Michigan
11-9, 3-7Big Ten
Iowa
6-13, 0-10Big Ten
Chase's 25 Kills Power Michigan to Four-Game Win Over Iowa
10/24/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score:Â Michigan 3, Iowa 1 (11-15, 15-13, 15-0, 15-10)
Team Records:Â U-M (11-9, 3-7 Big Ten), Iowa (6-13, 0-10 Big Ten)
Next Match:Â Friday, Oct. 30 -- vs. Indiana (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Paced by a season-high 25 kills from Karen Chase (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) and 41 assists from Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS), the University of Michigan volleyball team ended a three-match losing skid by downing Iowa 11-15, 15-13, 15-0, 15-10 Saturday night (Oct. 24) in Cliff Keen Arena.
Michigan's recent struggles appeared to be continuing in game one when Iowa went out to a 7-0 lead. However, the blocking of Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) and Linsey Ebert (Fowlerville, Mich./Fowlerville HS) brought the Wolverines back to within one at 7-6. Iowa then stretched its lead to 11-6 before the Maize and Blue once again cut it to one at 12-11. Michigan could not get any closer and the Hawkeyes closed out game one 15-11.
After falling behind 4-0 in game two, a strong service game from Jeanine Szczesniak (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) helped Michigan knot the score at 5-all. Ebert continued her strong play, digging and blocking to keep the Wolverines in it. Michigan scored the last four points to pull out game two 15-13, with a solo block from Melka keying Michigan's rally.
Senior Jane Stevens (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou HS) served the first seven points of game three as Michigan cruised to a 15-0 win and took control of the match. Also serving points in the shutout were Fielder (3), Melka (3) and Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) (2).
Michigan continued its quality play in game four as it recorded a 15-10 triumph to win the match in four games. Fielder, who hit .476 (10-0-21) for the match, helped the Wolverines put the finishing touches on their third Big Ten victory.
MATCH BESTS
Kills:Â U-M 68 (Karen Chase 25); Iowa 50 (Julie Williams 11)
Assists:Â U-M 63 (Shannon Melka 41); Iowa 41 (Barbara Zvonek 33)
Service Aces:Â U-M 9 (Jane Stevens 4); Iowa 3 (Barbara Zvonek 2)
Digs:Â U-M 67 (Jeanine Szczesniak-Linsey Ebert 12); Iowa 54 (Katie Panhorst 13)
Blocks:Â U-M 14 (Ebert 7); Iowa 8.5 (Katie Panhorst 4)
NOTES
• Michigan's 15-0 blanking of Iowa in the third game was its first since shutting out Eastern Michigan on Sept. 21, 1996, in game one of a three-game win.
• Shannon Melka's solo block in game two was the first of her career.
• Jeanine Szczesniak has moved into third place on Michigan's career list for service aces with 139.
• Karen Chase's 25 kills move her into third on Michigan's career list with 1,071
• Linsey Ebert's 12 digs are a new career high.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Giovanazzi
On Michigan's improved play ... "This is the team I have been seeing in practice for the past couple of weeks. For whatever reason we have not been able to show it on the floor. Shannon Melka did a great job of involving our slide attackers and just played a real good all-around match."
On who stepped up for Michigan ... "I thought Jane Stevens played a real steady match, especially with her passing, which was impressive."
