12- The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 3, 1995 Icers face feisty Ferris State By Alan Goldenbach Daily Sports Writer One of the drawbacks of being a top team is that it has to deal with the phrase "on paper"'too often. The No. 3 Michigan hockey team (1-1 CCHA, 3-1 overall), on paper, should have no trouble with Ferris State this weekend when it travels to Big Rapids to square off with the Bulldogs (1-1, 3-4) in a two-game set. This series begins a six-game stretch of conference games for Michigan with matchups at Miami (Ohio) and home against Alaska-Fairbanks, leading up to the College Hockey Showcase in Mil- waukee over Thanksgiving weekend. The Bulldogs won only 12 of their 36 games last year and, with the Redskins and Nanooks, posted a combined record of five games below.500 in CCHA play last year. Michigan coach Red Berenson said that the last thing he wants his team to do is to go into the games overconfident. "On the schedule you might say that those are the teams you should beat," Berenson said. "But that's easier said than done. Youjust don't go into Ferris or Miami and win games easily." The Wolverines had that problem last year when they went to Big Rapids and came away with a weekend split in the conference openers. This weekend presents a similar sce- nario as Michigan's CCHA schedule kicks into high gear after it was briefly interrupted last week with the win over Maine. "Every coach is going to say this, but we're going to have to take it one game at a time," Berenson said. "Once we get through that game, then we look to the next." The ice surface at Ewigleben Ice Arena, the Bulldogs' home turf, presents some interesting challenges since it is shorter than regulation size. This means that the slightest redirec- tion of the puck could result in an odd- man rush for either team. Italso means thatneutral zoneplay will be kept to a minimum. "There's the small neutral zone so you're going to play in one end or the other," Berenson said. "It's not band- wagon hockey, it's one end or the other. Surprisingly for Ferris, that one end may be its offensive zone. The Bulldogs ranked eighth in the CCHA in scoring last year and return their top six defensemen. Seemingly, the natural emphasis would be placed on Ferris' blueline. But the Bulldogs have received much higher scoring production than expected. Their power play, succeeding at a 26.5 percent clip, ranks first in the CCHA. Senior centers Derek Crimin and Scot Bell have had abig hand inthepower play Crimin has had a goal in each of his last four games and is second in the CCHA in that department with seven. "(Derek) was a big scorer before he MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily lichigan freshman winger Dale Rominski and his teammates head to Big Rapids this weekend to take on Ferris State. The Wolverines split with the Bulldogs in a two-game set early last season. 'Mspikers tr ogab fourth place of. By Andy Knudsen Daily Sports Writer 1. Expect two rough shoot-outs this week- end at Cliff Keen Arena. The Michigan volleyball team (7-5 Big Ten, 13-9 overall) is after fourth place in the Big Ten, but No. 21 Illinois (8-4, 17- 4) owns that positionand defends it against the Wolverines tonight. ' Indiana (7-5, 15-10) is tied for fifth place with Michigan and will look to move up a game on the Wolverines to- morrow. The Hoosiers visit Michigan State tonight. These conference matches won't be settled by quick 10-pace duels at high noon. They will likely be long battles of- attrition, each starting at 7 p.m. The Wolverines handed the Hoosiers a straight-gameloss, 15-12, 15-9,15-12, in their previous showdown this year in Bloomington. -1 "We weren't focused(last time)," Indi- anacoach Katie Weismiller said. "Michi- gan is a very good team and they were ready to play." Junior Kristen Ruschiensky injuredher knee in that game, and the Wolverines stumbled the following night against the fighting Illini in Champaign, losing 15- 8, 16-14, 15-10., "Illinois is aloud, tough place to play," "!ibphomore setter Linnea Mendoza said. "So it will be nice playing at home.". One of the reasons why Illinois has been successful is because of sophomore All-America candidate Erin Borske. She leads the Big Ten in kills (265) and her average ranks third in the nation (5.92 kills per game). "We're looking all over campus for a biglefty togo against Borske," Giovanazzi joked. Junior setter Caroline Dikhoff, who is fourth in the nation in assists per game (14.12), has led the Illini offense during its current seven-match win streak. "They run a really balanced attack," Giovanazzi said. He also said that senior Megan Stettin andjunior Kelly Scherr