Weekly Release #9
10/26/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Friday, Oct. 29 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 7 p.m. CDT
Saturday, Oct. 30 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7 p.m. CDT
Friday, Nov. 5 -- vs. Purdue (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6 -- vs. Wisconsin (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Michigan Opens Second Half of Big Ten Campaign on the Road
Michigan, which is 3-7 in the Big Ten after its first trip through the conference schedule, begins the second half of the Big Ten schedule this weekend with a pair of road matches. Michigan travels to the University of Iowa on Friday, Oct. 29 (7 p.m. CDT) to face the Hawkeyes and then moves on to the University of Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 30 (7 p.m. CDT) to take on the Golden Gophers.
Iowa -- Iowa (4-13, 3-7 Big Ten) is tied with Michigan for ninth place in the Big Ten ... senior outside hitter Julie Williams leads Iowa in kills (4.32 kpg) and services aces (0.48 sapg) ... Williams is fourth in the Big Ten in kills third in service aces ... The Hawkeyes' current five-match losing streak began with its 3-0 loss at Michigan (Oct. 9)... Iowa on the Internet: www.hawkeyesports.com.
Minnesota -- Minnesota (17-5, 8-2 Big Ten) is tied with Illinois for second place in the conference ... Minnesota is currently ranked No. 23 in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 ... outside hitter Nicole Branagh is sixth in the nation in kills (5.51 kpg) ... Minnesota's team hitting percentage of .276 (1123-437-2490) is third in the Big Ten and 19th in the country ... Minnesota is 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in team blocks (3.24 bpg) ... Minnesota on the Internet: www.gophersports.com.
Michigan vs. Minnesota: The Series
Michigan, which dropped a three-game match (9-15, 12-15, 10-15) at home to Minnesota on Oct. 8, is trying to avoid being swept in the season series by Minnesota for the first time since 1994. Wolverine junior Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) played one of her best matches of the season against Minnesota on Oct. 8 with a hitting percentage of .324 (11-3-22). Michigan and Minnesota have split their season series in each of the previous four seasons. The Wolverines have won two of their last three matches at Minnesota, including a thrilling five-game (6-15, 15-11, 16-18, 15-11, 15-12) victory in 1997, which helped propel Michigan to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
All-Time Series: Minnesota leads, 29-6
In the 1990s: Minnesota leads, 13-6
Current "W" Streak: Minnesota, 2
Longest "W" Streak: Minnesota, 19 (1979-9/29/91)
Michigan vs. Iowa: The Series
Michigan travels to Iowa looking for a sweep of the season series. The Wolverines dumped the Hawkeyes in three games (15-4, 17-15, 15-10) on Oct. 9 behind a double-double in kills (15) and digs (11) from junior outside hitter Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS). Dating back to Nov. 30, 1996, Michigan has won five of its last six matches vs. Iowa. Michigan's only loss during that stretch was a five-game (10-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-8, 9-15) marathon on the final weekend of the 1998 season in which outside hitter Karen Chase set the Michigan single-match kills mark with 33.
All-Time Series: Iowa leads, 17-16
In the 1990s: U-M leads, 10-9
Current "W" Streak: U-M, 1
Longest "W" Streak: U-M, 4 (11/30/96-10/24/98); Iowa, 4 (9/29/89-11/10/90)
Wolverines Drop First Two of Four-Match Road Trip
Michigan closed out the first half of the Big Ten season with a pair of tough road defeats to a pair of 1998 NCAA Tournament teams. Indiana dropped the Wolverines 3-0 (8-15, 10-15, 11-15) on Friday (Oct. 22). The following night Michigan pushed No. 20 Illinois to four games before falling 7-15, 15-7, 15-5, 15-4 on Saturday (Oct. 23).
Michigan traveled to Indiana in a matchup of fifth-place teams in the Big Ten, but Indiana pulled out the three-game victory behind a solid hitting percentage of .266 (58-21-139), the third-highest against the Wolverines in Big Ten play. Michigan standouts included Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS), who registered her 10th double-double of 1999 with 14 kills and a match-high 16 digs. Sophomore setter Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) set a Michigan season high for a three-game match with 44 assists.
The Maize and Blue then traveled to No. 20 Illinois and fell in four games. After struggling out of the gate in game one, the Wolverines put together one of their best games of the year in game two. Michigan won game two 15-7 behind its best hitting percentage (.342, 18-5-38) for a single game in Big Ten play. However, Illinois came out of the intermission and hit .456 (28-2-57) for the final two games to win to the match. Sarah Behnke paced the Wolverines with a match-high 19 kills.
