Michigan
10-7, 2-5Big Ten
Penn State
17-0, 7-0Big Ten
Michigan Falls at No. 2 Penn State as Lions Stay Unbeaten
10/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â State College, Pa.
Score:Â #2 Penn State 3, Michigan 0 (15-0, 15-5, 15-4)
Team Records:Â U-M (10-7, 2-5 Big Ten), PSU (17-0, 7-0 Big Ten)
Next Match:Â Saturday, Oct. 17 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- In its third straight match against a ranked Big Ten Conference opponent, the University of Michigan volleyball team fell at No. 2 Penn State in three games (0-15, 5-15, 4-15) on Friday (Oct. 16). The Nittany Lions, who have won the last five meetings in the series with U-M, extended their home winning streak to 47 matches in a row.
The Wolverines struggled to mount an attack offensively, recording a hitting percentage of .065 (24-18-93) and a season-low 24 kills while the Nittany Lions hit .360 (38-7-86), including .545 (6-0-11) in the first game. Penn State also recorded nine service aces and outblocked U-M 8-2.
Michigan put up its stiffest test in game two when it recorded 18 of its 24 kills for the match. The Wolverines hit a respectable .255 (18-5-51) for the game but could not overcome Penn State's impressive attack and service game.
Karen Chase (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) led Michigan with a team-high seven kills and tied Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) for the team lead with six digs.
The Maize and Blue returns to action Saturday (Oct. 17) against another ranked conference foe, meeting 21st-ranked Ohio State at 7 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 24 (Karen Chase 7); Penn State 38 (Lauren Cacciamani 9)
Assists:Â U-M 23 (Alija Pittenger 18); Penn State 37 (Bonnie Bremner 29)
Service Aces: U-M 0; Penn State 9 (Lindsay Anderson 5)
Digs: U-M 37 (Karen Chase-Alija Pittenger 6); Penn State 45 (Carrie Schonveld 11)
Blocks: U-M 2 (Joanna Fielder 2); Penn State 8 (Lauren Cacciamani 6)
NOTES
• Penn State's blanking of Michigan in game one was the first time the Wolverines have been shut out in a game since Nov. 4, 1994, when the Nittany Lions shut out U-M in the third game of a three-game sweep. Michigan's nine points marked its fewest in a match since Sept. 24, 1993, when the Wolverines lost 5-15, 2-15, 2-15 at Illinois.
• Freshman Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) notched her 100th dig of the season with her only dig of the match.
