The Wolverine

September 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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68 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2019   OLYMPIC SPORTS FALL PREVIEW "My expectation for Umar is lofty," Daley noted. "It's to be a highly competitive young man within this league, to be a leader by example and don't change who you are because you have the chance to be All-Big Ten or All-American." Don't Miss: Oct. 22 at Notre Dame. Last November, Michigan suffered a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament on penalty kicks (11-10). The Wolverines will get a chance to exorcise any demons when they take on the Fighting Irish late in the regular season. WOMEN'S SOCCER First Event: Aug. 22, vs. Marshall Big Ten Predicted Finish: Fourth NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Sec- ond round Coach's Expectations: "We always put it on the team to set the goals and expectations of what they want to achieve," head coach Jennifer Klein said. "This year they want to win a Big Ten championship and make it back to the NCAA Tournament." Top Player: Junior midfielder Sarah Stratigakis has been named to the All-Big Ten second team in her first two years at Michigan and is ex- pected to lead the team in 2019. She finished second on the team in goals and points, and third on the team in assists, shots and shots on goal last season. "She is a player that we were really excited with because of her growth over last season," Klein noted. "I think this season she will be just as impactful … she has the ability to raise her game even more." Athlete To Watch: Klein recruited the 13th-best class in the nation ac- cording to TopDrawerSoccer.com, which includes Jayde Riviere, a for- ward from Ontario. Riviere logged significant minutes for Canada in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and is expected to contribute right away for Michigan. "I think she is a player that has had experience and was able to be successful at the world stage," Klein said. "We anticipate her coming into our group and doing some similar things if not more for us." Don't Miss: Oct. 3 at Wisconsin will provide Michigan the oppor- tunity to defeat the Badgers for the third straight time. The Wolverines have knocked off the Wisconsin two years in a row, and in both games Wisconsin was ranked inside the na- tional top 25. VOLLEYBALL First Event: Aug. 30-31, vs. Oak- land, Northern Arizona and Tennes- see Tech at the Michigan Invitational Big Ten Predicted Finish: Sixth NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Sweet 16 Coach's Expectations: "I'm really pumped for this season," head coach Mark Rosen said in the July edition of his Rosen Report video series. "We had a really good spring, I think we really advanced as a program in the spring and now you throw the new freshmen coming in. … I am excited about it. "I think it's going to be really fun to get into the gym with this group and I really can't wait to get started." Top Player: Sophomore Paige Jones started every game for Michi- gan in her first season in Ann Ar- bor and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman squad for her stellar performance. She tallied 21 double- figure kill matches, led the team in service aces and finished second on the team in total kills. "She's a great person, she's a great athlete and she's a great competitor," Rosen noted. "I think she's going to have a great year, and I think she's going have a great role for us this year. "… I think she's physically ready to make that step." Athlete To Watch: Senior Sydney Wetterstrom has played in more than 50 matches in maize and blue al- ready, but she has the ability to reach her full potential this season. She has improved statistically in kills, hit per- centage, digs and total blocks each season. "She is somebody who has been a great role player for us throughout her career, and I think she is ready to take that next step now and be a real go-to, key component," Rosen said. "She just looks like she's a con- fident senior who is ready to take that step." Don't Miss: Sept. 29 vs. Ohio State will be Michigan's chance to extend its five-match winning streak over the rival Buckeyes. It is always a must-see contest when OSU come to Ann Arbor, but with the Wolverines riding a winning streak dating back to 2015, the stakes are even higher. ❏ Senior forward Jack Hallahan was tabbed as a second-team All-American last season after tallying eight goals and eight assists for the Wolverines. PHOTO BY MARK LEBRYK/COURTESY MICHIGAN

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