The Michigan women's crew team will face Iowa in conference action Sunday morning.
In Iowa City, the Wolverines will be competing in their second dual meet of the season after a week off to focus on training.
"We've been working to improve," Michigan coach Mark Rothstein said. "Iowa is a good program, though they've also recently been moved to varsity status. They're in their third year, so they're a little bit ahead of us."
The Wolverines, in the middle of their first season as a varsity sport, are looking to finish with a strong record against some of the most difficult competition in the country.
The Wolverines will be taking their first and second varsity boats and their first and second novice crews to Iowa.
"We're going into this cautiously," junior rower Vanessa Giancamilli said. "We don't know what to expect, but we're relatively confident.
"We've seen fast crews at every competition and raced them well. This past week we've been breaking down our stroke and working on the nitty-gritty. It's the small things that are going to make the difference now."
During the season, the Wolverines have dealt with larger problems, ranging from faster sprints to overcoming bad weather and bad luck.
At the San Diego Crew Classic two weeks ago, an unfortunate occurrence probably cost the varsity boat a place in the finals of the Whittier Cup Division. An oar struck a buoy, bringing the boat to a virtual halt.
"It was a tough weekend for the girls," Giancamilli said. "There were a lot of problems, but they worked through the adversity and did it well.
"They really learned to bounce back."
As the season continues, the Wolverines will build off their experiences, working toward their optimal performance, Rothstein said.
"Crew is really a team sport," Rothstein said. "There are no star players."
The Wolverines have grown and improved their times, in spite of each setback they have encountered.
"We've been working hard, and rowing with the team is really exciting," Giancamilli said.