Michigan
1-0
Maryland
0-1
Michigan Opens Season with Impressive Win Over Maryland
9/4/1998 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Washington, D.C.
Score:Â Michigan 3, Maryland 1 (15-8, 13-15, 15-8, 15-5)
Team Records:Â Michigan (1-0), Maryland (1-1)
Next Match:Â Saturday, Sept. 5 -- vs. Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), 10 a.m.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Coming off its finest season in school history, the University of Michigan volleyball team began the 1998 campaign in similar fashion with a four-game victory over the University of Maryland (15-8, 13-15, 15-8, 15-5) on Friday (Sept. 4) in the Georgetown University Acumen Classic.
Michigan recorded 69 kills with a solid attack percentage of .308 (69-21-156), including a .361 (18-5-36) mark in the first game. The other facet of Michigan's net game, blocking, was also sound as the Maize and Blue recorded 10 blocks to the Terrapins' five. According to Michigan head coach Greg Giovanazzi, "We blocked extremely well as a team, which set the tone." The Wolverines were in control for much of the match and even led 8-0 in game two, the only one they lost.
Leading Michigan at the net was a pair of seniors as Karen Chase (Orinda Park, Calif./Miramonte HS) paced Michigan's attackers with 20 kills, while Jeanine Szczesniak (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) connected on 16. Junior Anne Poglits (West Bloomfield, Mich./Livonia Ladywood HS) chipped in with 12 kills and an attack percentage of .524 (12-1-21).
Setter Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) saw her first match action in a Michigan uniform and promptly delivered 30 assists while coming up with a match-best 23 digs. Freshman Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) aided the cause by posting 14 assists in her collegiate debut.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 69 (Karen Chase 20); Maryland 52 (Kim Adolphs 19)
Assists: U-M 56 (Alija Pittenger 30); Maryland 42 (Libby Alberts 32)
Service Aces: U-M 6 (six tied with 1); Maryland 5 (Jaime Summers 2)
Digs: U-M 67 (Alija Pittenger 30); Maryland 69 (Kim Adolphs 17)
Blocks:Â U-M 28 (Joanna Fielder 6); Maryland 13 (Beth Murphy 4)
NOTES
• Freshman Shannon Melka and sophomore Alija Pittenger each made their collegiate debuts by playing in all four games of the Wolverines' win.
• Michigan handed Maryland its first regular-season defeat since 10/18/96, when the Terrapins lost at Florida. Maryland posted a 27-2 overall record last fall.
• Michigan last opened the season with a victory in 1995, with a win over Tulane at the Georgia Bulldog Invitational. The same year Michigan earned its first-ever postseason berth when the Wolverines were selected to play in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
• Maryland represents one of two teams Michigan plays this weekend at the Georgetown Acumen Classic which participated in last season's NCAA Tournament; the other is Temple.
QUOTES
Michigan Coach Greg Giovanazzi
On the key to Michigan's victory .. "The key for us was the play of (Karen) Chase, (Anne) Poglits and (Alija) Pittenger. They played terrific and were the difference for us."
On beginning the season 1-0 ... "Of course we are happy to begin the year on a positive note, but we still have two games left this weekend against a pair of tough opponents (Georgetown and Temple)."
