Michigan
Louisiana State
U-M Prevails Over LSU in Four Games, Improves to 6-0
9/12/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score:Â Michigan 3, Louisiana State 1 (15-11, 15-10, 10-15, 15-4)
Team Records:Â U-M (6-0), LSU (5-4)
Next Match:Â Saturday, Sept. 12 -- vs. Texas A&M (Cliff Keen Arena), 8 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Five players registered double-figure kill totals to lead the University of Michigan volleyball team to a four-game win over Louisiana State (15-11, 15-10, 10-15, 15-4) Saturday afternoon (Sept. 12) in the All Sport® Challenge.
In a see-saw opening game Michigan finally put away the Tigers 15-11 after four lead changes. Michigan got out to a early lead (4-0) only to see LSU score six straight points and take a 6-4 edge. From that point the Maize and Blue took control by outscoring LSU 11-5 the rest of the way.
Game two was a workmanlike performance by Michigan as it steadily increased the lead throughout the game and went up two games to none with a 15-10 win. In the third game, the Tigers came from behind to tie the game on four separate occasions, eventually taking the lead 11-10 and closing out the win from there. However, Michigan rebounded to control game four throughout and finish off the match with a 15-4 win.
Michigan finished with a season-high 78 kills, led by Karen Chase (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) with 18 kills and Linsey Ebert (Fowlerville, Mich./Fowlerville HS), who added 17 kills and a team-high 14 digs. The Wolverines also got 14 kills from Anne Poglits (West Bloomfield, Mich./Livonia Ladywood HS), 11 from Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS), and 10 from Jeanine Szczesniak (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley HS).
Freshman Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) recorded the most assists of her young career (32) and led all Wolverine setters en route to a Michigan season-high 70 assists.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 78 (Karen Chase 18); LSU 67 (Meg Norwood 21)
Assists:Â U-M 70 (Shannon Melka 32); LSU 58 (Lauren O'Connor 57)
Service Aces: U-M 10 (Jeanine Szczesniak 3); LSU 6 (Meg Norwood 2)
Digs:Â U-M 59 (Linsey Ebert 14); LSU 55 (Sarah Schneider 12)
Blocks: U-M 6.5 (Jeanine Szczesniak 4); LSU 14.5 (Kelly Thompson 11)
NOTES
• The Wolverine win brought head coach Greg Giovanazzi's career record at Michigan to .500 (98-98).
• Michigan's last two wins have put its all-time Cliff Keen Arena over .500 at (60-58).
• The Maize and Blue is off to its best start under Giovanazzi at 6-0. The previous best Wolverine start was 5-0 in 1993.
• Michigan's third-game loss was its first at home this season. The Wolverines won their opening two home matches in three games each.
