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Big Ten tourney next hurdle for spikers

Motivation helps to relax the anxiety of a team heading into a tournament. But the Big Ten championships are not an average tournament, and the volleyball team is still searching for its motivation.

The Michigan men's volleyball team is approaching this weekend as just another competition, and are downplaying the significance of the matches.

The championships, which will take place Saturday in Columbus, are a chance to demonstrate the team's talent against the rest of the conference.

"We know it's really important (to other teams) and we have something to prove," Pothiraj said. "But (to us) it's just another tournament so we're going to go out there and play to the level we know we can."

This lack of emotion is not representative of a lackadaisical attitude but more of an extended focus. Because volleyball is a club sport, and teams pay their own way, the regional playoffs do not require a team to qualify -- they need only to show up.

The teams to beat this weekend are Minnesota, Illinois, and the team that crushed the Wolverines last weekend15-5, 15-12, 15-12, Michigan State. With such stiff competition, the Wolverines will once again have their hands full in Columbus.

"We're not looking at anyone as the team to beat," Pothiraj said. "We'll play them as they come to us. They're just guys in jerseys and we'll administer a plan to try to beat them."

Coach Kent Booker plays a vital role in the development of this squad, and keeps each player's mind on the match.

"He knows what to emphasize and he gets our minds clear to do what we need to do to win," Pothiraj said.

Michigan sees this weekend as an opportunity for redemption. The chance to gain some significant experience against quality competition should prepare the Wolverines well for the regionals.

The team will travel to Ohio State on a mission to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. While Illinois and the Spartans are clearly the class of the conference, Michigan is in a deadlock with a number of other schools for third place. The shakedown comes this weekend.

A lot of the lack of stress put on the tournament has to do with experience as well. All of the starters traveled to the Big Ten meet last season so the team has been through his before.

But the bottom line remains the same this week as it has every week this season -- the team still needs to execute.

"Big Tens is just another tournament, and we've played tournaments before," Pothiraj said. "I think everybody should be prepared and pressure won't be a factor."

The key to victory has nothing to do with a lack of talent because the Wolverines are a skilled squad. It has more to do with an incomplete attention span.

"I definitely think we need to focus more," Pothiraj said. "Against Michigan State, the play was slipping and people's mouths were drooping. Nobody was really into the match.

"We need to start strong, finish strong and not relax. We need to keep the same intensity the whole way through."