The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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68 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2017 OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE "I felt this team had a chance to do something special on the first day of practice, though that's the type of confidence we had as a squad," he explained. "I don't think there was one defining moment in the season where I realized it. "We knew we had a shot all along, and that we were going to be competitive." The Wolverines were ranked No. 10 in the Oct. 31 USTFCCCA poll and finished second at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Nov. 10 to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky. Fifth-year senior Ben Flanagan, who was the team's top Big Ten finisher by placing sixth, became the program's fifth different runner to claim the 10-kilometer (6.21-mile) NCAA Great Lakes Regional title since the meet's inception in 1993. U-M will be saying goodbye to Flanagan and four other fifth-year seniors from this year's squad after the NCAA Championships Nov. 18, but Sullivan likes the potential of the team moving forward. "We had some very strong contributions from freshmen and sophomores this year," he said. "That's very exciting for the future of our program." WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 2-0 OVERALL, 0-0 BIG TEN Senior guard Katelynn Flaherty and junior center Hallie Thome were both unanimous picks for the preseason All- Big Ten team announced Oct. 23 … U-M checked in at No. 24 in the Associated Press preseason poll … On Nov. 2, U-M defeated Grand Valley State 65-43 in its lone exhibition contest of the season … Thome was named to the inaugural Lisa Leslie Award watch list Nov. 10, which honors the top center in women's collegiate basketball … The Wolverines defeated George Mason 75-61 in their season opener that same day. MEN'S SOCCER 12-5-2 OVERALL, 6-1-1 BIG TEN U-M captured its first-ever Big Ten regular-season championship with a 2-1 victory in double overtime over then-No. 9 Maryland Oct. 29 … Head coach Chaka Daley was awarded with the Big Ten Coach of the Year award Nov. 3 … Sophomore forward Jack Hallahan, who led the team in points (17) and assists (seven), was a first-team All-Big Ten pick … He is the 14th to earn first- team honors in program history … Three juniors — forward Francis Atuahene, and midfielders Robbie Mertz and Marcello Borges — were awarded second-team laurels … Michigan checked in at No. 10 in the Nov. 7 release of the United Soccer Coaches poll, but lost 4-0 to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals … The Wolverines earned the No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face the winner of Massachusetts versus Colgate Nov. 19 in Ann Arbor … It marks the first NCAA appearance for the program since 2012. WOMEN'S SOCCER 6-6-6 OVERALL, 3-5-3 BIG TEN Michigan defeated Illinois 3-0 Oct. 21 on senior night, in a contest that saw all seven seniors receive game action … The Wolverines failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament after their 1-0 loss to then-No. 25 Rutgers Oct. 25 … Two players were named second-team All-Big Ten — redshirt junior defender Taylor Timko and freshman midfielder Sarah Stratigakis — while another duo were awarded third-team honors — senior goalie Sarah Jackson and junior forward Reilly Martin. MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING 5-0, 3-0 BIG TEN Michigan picked up an impressive 230-119 victory at No. 7 Louisville Oct. 21 … Distance specialist Ricardo Vargas was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week Oct. 25 after his performance against the Cardinals; he won the 1,000-yard freestyle (8:58.22), finished third in the 500-yard freestyle (4:24.08) and came in fifth in the 200-yard butterfly (1:50.72) … On Nov. 4 in Minneapolis, Michigan posted impressive victories over Minnesota (246- 107), Wisconsin (266-87) and Penn State (280-73) … The Wolverines were tabbed at No. 4 in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll released Nov. 9. WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING 5-0, 3-0 BIG TEN Junior freestyler Siobhán Haughey and senior freestyler Gabby DeLoof helped guide Michigan to a 220-127 win at No. 9 Louisville Oct. 21; both swimmers picked up NCAA "A" times in the 200- yard freestyle, while Haughey's 1:44.58 time set a pool record … Haughey's heroics earned her Co-Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors Oct. 25; it was the third time she has won the award this year … Michigan came in at No. 4 in the latest CSCAA poll released Nov. 9. VOLLEYBALL 17-11 OVERALL, 7-9 BIG TEN Michigan recorded its first sweep in conference play this season Oct. 27 with a 3-0 victory over Iowa … Freshman middle blocker Kiara Shannon recorded a career-high five kills in the win versus the Hawkeyes … U-M completed a season sweep of Rutgers Nov. 1 with a 3-0 win … The Wolverines signed four high school seniors Nov. 9 during the early signing period, its most since also signing four in 2013 … Two were named top-100 Senior Aces by Prep Volleyball. WRESTLING 1-0 OVERALL, 0-0 BIG TEN No. 4 U-M crowned six individual champions and went six for six in its finals matches at the annual Michigan State Open Nov. 5 in East Lansing … Redshirt sophomores Logan Massa (165 pounds) and Myles Amine (174), and fifth-year seniors Domenic Abounader (184), Kevin Beazley (197) and Adam Coon (heavyweight) were all victorious, while freshman Andrew Davison captured the freshman/sophomore 197-pound title in his Wolverine debut … U-M won six of 10 individual matches to defeat No. 11 Arizona State 21-18 in its dual-meet opener Nov. 10 in Novi, Mich. ❏ Fifth-year senior Ben Flanagan earned the fourth All-Big Ten cross country honor of his career by placing sixth at the conference championships, and then he finished first at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Nov. 10. PHOTO BY KYLE TERWILLEGAR