Michigan
Illinois
Wolverines Swept at Home by No. 23-Ranked Fighting Illini
9/26/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: Illinois 3, Michigan 0 (17-15, 15-3, 15-4)
Team Records: U-M (8-4, 0-2 Big Ten), Illinois (9-3, 2-0 Big Ten)
Next Match: Friday, Oct. 2 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 7:30 p.m. CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team lost its second consecutive Big Ten Conference match at home as 23rd-ranked Illinois handed the Wolverines a three-game defeat (15-17, 3-15, 4-15) on Saturday (Sept. 26).
In game one, Michigan fought back from a 5-1 deficit and ran off eight unanswered points to take a 9-5 lead. The Wolverine rally was paced by solid serving from Linsey Ebert (Fowlerville, Mich./Fowlerville HS), who served five straight points during Michigan's surge. After the Fighting Illini reclaimed the lead at 11-12, Michigan tied the game at 15-15 behind the play of Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS), who hit .625 (5-0-8) for the game along with two blocks. However, Illinois held off the Michigan charge to claim game one 17-15.
Illinois owned game two from the start, charging out to a 10-1 lead before eventually winning 15-3 and taking control of the match two games to none. Building on the momentum from game two, Illinois led game three throughout and eventually put the match away in three games with a 15-4 win.
Coach Greg Giovanazzi's Wolverines will make their first league road trip of 1998 next week with matches at Northwestern (Friday, Oct. 2) and Indiana (Saturday, Oct. 3).
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 43 (Karen Chase 14); Illinois 52 (Cristy Chapman 16)
Assists: U-M 35 (Shannon Melka 16); Illinois 49 (Melissa Beitz 46)
Service Aces: U-M 1 (Nicole Kacor 1); Illinois 8 (Mary Coleman 5)
Digs: U-M 39 (Linsey Ebert 9); Illinois 45 (Tracy Marshall 12)
Blocks: U-M 5 (Joanna Fielder 3); Illinois 8 (Betsy Spicer 5)
NOTES
• Senior Karen Chase (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) has led Michigan in kills in 11 of its 12 matches.
• Three of Michigan's four losses have come to teams ranked in the top 25.
