Volleyball hosts big weekend

It's a big weekend for the Michigan volleyball team.

In its first matches since last weekend's 1-1 road trip, the Wolverines will face No. 1 Penn State Friday and Indiana Saturday at Cliff Keen Arena.

The Wolverines (5-1 Big Ten, 12-5 overall) are off to the best Big Ten start in team history, but that does not make the task of beating the Nittany Lions (6-0, 17-0) and the Hoosiers (3-3, 16-3) any easier.

"They are two really completely different teams," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "One is so big, strong and dominating - that's Penn State. We're going to have to play an almost flawless match in order to push them into a situation where we can win.

FILE PHOTO The Michigan volleyball team will be facing stiffer competition than Northwestern this weekend. The Wolverines host No. 1 Penn State on Friday and Indiana on Saturday.

"As far as the match against Indiana, they're a smaller team, very scrappy. I hope that our women take seriously how good that team is."

In order to prepare for such opposite teams, practice has been a little different this week. According to Giovanazzi, the Wolverines usually prepare for only one of the two teams they are going to face during the weekend. This week's approach has been a little bit different.

"This week, we've prepared for both matches," Giovanazzi said. "They're going to be familiar with Indiana when we go into the Penn State match.

"I think we have to be. I think that's practical. We know that beating Penn State would be a major upset, and we have to go out and play a good match against Indiana."

While preparing for their match against Penn State, the Wolverines know they will face a dominating team. The Lions are undefeated, and their size may not be exactly what Michigan is used to.

"Penn State's strengths are its entire team," Giovanazzi said. "They're just so solid that it's difficult to find any flaws. I've had Anne (Poglits) and Karen (Chase), sometimes even me, blocking against our team, so they could get used to that size athlete. Against Indiana, we're going to do some work with some of our smaller players."

The Wolverines were last at home two weeks ago when they beat intrastate rival Michigan State. They set an attendance record with more than 2,000 fans. Even if they do not receive the same type of support this weekend, the Wolverines have enough motivation to keep them going.

"Now the season has such momentum on its own, just continuing to try to best what has been the best season in Michigan history," Giovanazzi said. "That in itself provides an impetus for playing well."

10-16-97