Michigan
10-9, 2-7Big Ten
Wisconsin
18-2, 8-1Big Ten
Michigan Upended at Home by Fifth-Ranked Wisconsin
10/23/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score:Â #5 Wisconsin 3, Michigan 0 (15-8, 15-3, 15-2)
Team Records:Â U-M (10-9, 2-7 Big Ten), Wisconsin (18-2, 8-1 Big Ten)
Next Match:Â Saturday, Oct. 24 -- vs. Iowa (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Playing its second top-five team in eight days, the University of Michigan volleyball team suffered its third straight loss, falling in three games (8-15, 3-15, 2-15) to fifth-ranked Wisconsin Friday (Oct. 23) in Cliff Keen Arena.
Wisconsin jumped out to 5-1 lead buoyed by a strong service game in game one. However, the Wolverines stormed right back behind solid blocking from Linsey Ebert (Fowlerville, Mich./Fowlerville HS) to close within one at 5-4. Wisconsin ran off the next four points to take control and eventually won game one 15-8.
Wisconsin cruised in game two, winning 15-3. Once again, the Wolverines struggled with their service reception, which led directly to a hitting percentage of -.048 (6-7-21) for the game.
Game three was almost a carbon copy of game two as the Wolverines hit in the minus again at -.105 (3-5-19) and lost 15-2. Neither Michigan's offense nor its sideout game was allowed to get rolling as a result of 10 service reception errors and only one service ace on the evening.
Meanwhile, the Badgers were hitting .358 (39-10-81) for the match, including nearly flawless marks of .500 (10-1-18) in the second game and .650 (14-1-20) in game three.
Michigan junior defensive specialist Maggie Cooper (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) gave her best effort of the season by providing a team-high six digs. Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) led the Wolverine attackers with a hitting percentage of .267 (6-2-15).
After going 1-4 against top-25 Big Ten teams in its last five matches, Michigan will look to break a three-game losing streak Saturday (Oct. 24) against the unranked Iowa Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena.
MATCH BESTS
Kills:Â U-M 22 (Karen Chase 7); Wisconsin 39 (Sherisa Livingston 11)
Assists:Â U-M 18 (Shannon Melka 12); Wisconsin 33 (Colleen Neels 28)
Service Aces:Â U-M 1 (Jeanine Szczesniak 1); Wisconsin 10 (Kelly Kennedy 3)
Digs:Â U-M 27 (Maggie Cooper 6); Wisconsin 33 (Kaylee Wright 10)
Blocks:Â U-M 3 (Linsey Ebert 2); Wisconsin 10 (Kate Fitzgerald)
NOTES
• Sophomore defensive specialist Shawna Olson (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) made her first career appearance in game two and recorded the first dig of her career.
• Michigan has now faced five consecutive top-25 teams and finished with a record of 1-4 during the stretch, with a win over No. 22 Minnesota and losses to No. 23 Michigan State, No. 2 Penn State and No. 21 Ohio State before tonight.
• All three blocks registered by the Wolverines occurred in game one.
• Maggie Cooper's six digs represented the first time she led Michigan in digs this season.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Giovanazzi
On whether or not Michigan can bounce back ... "It is a mental thing right now. There is not a team in the country that should beat this Michigan team 15-2 in a game, yet I know this team has the stuff in it to break this lapse and play the type of volleyball we are capable of playing."
