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

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nior Linsey Ebert for the kill. Ebert was the recipient of the Michigan Best Blocker award after she set the Wol- bv Crystal Wone verines ' season total block record. fter last year ' s unprecedented success of placing first in the Big Ten and receiving a bid in the NCAA tournament, Michigan volleyball couldn ' t help but have high expectations for the 1998 season. The Wolverines had all the ingredients for success a potent starting lineup with seniors Karen Chase, Linsey Ebert, Jane Stevens, Jeanine Szczesniak, sophomore Sarah Behnke, as well as an experienced and enthusiastic coaching staff led by veteran head coach Greg Giovanazzi. The team was optimistic for its goals to repeat their first place finish in the Big Ten, as well as advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Despite the firm foundation for success, the season began with a rough start. The Wolverines ' conference was full of stiff competition, with six out of the 1 1 teams in the Top 2 5 . At midseason, morale on the team was shaken up after a string of losses in the Big Ten, although the team was still confident in its ability to perservere. We are a very talented team and have great chemistry off the court. We just have to carry that over onto the court, said senior Jane Stevens, the Wolverines ' captain. Other team members echoed the mixture of disappointment along with strong faith in the core of the team. In the Big Ten, there ' s no room to let your guard down like we ' ve done. But we ' ll keep fighting out there no matter what, commented Karen Chase, a senior outside hitter. The fighting spirit was evident among all the team members. We expected to be winning more, but Michigan is still a Division I team, and the coaching staff and the team respect it so much. The program has grown so much. It has been on a nice upward cycle, said backcourt defensive specialist Chereena Tennis. Sophomore Sarah Behnke summed up the sentiments of the entire team, saying, We can still make it to the NCAA tournament. Everybody ' s willing to work hard to turn the season around. The proof in the Wolverines ' ability to succeed was evident in its surprising success last year. With its core still largely intact and a deep pool of new talent, along with a determined head coach behind them, the Wolverines seized the 1998 season as a challenge, as well as the perfect opportunity to prove themselves as a tried and true team worthy of success. Spiked by the Hopes of a repeated Big Ten Championship fall short in a season of toug h . competition 0 H H Competition 150 Women ' s Volleyball

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Women ' s Record 14-7-1 9 4 at Dayton W 3-1 9 6 at Butler W 2-1 9 11-13 Michigan Challenge Cup vs. Massachusetts W 5-1 vs. Detroit W 3-1 9 15 at Eastern Michigan W 2-1 9 18 at Wisconsin L 0-1 9 20 Northwestern L 2-4 9 25 Penn State T 1-1 9 27 Ohio State W 2-0 10 2 Iowa W 3-1 10 4 Minnesota L 0-1 10 9 Indiana W 2-0 10 11 at Illinois W 2-0 10 14 Toledo W 3-1 10 16 at Michigan State W 4-0 10 23 Notre Dame L 0-1 10 30 Brigham Young L 0-2 1 1 Kentucky W 1-0 11 6-8 Big Ten Conference Tournament 11 6 Northwestern W l-O 11 7 Penn State L 1-3 Soccer Junior Amber Berendowsky outruns | her Minnesota opponent. Berendowsky ' s game winning goal in the next game against Indiana tied the school record of 32 career goals. Mira Dontcheva Midfielder Emily Schmitt controls the ball in a game against Illinois. Schmitt tallied her fourth of the season to pro- pel Michigan to a 2-0 victory. Mira Dontcheva Sports 149

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I Freshman Nicole Kacor prepares to pass the ball to her teammate. The youth of Kacor and others made for a promising future for the Wolverine Women ' s Volleyball program. Women ' s Record 12-18 Big Ten 4- 1 6 9 4-5 at Georgetown Acumen Classic 9 4 vs. Maryland w 3-1 9 5 vs. Georgetown w 3-1 9 5 vs. Temple w 3-1 9 11-12 Michigan All Sport Challenge 9 11 Bowling Green State w 3-0 9 11 North Carolina w 3-0 9 12 Louisiana State w 3-1 9 12 Texas A M L 1-3 9 18-19 at New Mexico Tournament 9 18 at New Mexico W 3-1 9 19 vs. San Diego L 2-3 9 19 vs. Kent W 3-0 9 25 Purdue L 1-3 9 26 Illinois L 0-3 10 2 at Northwestern W 3-0 10 3 at Indiana L 0-3 10 7 Michigan State L 0-3 10 9 Minnesota W 3-0 10 16 at Penn State L 0-3 10 17 at Ohio State L 1-3 10 23 Wisconsin L 0-3 10 24 Iowa W 3-1 10 30 Indiana L 0-3 10 31 Northwestern W 3-1 11 4 at Michigan State L 2-3 11 7 at Minnesota L 1-3 11 13 at Illinois L 0-3 11 14 at Purdue L 1-3 11 20 Ohio State L 0-3 11 21 Penn State L 0-3 11 27 at Iowa L 2-3 11 28 at Wisconsin L 0-3 Volleytx Sophomores Joanna Fielder and Alija Pittenger go up for the block against Wisconsin. Fielderwasthe 1997 Michi- gan Most Improved Player award re- cipient. Jennifer Johnson Sports ' 151