things are slowly com- ing together. "Right now, we are deal- ing with more important issues. Re- starts are not our top priority. I don't think we were hurt because we didn't have set plays. We have really strong players in the air who can jump out of their shoes. For now, we are just trying to get the ball to their heads." The Wolverines beganto look fatigued, theirpassingandrunsnot as crisp as in the first half. Burns did not turn to his bench although it was deep with substitutes. "When we play a competitive varsity team like Western,there are really only 14 or 15 players that have my confi- dence," Burns said. "With more prac- tice and fitness, I think a lot more guys will prove themselves." Thirty-three minutes into the half, a Western player dribbled through the middle. Milman made a diving save, hitting the ball into the post. Another Bronco player caught the rebound and hit an open net. Within a minute of the goal, Western was given a free kick on the right side of the field and executed a perfect goal, leaving the Michigan defense in a daze and the Wolverines in a 2-1 deficit. See SOCCER, Page 11 Fab duo and Mils to return for Oct Crisler ehbto By Antoine Pitts Daily Sports Editor Homecoming week will be extra special this year for Michigan fans. Three Wolverines known for their work on the hardwood return to Ann Arbor, including two members of the Fab Five. With the NBA lockout over, the teams can begin planning for the upcoming season. Among the exhibition dates released by the Detroit Pistons is an Oct. 25 matchup with the Washington Bullets at Crisler Arena. The date coincides with Michigan homecoming week festivities. Tickets go on sale this morning at the Michigan Union Box Office and all other Ticketmaster locations. Prices range from $10-$25. The Bullets feature former Michigan players Juwan Howard and Chris Webber. The Pistons have former Wolverine Terry Mills as well as former Duke standout Grant Hill. Detroit last played an exhibition in Ann Arbor three years ago when it faced the New Jersey Nets. Next month's game was originally a home contest at the Palace of Auburn Hills but the Pistons thought moving it to Crisler would be a wise move. "We saw it as a great matchup with the former Michigan players to bring to Ann Arbor," said Dan Hauser, an executive vice president with the Pistons. "We felt it would be a great opportunity for the fans." Even though they are playing only an hour from their home, moving the game could wind up making it an away game for the Pistons. The Ann Arbor fans will be happy to see Webber and Howard again and could throw their support toward the Bullets. Hill,co-NBA Rookie ofthe Year last season, is a former Michigan nemesis that could give the crowd even more reason to turn against the Pistons. "There will be some outstanding players in the game," Hauser said. "If it ends up being an away game, that's OK." Michigan coach Steve Fisher was out of town and could not be reached to comment on his former players. Webber played just two short seasons in Ann Arbor before being drafted by the Orlando Magic. He was traded on draft day to the Golden State Warriors and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. After feuding with Warriors coach See CRISLER, Page 12 Fonner Wolverine Juwan Howard returns to Crisier Arena next month for an exhibition game against the Detroit Pistons. Thegame will alsofeature Chris Webber and Terry Mills. Blue volleyball sends the Eagles to their nest Wolverines soar into Big Ten play after straight set victory over Eastern Michigan By Chris Murphy Daily Sports Writer YPSILANTI - As the Michigan volleyball team stared across the net at its opponents last night, it saw some- thing vaguely familiar. The Wolverines pounded Eastern Michigan, 15-9, 15-11, 15-5, last night at Bowen Field House. However, the match seemed more like a trip back in time than a volleyball game. The Eagles (0-11) of this year bear a strong resemblance to the Michigan squad of 1994. Last year, Michigan fielded a team mostly comprised of underclassmen so there was a marked lack of senior leadership. This showed in its final record of 4- 16 Big Ten, 8-23 overall. This year the roles were reversed. "I think Michigan is a vastly im- proved team over what I saw from last year," Eastern Michigan head coach Tim Koth said. "Last year we had four seniors and they just (had) freshmen and sophomores. This year they have some veteran players who have played a lot of Big Ten competition." While not necessarily concerned with payback, this year's Wolverines (6-4) were looking for a decisive vic- tory before their Big Ten season be- gins. Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi was worried about a let- down. "We don't have a chance to go out and win a three-game match very of- ten," Giovanazzi said. "It's something that takes more discipline than it looks like." There was no sign of a letdown as the team came out and asserted itself early. After taking the first game, the Eagles were able to come close, but a late Michigan surge gave the Wolver- ines the win. In the third and final game it looked like Eastern Michigan had already left the building and Michigan coasted to an easy 10-point victory. "We came in here focused and got the job done," freshman outside-hit- ter Jane Stevens said. The Wolverines were paced by their captains. Middle-blocker Suzy O'Donnell had 10 kills and one dig while outside-hitter Shannon Brownlee had 10 kills and three digs. One aspect of the game that Giovanazzi has seen improvement in is the team's patience. Whenever the Eagles were serving, Michigan was always able to side-out to get the ball back. As a result, the Eagles never could get any momen- tum going. "We're still a very good sideout team," Giovanazzi said. "I thought we were very patient the first two games." The Wolverines continued to prove that this year's team is for real. "I'm really happy with this team," junior outside-hitter Kristen Rushciensky said. "It's a completely different one than last year. We're just jelling a lot better than we did last year." Michigan will continue to work on its patience as well as the team's point scoring and defense. But confidence might be the key. Inexperience is in the past; it is yesterday's news. This weekend, it is back to the future for the Wolverines. "As a team as a whole we're really confident," Ruschiensky said. "I think we're going to do very well." VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK: High level of preseason competition ' '.rr JOE WESTRATE/Daily The Michigan volleyball team earned its sixth win of the season last night. The Wolverines beat Eastern Michigan in straight sets, 15.9, 15-11 and 15-5. prepares 'lVi By Doug Stevens Daily Sports Writer YPSILANTI- The Michigan volley- ball team made the quick trip down Washtenaw Avenue last in orderto battle Eastern Michigan in the final tune-up before the Big Ten schedule begins. The Wolverines (6-4) ended the "preseason" in style as they swept the Eagles, 15-9, 15-11, 15-5. Michigan's victory over the Eagles (0-11) culminated a pre-Big Ten schedule which included a solid blend of national powers and less talented local teams. Games against the likes of Georgia and UCLA provided the Wolverines with much needed exposure of top talent in preparation for the competi- tive Big Ten schedule. The recent battles against Toledo and Eastern Michigan enabled the team to enjoy the sweet taste of vic- Five Leading French GrandesEcoles CERAM (Nice Sophia-Antipolis) - ESC Lyon ESCP (Paris) - ESSEC (Paris) - HEC (Paris) offer a two-year graduate program for graduates and graduating students of all subjects Master s in Management A comprehensive international programme with a focus on Europe, a balanced approach to management theory and practice, and a close partnership with the business community. For further information about the schools tory, improve on some weaknesses and give the younger players some game competition. "I am very happy with how the team played in thepreseason," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "We had a good competition ofsuccess and being pushed. The scheduling couldn't have been bet- ter." THEY'RE HEATING up: The Wolver- ines have been playing very solid vol- leyball recently winning three of their last four contests. Michigan earned its first official tour- nament title since 1988 winning the Reebok/UMass Invitational last week- end. At the tournament, the Wolverines defeated Massachusetts, 15-12, 15- 11, 17-15, and Brown, 15-8, 15-7, 15- 9, before falling to Syracuse, 1-15, 15-6, 9-15, 15-8, 15-13. Last night's convincing win over Eastern Michigan has the Wolverines rolling into the Big Ten season on a very high note. READY OR NOT: Although the Big Ten Conference race officially be- gins with today's Wisconsin-Minne- sota affair, Michigan won't receive its first taste of conference competi- tion until this weekend. The Wolverines will host Purdue and Northwestern at Cliff Keen Arena Friday and Saturday, respectively. After the matches, Michigan will netters for the Big Ten only get to relax for three days. On Sept. 27, the Wolverines will attempt to reclaim the title as the state's top team when they battle rival Michigan State. "(The team) is really focused on preparing for the Big Ten and they know this weekend is pretty crucial," Giovanazzi said. "I think they are ready for some competitive matches." GET THE CAMERAS ROLLING: In an effort to increase the exposure of Big Ten women's volleyball, at least eight of the conference's matches will be televised live this season by ESPN and SportsChannel Chicago. Although the league has had some individual games televised in the past, this is the first time the Big Ten will partake in a live, season-long series for the sport. "Women's collegiate volleyball is an exciting, powerful game that merits national and regional television expo- sure," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. "The popularity of women's college volleyball has in- creased, and we hope to take the sport to a new level through live television." ESPN will cablecast three matches on ESPN2 this season This includes the Oct. 4 affair be- tween Ohio State and Penn State, the Oct. 6 battle between Illinois and Michi- gan State and the Nov. 24 match be- tween Iowa and Wisconsin. ATTN: Ch. E's, M.E.'s: Ptrochemnical Company *LYONDELL IS A FORTUNE 200 COMPANY LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS *LYONDELL IS A WORLD SCALE MANUFACTURER OF OLEFINS (ETHVEN.R PROPVENE) POLYMRR. MTRE METHANOL.