The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1029353
52 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2018 BY AUSTIN FOX N o Michigan Olympic sports team is off to a hotter start than the volleyball squad this fall. Not only have they opened with an 11‑0 record, but the Wolverines have swept their competition in 10 of 11 contests. The opening streak is U‑M's best start to a season since 2011 (13‑0). The highlight of the torrid start came in a 3‑0 victory over Oakland Sept. 7, a triumph that marked win No. 600 in the illustrious career of head coach Mark Rosen, who has led U‑M to the post‑ season in 16 of his 19 years at the helm. However, the coach wasn't about to take any of the credit. "I didn't even know about it until they announced it over the speaker," he said with a laugh. "It also just shows that I've been doing this for a long time. I don't think [wife] Leisa [who is also on the staff] gets the recognition she deserves — of those 600 wins, 400‑500 of them have come with her, so she's played a big role. "I have very little to do with it in a lot of ways, but it makes me proud of all the kids we've had in the past and all the ones we have now." The 2018 group of Wolverines have been led by a three‑member senior class made up of libero Jenna Lerg, setter Maddy Abbott and outside hit‑ ter Carly Skjodt. Rosen explained their leadership qualities and outstanding work ethic have been contributing factors to Michigan's hot start. "This a very self‑motivated team, and it's also a self‑directed group," he noted. "They're incredibly smart — when we scout, they're the ones who come up with a lot of our infor‑ mation. It's also internally driven, which is what you love as a coach. "We always wonder each year whether or not our teams will live up to their maximum potential, and this group so far has shown great signs of doing so. We're only a third of the way through the season, but I love how they're put together. The senior and junior classes have dis‑ played great leadership, and that's how you want your units to be built. "They've all worked so hard in the weight room, in the gym and on the track to get to this point." Redshirt junior middle blocker Cori Crocker echoed Rosen's senti‑ ment when she described the mental‑ ity the team has adopted through the season's first month. "We know we can hold our own in OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE Rosen's team is off to an 11-0 start, Michigan volleyball's best open to a season since 2011 (13-0). PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY LANDMARK SUCCESS Mark Rosen Wins 600th Game During Volleyball's 11-0 Start