are players to watch. But Illinois coach Mike Hebert is wor- ried most about the play of his other two starters - both freshmen. "The most important factor," he said, "is that ouryoungplayers play well on the road." With Ruschiensky out and the return of junior Colleen Miniuk to Giovanazzi's pool of available players, Hebert said he was not sure what to expect from the Wolverines. "We're just not sure what lineup we're going to see," Hebert said. "As a young team, we're mostly concerned with our side of the net." Indiana also brings a balanced attack into Cliff Keen as five of its players boast 150 or more kills. Sophomore Julie Flatley leads the Hoo- siercharge with 3.44killsper game in Big Ten matches. Senior Michelle McElroy, who averages9.94 assists pergame against conference foes, usually sets up the Indi- ana offense. "We hope to give (Michigan) a good fight," Weismiller said. "We've beaten everyone below us (in the Big Ten) and need to beat someone above us." Some of the Hoosiers have extra mo- tivation to do well against the Wolver- ines. "Indiana has three Michigan athletes who always get fired up to play us," Giovanazzi said. Sophomores Marcee Prothro and Heather Magelssen and freshman Jen- nifer Magelssen played together on three Class IA state championship teams at Portage Northern in Portage. But Michigan is also motivated. Its only post-season appearance came in 1981 when the Wolverines finished eighth in the Association of Intercolle- giate Athletics for Women National Championship Tournament. Last year, seven conference teams earned post-season bids with six earning NCAA berths. came here," Ferris State coach Bo Daniels said. "He's been on the powe play for us since his first year here, s that's not anything too earth-shatteringt us." Bell, however, has been the bigges surprise for Daniels. Lastyear,he dresse foronly 16 games and had oneassistto hi credit. This year, Bell has been ringing up th goal siren, netting five goals to go alon with two assists. "Scot Bell has been a real pleaai surprise," Daniels said. "He worked'r hard in the off-season. He worked on hi strength and conditioning and he's had great attitude this season and it's showni his play. Hopefully, it's going to bin tinue." Even if it doesn't hold up, the Bull dogs' strongdefense couldmakeup forit Senior Andy Roach, a second-teamAll CCHA selection a year ago, anchors' blueline that is composed entirely of u perclassmen who have experience play ing with each other. But for some strange reason,'theuni hasn't entirely clicked yet this season. "We went into this season with the id that we were solid defensively and offei sively, weweregoingtostruggle,"Daniel said. "We put so much emphasis on cr atingoffense and scoringgoals,thatwe'v let our defense slide. "Sothis weekend we're reallygbing . be concerned with getting our defu back on track." Confident men's soccer hea to regionals By Avi Ebenstein Daily Sports Writer Michigan men's soccer coach Stev Burns already purchased his round-tri ticket to Phoenix. The Michigan men's soccer team. playing in the regional tournament i Champaign this weekend. If the Wol verines don't finish first or secon Burns will have wasted a good deal money. The regional tournament features I linois, Michigan, Purdue and Iowa. Il nois holds the top seed followed b Michigan, Purdue and Iowa. The to two teams will advance to the Nation Collegiate Soccer Association's n tional championship tournament. Burns is optimistic about his tea chances. "We have had several good pra tices,"Burnssaid. "Wehave good cher istry and we're playing well." Ryan Carriere and Rob Holt, who ar returning from injuries, should ad strength to the Wolverines. "We are almost injury-free," Bu said. "We are to the point that I wante to be two weeks ago. We now ay fifteen or sixteen guys fighting f eleven spots. Practice has been no intense and there has been a high level of play." In order to motivate his players, Bu kept his team under the impression th only one team advances to the nation tournament. Burns realized that if h players knew that two teams could a vance, they would relax during pra tice. He let his team in on the secr yesterday. "I knew a little while ago that tw teams would advance," Burns said.' B this is a great psychological tool. I rea ized that if the players knew two tea would advance, there would be a bi letdown in practice." Burns also feels that some tough time during the season has aided his squa "The team has learned from so experience that they must adequatel prepare physically and mentally," Bur said. "You can't step out for a gam without intensity and confideice, Michigan heads into the tourname with some