Spikers Set to Change Ways

After struggling through the start of its schedule, the Harvard women's volleyball team (3-6) opens its Ivy season tonight at 6 p.m. against Cornell in the Malkin Athletic Center.

"Cornell will be a pivotal test for us," Co-Captain Manda Schossberger said. "This match can tell us where we are and far we have to go."

"Cornell will be a good indication of how we will do against the top Ivy teams," sophomore Carolyn Burger said.

Last year, the Crimson eliminated the Big Red from the Ivy League tournament with a four-set decision.

"We're a better team in many ways," Schossberger said. "We have more depth than ever before. [Coach Wayne Lem] is using the bench more, and players who didn't play much last year are contributing this year."

Despite this year's slow 3-6 start, the Crimson is expecting to pick up the pace in its league games.

"I don't think our season will reflect how we will do in the tounament," Captain Maia Forman said. "It will take a little time before we hit all cylinders."

Last year, the Crimson finished the regular season with a 15-9 record (3-4 Ivy), but the squad came together at the tourney, winning three out of five matches. That was good enough for third place, a mere two points away from making the finals.

Cornell (11-3, 2-0 Ivy) is led by junior Becky Merchant and senior Teri Duran, who complement each other the way Forman and Schossberger do for Harvard.

The Big Red also has an abundance of height to go with an experienced team--Cornell only lost one player to graduation.

Women's Soccer Honors: The Ivy League women's soccer Player of the Week was Cornel! fullback Lauren Gallagher, who successfully shadowed 1987 All-Ivy forward Celita Schultz of Yale. Gallagher held the Eli forward only two shots the entire game as Cornell defeated Yale, 2-0.

Harvard Captain Amy Winston assisted on five goals in two games to make the Ivy League Honor Roll. The 4-ft, 10-in. forward is playing in her first season this year after missing the last three seasons because of injuries.

Big Red Controversy:Cornell's junior sweeper Paul Gardner and sophomore midfielder Yuri Castillo have left the team after a controversial confrontation between sophomore forward Chris Kennel and Big Red Coach Jack Writer at a scrimmage game last Thursday.

After the coach pulled Kennel from the game, the two exchanged words. Writer then told the sophomore to leave the field--and the team. Gardner, Castillo and Kennel will be off the team indefinitely.

Football Tidbits: The Harvard-Dartmouth game Saturday will be televised nationally on ESPN with kickoff slated for 12:35 p.m.

Yale running back Buddy Zachery's 82-yard TD was the third longest TD run from scrimmage in Yale history.

They're Not Lion About It: Columbia's 44-game losing streak wasn't the only one that came to abrupt end last weekend in the Lions' 16-13 victory over Princeton. Tiger place-kicker Chris Lutz had his run of 17 straight field goals snapped at the end of the game when his 49-yard attempt fell short.

Lion tailback Greg Abbruzzese, brother of Harvard lacrosse player Martha Abbruzzese, was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week. He averaged five yards-per-carry against the Tigers, rushing 37 times for 182 yards. The sophomore also caught three receptions for 34 yards.

Columbia defensive end Mark Zielinski was the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. The senior recorded seven solo tackles, three assists and two sacks for a total loss of 18 yards.

The Lions did not commit a single turnover in their victory over Princeton. The last time Columbia did that was in its 44-0 win over Fordham on October 4, 1972. The good ol' days.

Cornell QB Craig Cochrane was named Ivy League Sophomore Player of the Week. Cochrane relieved starter Aaron Smith in the fourth quarter and completed three-of-six passes for 33 yards. He also ran three times for 15 yards in Cornell's 19-17 victory over Harvard.

In Other News: The Men's Intercollegiate Squash Association has chosen the University of Pennsylvania for its Hall of Fame. The shrine will be housed in the lobby of the Rindge Squash Courts adjacent to Hutchison Gymnasium...Sam Carpenter, head lacrosse coach at University of Denver last season, has been named assistant coach at Cornell...Diana Edge '88, who was voted best female senior athlete at Harvard last spring, recently was named the New England College Athletic Conference Division I Female Athlete of the Year...Edge led the women's squash team to three national and Ivy championships...

Quote of the Week

"Everyone is just deathly afraid of that [Columbia] game. It carries over into the summer. It spoils your summer." --Harvard Coach Joe Restic, whose squad has opened its season against Columbia for 13 consecutive years.

Runner-up

"Wow. I bet that's what sex must be like." --Princeton junior inside center Nick Franklin said after at least eight different Tiger rugby players touched the ball before Bob Lehmy scored a try en route to a 30-8 win over Lafayette.