University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Greg Kessler Greg Kessler Kessler By Tammy Thomas This season ' s success started three years ago when a strong recruiting class consisting of seven new faces joined the Michigan volleyball team. These faces grew to be the seniors and leaders of the 1997 season. When they started in 1994 they were 8-23 but as senior setter Linnea Mendoza remarked, ' ' I wouldn ' t take away my experience from that sea- son, even though we were 8-23. That season laid the foundation for this year ' s team. Mendoza made her presence known by capturing the Michigan career assist record and she currently ranks 14th in the Big Ten Conference all-time assist list. The Wolverines have consistently had strong recruiting classes with this year being no exception. The 1997 first year members played an important role in the team qualifying for the NCAA play- offs. According to senior Sarah Jackson, This year we have a great recruiting class and they are very supportive and add that needed spark for the team. Another key in Theirfctote rorcfrowr this team ' s goal of making it to the playoffs is the work of junior middle blocker Linsey Ebert. Ebert captured her second straight Michigan blocking title. Head coach Greg Giovanazzi commented on his philosophies for the team. Stu- dents come to U of M for a balanced experience of academics, athletics and social activities, Giovanazzi said. I try to focus on the individual rather than the whole team, that al- lows them to express their talents. Finally, he finished, trytoprovide an atmosphere in practice to where each individual can express their competitiveness. Giovanazzi ' s phi- losophies and the team ' s hard work brought the completion of one of women ' s best volleyball seasons in history. The 1997 team ' s goal of making it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in history was accomplished. Getting to the tournament took the effort of 20 wins throughout the season and the continued effort of all the women in every game. S enibr Sarah Jackson spikes the ball against Michigan State. The Wolverines beat the Spar- tans 3-1 in their annual home meeting. 176 Sports Greg Kessler

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Tragedy struck the Michigan wrestling program this season as veteran wrestler Jeff Reese suddenly collapsed and died while exercising. - On Dec. 9, 1997 the University felt a loss that stunned the Athletic Department and radiated through the entire student body. Junior Kinesiology student and varsity wrestler, Jeff Reese died after a strenu- ous workout to drop weight with the hopes of qualifying for competi- tion. Reese suffered a heart attack during a rigorous exercise session while trying to qualify 7 for competition in a 150 pound weight class. Reese had been wearing a rubber suit at the time of his death and had suffered serious dehydration. The untimely and unnecessary death of this bright young student was the third death of this type to stun the U.S. collegiate circuit this season. Reese died just weeks after two other student wrestlers, Billy Saylor at Campbell University in North Carolina and Joe Larosa at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. These three deaths and the severity of the weight loss techniques used in college wrestling brought about NCAA modifications to the present wrestling regulations. The NCAA changes to wrestling programs took place nationwide and banned the use of rubber suits, saunas exceeding 79 degrees, laxatives and other means of dehydration because of their ability to harm the athletes. This was definitely a tragedy, said senior economics major Jeff Miller, but the University handled it well. It shouldn ' t have happened, but Goss and the NCAA responded well. Other students agreed that Michigan ' s response to the unfortunate death was appropriate. I think that the entire Athletic Department was shocked that something like this could happen. Jeff ' s death has definitely made us more of a unit, said senior, German major and co- captain ofthevarsitywrestlingteam, Airron Richardson. Theseniors have to focus, we don ' t have a choice. This tragedy has been a true reflection of the character of our team. It would have been much easier to just let the season slip away. Reese ' s death, though tragic, has paved the way for the much needed modifications to wrestling programs throughout the nation. University Athletic Director Tom Goss reported his feeling about the NCAA changes in regulation to The Michigan Daily. I ' m pleased that they moved as rapidly as they did, said Goss, I was initially concerned that we wouldn ' t get any action from them this semester. Jeff ' s father, Ed Reese commented to the Daily about his reactions to the NCAA changes. It will keep its own check on the wrestlers as far as cutting weight. They ' re in no condition to compete when they are dehydrated. Sadness overwhelmed the University with the death of Reese as students marveled at the extreme measures it took to show the NCAA that the techniques of cutting weight for wrestlers were unacceptable. Hopefully the actions taken by the NCAA will prevent the unnecessary deaths of other athletes at the University and across the nation. By Virginia Hiltz Inside Sports 175

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F GregKessler reshman Sarah Behnke spikes past two MSl ! blockers. Behnke lead the Wolverines with 19 total kills in their first State pride match of the season. Over the years many athletic rivalries devel- oped between Michigan and Michigan State. One of the newest was the Rock the House-State Pride Match. This event consisted of two volleyball matches cosponsored by the respective athletic programs and the Big Ten conference, one oc- curred at each school. The first of these for the 1997 season took place on Oct. 3 at Cliff Keen Arena. The arena was packed on game night, with an attendance nearing 10,400. Most were Wolver- ine fans, but there was a definitive State presence. Even before the game started, a sense of competi- tion filled the air. Indeed, both sides looked upon this event as a matter of school pride. According to coach Giovanazzi, We ' re looking forward to this. Having Michigan State as an opponent is ideal. Michigan State fan Chris Rush agreed. State takes this rivalry pretty seriously. ' Unfortunately for Rush, the Wolverines hand- ily beat the Spartans three matches to one, thanks to strong team playing. Truly, the superior play- ing of middle blockers Linsey Ebert and Sarah Jackson, outside hitters Anne Poglits andjeanine Szczesniak and setter Linnea Mendoza rallied the team to victory. By Dan O ' Brien Overall: 21-12 Big Ten: 13-7 8 29-8 30 U.W. Husky Tournament 8 29 vs. Idaho L 2-3 8 30 vs. Rhode Island W 3-0 8 30 vs. Washington L 9 5-9 6 All Sport Volleyball Challenge 9 5 vs. Florida State L 2-3 1-3 9 6 vs. E. Michigan W 9 6 vs. Montana W 3-0 3-0 9 12-9 13 LSU Tiger Invitational 9 12 vs. Central Florida L 1-3 9 13 vs. Connecticut W 3-0 9 13 vs. Louisiana St. W 3-0 9 19 at Duke W 3-1 9 20 at North Carolina W 3-2 9 26 at Minnesota W 3-2 9 27 at Iowa W 3-2 10 1 Northwestern W 3-0 10 3 Michigan St. W 10 10 at Wisconsin L 3-1 0-3 10 1 1 at Illinois W 3-0 10 17 Penn State L 0-3 10 18 Indiana W 3-0 10 24 at Purdue W 3-0 10 26 at Ohio State L 1-3 10 29 at Northwestern W 3-0 1 1 2 at Michigan State L 1 1 7 Illinois W 1-3 3-2 1 1 8 Wisconsin L 1-3 11 14 Iowa W 3-0 11 15 Minnesota L 1-3 11 21 at Indiana W 3-1 1 1 22 at Penn State L 0-3 1 1 28 Ohio State W 3-1 1 1 29 Purdue W 3-1 12 4-5 at NCAA Tournament 12 4 vs. Temple W 12 5 vs. Texas A M L 3-2 0-3 Junior outside hitter, Jeanine Szczesniak rises to the occasion against Northwestern. During the season, Szczesniak was Michigan ' s top server averaging 0.4 aces per game. Shelby Wong Volleyball 177