Michigan
8-2
Kent
6-4
Wolverines Finish Non-League Schedule with Sweep of Kent
9/19/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Albuquerque, N.M.
Score:Â Michigan 3, Kent 0 (15-7, 15-10, 15-8)
Team Records:Â U-M (8-2), Kent (6-4)
Next Match:Â Friday, Sept. 25 -- vs. Purdue (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team bounced back nicely from a grueling five-game loss to 20th-ranked San Diego earlier in the day Saturday (Sept. 19) by dumping Kent in three games (15-7, 15-10, 15-8) in its final match of the University of New Mexico Domino's Pizza Classic. U-M finished second in the four-team event.
The Wolverines, who were never challenged, got contributions from some unlikely sources. Having played a five-game match earlier in the day, Michigan's bench was forced into action and answered the challenge in fine fashion. In particular, freshman Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) received the most extensive action of her young career and responded with nine kills along with match highs in service aces (4) and digs (15).
Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) closed out a productive weekend with her second-best attack percentage of the season -- .412 (8-1-17). Led by Karen Chase's (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) 10 kills, Michigan finished with a sizable advantage in kills (42-29).
The Wolverines open Big Ten Conference play by hosting Purdue on Friday (Sept. 25) at 7 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 42 (Karen Chase 10); Kent 29 (Chantel Vineyard 10)
Assists:Â U-M 36 (Alija Pittenger 22); Kent 25 (Stephanie Doran 22)
Service Aces: U-M 9 (Nicole Kacor 4); Kent 3 (Chantel Vineyard 2)
Digs:Â U-M 60 (Nicole Kacor 15); San Diego 51 (Sarah Kutchinski 12)
Blocks: U-M 7 (Linsey Ebert 5); San Diego 8 (Shiva Davis 6)
NOTES
• Nicole Kacor's nine kills, four aces and 15 digs are all career highs.
• Michigan now owns a 2-0 edge in its all-time series with Kent. The only other meeting between the two schools came back in 1985, when Michigan also won in three games.
