Wolverines Drop Tight Road Match to No. 21 Buckeyes
10/17/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
Score:Â #21 Ohio State 3, Michigan 1 (17-15, 15-10, 12-15, 15-10
Team Records:Â U-M (10-8, 2-6 Big Ten), OSU (10-7, 3-5 Big Ten)
Next Match:Â Friday, Oct. 23 -- vs. Wisconsin (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan volleyball team dropped its second match of the weekend to a top-25 opponent as 21st-ranked Ohio State defeated the Wolverines in four games (15-17, 10-15, 15-12, 10-15) on Saturday (Oct. 17) at St. John Arena.
Each of the four games was tightly contested, with the Maize and Blue only able to pull out game three. Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) received the start at setter and responded with 37 assists, her second-best total at Michigan. Four Wolverines finished with double-digit kills totals, led by Karen Chase (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) with 15 and Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS), who hit .308 (11-3-26) for the match.
The statistical battle was fairly even with the exception of total blocks, where Ohio State held a 18-9 advantage. In addition, Michigan struggled with serve reception for the second straight match as Ohio State registered 11 service aces to Michigan's six. The Wolverines out-dug the Buckeyes 60-56, led by sophomore Sarah Behnke's (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS) season-high 14 digs.
Michigan returns to the court to face its fifth consecutive top-25 opponent on Friday (Oct. 23), hosting sixth-ranked Wisconsin in Cliff Keen Arena.
MATCH BESTS
Kills:Â U-M 61 (Karen Chase 15); Ohio State 68 (Rosie Snow 29)
Assists:Â U-M 59 (Shannon Melka 37); Ohio State 65 (Jen Flynn 59)
Service Aces:Â U-M 6 (Shannon Melka 3); Ohio State 11 (Dana Stearns-Anne Botica 3)
Digs:Â U-M 60 (Sarah Behnke 14); Ohio State 56 (Dana Stearns 14)
Blocks:Â U-M 8 (Linsey Ebert 6); Ohio State 8 (Shellye Sills 8)
NOTES
• Linsey Ebert's (Fowlerville, Mich./Fowlerville HS) two solo blocks are a season high.
• Shannon Melka doubled her block assists total for the season with two vs. Ohio State.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Giovanazzi
On the match overall ... "It was a good, tough match overall. Both teams played extremely well defensively and kept a lot of rallies alive. Shannon Melka played real well for us in terms of setting. However, Ohio State's setter, Jen Flynn, was the difference in the match because she played terrific."
On Michigan's play at the net ... "Once again we got solid play from Joanna Fielder and Karen Chase, with each attacking relatively well. However, Ohio State deserves a lot of credit."