success against the oppos tion. The Wolverines defeated Purdu 4-0, Iowa, 1-0, and tied Illinois, .I- this year. The regional tournament consists a round robin where the teams compi See SOCCER, Page NOPPORN KICHANANTHA/Daily The Michigan volleyball team faces No. 21 Illinois tonight and Indiana tomorrow at Cliff Keen Arena. Blue tankers hit the road in weekend competition Women: By Chris Murphy Daily Sports Writer If the Michigan women's swimming team is looking to rack up wins, you'd never know it by looking at its sched- ule. In a time when it has been fashion- able for teams to pad their schedules, the Wolverines have chosen a mark- edly different route. Michigan has already faced two top- flight opponents in Stanford and North- western and today in the Southern Meth- odist Classic, it will swim against five national powers. In fact, all six ofthe teams competing this weekend in Dallas finished in the top 11 last season. Men: The Wolverines were the national runner-up to Stanford followed by Texas and host SMU. Nebraska finished ninth and UCLA 10th. Michigan coach Jim Richardson has no qualms about competing against the tougher teams. "In some sports you like to compete against weaker to teams to pad your schedule," Richardson said. "If we could compete against top opponents every week we would." In the early part of the season, the development of the team can be more important than wins. Stiff competition is seen as a barometer for Michigan's performance. See SWIMMERS, Page 13 By Doug Stevens Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's swimming and diving team has perhaps the loftiest goal of any varsity squad in Ann Arbor this year. While most Wolverine teams are fo- cusing on attaining a Big Ten title or even an NCAA crown, the defending national champion swimmers are focused on the Olympic trials and the trip to Atlanta. These dreams are realistic. However, the trials are still 160 days away and there is a lot of preparation that needs to be done between now and then. In the meantime, the No. I Wolverines will haveto satisfy theircompetitivejuices in a more subdued atmosphere than what they will confront at the trials. Michigan opens its Big Ten campaign tomorrow when it travels to Madison to face No. 10 Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Wolverines, who have already de- feated No. 5 California this season, are determined to win this meet, but are more concerned with what lies ahead. "The early meets are a yardstick to see where the team is in preparation for the season," Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said. Despite the lack of importance that the Wolverines are placing on this meet, Minnesota presents a formidable chal- lenge for Michigan. The Gophers were runner-up in the Big Ten to the Wolver- ines the past two years. When the two teams met during the 1993-94 campaign, Minnesota gave its opponents all it could handle before succumbing, 124-119. "We don't know a lot about Minne- sota," Urbanchek said. "They scared us two years ago. They have the personnel to beat us." Despite the Wolverines' standing as the top team in the nation, there are still some voids that need to be filled. For the fall semester, the Wolverines will be without All-American distance swimmer Tom Dolan, whois red-shirting this fall to train for the Olympic Trials. That leaves freshman Andy Potts as the team's best distance swimmer. All-American Gustavo Borges left another void when he graduated last spring. Although Michigan has experi- enced sprinters in John Piersma and Chris Rumley to replace Borges, the Wolverines will still feel the effects of the loss. "Borges left a great vacuum in the pool when he left the sprint events (the 50,100 and 200 meter freestyle races)," Urbanchek said. "We will try to put people in there to replace Gustavo, but it will be hard to find size 15 shoes to fill." In addition to the void left by Borges, the graduation of Steve West ended a decade of Wolverine dominance in the breaststroke and created a hole in that stroke - one which Michigan hopes to fill as soon as possible. 1970 - 1995 The Book of Your Life Who am I really? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What are my character traits? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What are my special talents? Do I have hidden gifts and abilities? Complete Personality Analysis 10 different horoscopes from around the world I (Career Planning & Placernent invites you to aforum witk Astroogical birth horoscope Cabalistic name analysis Chinese horoscope Nathe Amecan horoscope Karma horoscope Indin hrmo M Nicole Kidman Matt Dillon Rebecca DeMornay Antonio Banderas 0 wJ1 I I . -- I