Michigan
12-10, 4-8Big Ten
Northwestern
13-11, 3-9Big Ten
Big Nights from Behnke, Chase Propel U-M Past Northwestern
10/31/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result: Michigan 3, Northwestern 1 (13-15, 15-8, 15-3, 15-13)
Records: U-M (12-10, 4-8 Big Ten), Northwestern (13-11, 3-9 Big Ten)
Next Match: Wednesday, Nov. 4 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team maintained its chance for a late-season run at the NCAA Tournament with an important four-game victory over Northwestern (13-15, 15-8, 15-3, 15-13) on Saturday (Oct. 31). The win gave the Wolverines a sweep of the season series with the Wildcats.
Michigan and Northwestern went back and forth in game one before the Wildcats notched the final two points to win 15-13. The difference in the first game was 10 Michigan attack errors, which limited its hitting percentage to just .192 (20-10-52). Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS) kept the Wolverines in it with excellent attacking (seven kills) and defense (four digs).
The Maize and Blue stormed to a 13-3 lead in game two before knotting the match at a game apiece with a 15-8 win. A strong service game from Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who registered a career-high 56 assists, along with solid hitting from Behnke and Karen Chase (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) aided the Wolverine win.
Michigan dominated game three and buried the Wildcats 15-3 to go up 2-1 in games. The Wolverines' front line took control of the match and frustrated Northwestern into a hitting percentage of -.267 (3-7-15) for the game.
Northwestern fought back in game four but the Wolverines hung on for a 15-13 win in a tightly contested game. Joanna Fielder's (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) blocking and service game were key to Michigan putting Northwestern away down the stretch. Fielder finished a team-best five blocks on the match.
Behnke, who registered a career-high 25 kills, joined Chase (24 kills) and Fielder (eight kills, five blocks) to form a formidable front line, which helped Michigan compile 73 kills for the match, its second-highest team total of the season.
Chase's first kill of the night boosted her career total to 1,085 and moved her out of a tie with Sarah Jackson (1994-97) and into sole possession of second place on U-M's career list. Chase finished the match with 1,108 career kills and needs just 17 more to surpass Michelle Horrigan (1,124 from 1989-93) for the Michigan career record.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 73 (Sarah Behnke 25); Northwestern 62 (Carmen Burbach 14)
Assists: U-M 67 (Alija Pittenger 56); Northwestern 60 (Liz Reinus 52)
Service Aces: U-M 9 (Pittenger 3); Northwestern 4 (Kate Hill 3)
Digs: U-M 70 (Karen Chase 14); Northwestern 62 (Carmen Burbach 18)
Blocks: U-M 10 (Joanna Fielder 5); Northwestern 11 (Reinus-Fisk-Ackerman 5)
NOTES
• Michigan's win evened its home record for the season at 6-6.
• Karen Chase's team-leading 14 digs mark her season high.
• Michigan's 172 kill attempts are a season high for the Wolverines.
• Alija Pittenger's career-best 56 assist are a season high for the Wolverines. Pittenger also recorded a career-high three service aces.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Giovanazzi
On the play of Sarah Behnke ... "There are a number of players on our team who have had an opportunity, but I think Sarah is beginning to seize her chance with excellent play."