Fielder Reaches Milestone
Junior middle blocker Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) compiled seven kills at Illinois (Oct. 23) to reach the 500-kill milestone for her career. Fielder, who led Michigan in 1998 with a hitting percentage of .300 (230-66-546), is second on the 1999 Wolverines in kills (3.10 kpg). Fielder also leads Michigan in solo blocks (eight), block assists (65) and total blocks (73).
Chasing the Record Book
Joanna Fielder is also on pace to rewrite the Michigan record book for block assists and total blocks in a conference season. At the halfway point of the Big Ten schedule, Fielder has collected a team-high 39 block assists and 45 total blocks, which puts her on pace for 78 blocks assists and 90 total blocks in Big Ten play. The current Michigan mark for block assists in conference play is 75, which was set by Fiona Davidson in 1992. The Michigan record for total blocks in a conference season is 85 and was set by Carla Hunter in 1988. Fielder is also on pace to accumulate 103 block assists for the entire season, however, Fielder's former teammate Linsey Ebert set that mark with 115 block assist in 1997.
Michigan Battles 1998 Tournament Field to a Draw
With nearly two-thirds of the 1999 Michigan volleyball season completed, the Wolverines have faced 12 teams from the 1998 NCAA Tournament field. Michigan currently has a record of 6-6 against 1998 NCAA Tournament teams and will face six of those teams one more time on the Big Ten slate. The following is a breakdown of Michigan vs. 1998 NCAA Tournament teams:
| 9/3 | Brigham Young | W | 3-0 (15-13, 15-10, 15-13) |
| 9/10 | Pepperdine | L | 0-3 (4-15, 11-15, 10-15) |
| 9/11 | Arkansas | W | 3-1 (15-8, 15-8, 9-15, 15-10) |
| 9/17 | South Carolina | W | 3-2 (11-15, 10-15, 17-15, 16-14, 15-11) |
| 9/18 | Virginia | W | 3-0 (15-9, 15-13, 15-5) |
| 9/24 | Ohio State | W | 3-2 (15-7, 13-15, 15-10, 13-15, 20-18) |
| 9/25 | Penn State | L | 0-3 (2-15, 5-15, 3-15) |
| 10/1 | Wisconsin | L | 0-3 (9-15, 4-15, 14-16) |
| 10/5 | Notre Dame | W | 3-1 (15-11, 8-15, 15-10, 15-10) |
| 10/13 | Michigan State | L | 3-0 (9-15, 6-15, 5-15) |
| 10/22 | Indiana | L | 0-3 (8-15, 11-15, 10-15) |
| 10/23 | Illinois | L | 1-3 (7-15, 15-7, 5-15, 4-15) |
Settling In
Sophomore setter Shannon Melka continues to get more comfortable setting in the Big Ten. Melka has set a pair of Michigan season highs in two of the Wolverines' last three matches. In Michigan's four-game victory over Northwestern on Oct. 16, Melka recorded a season-best 63 assists for a four-game match. One week later at Indiana, Melka compiled a season-high 44 assists for a three-game match in Michigan's 0-3 loss to Indiana. Melka needs just 53 assists over the weekend at Iowa and at Minnesota to become just the fifth player in Michigan history to amass 1,500 career assists. Melka is currently fifth on Michigan's all-time assist list and could also move into fourth all-time this weekend, surpassing Erin McGovern (1993-96), who collected 1,538 career assists.
Versatility
Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Kacor has been one of Michigan's most versatile performers of 1999. If she keeps up her current pace, Kacor has a chance to accomplish something no Michigan player has done before. Kacor currently leads the Wolverines in kills (3.82 kpg), digs (3.78 dpg) and service aces (0.34 sapg) and if she finished the season as Michigan's leader in all three categories, she will be the first Michigan player to do so. Kacor also leads Michigan with 11 double-doubles in kills and digs in 1999.
Wolverines Drop First Four-Game Match
For the first time this season, Michigan dropped a four-game match when it fell to Illinois 7-15, 15-7, 5-15, 4-15 on Oct., 23. Michigan had won each of its previous three four-game matches, including a win over No. 21 Arkansas on Sept. 11. The following are the results of each of Michigan's four-game matches in 1999.
| 9/12 | Michigan def. #21 Arkansas | 15-8, 15-8, 9-15, 15-10 |
| 10/5 | Michigan def. Notre Dame | 15-11, 8-15, 15-10, 15-10 |
| 10/16 | Michigan def. Northwestern | 15-13, 11-15, 15-6, 15-13 |
| 10/23 | #20 Illinois def. Michigan | 7-15, 15-7, 5-15, 4-15 |
Home Cooking
Michigan's win over Northwestern (Oct. 16) gave the Wolverines their fifth win in eight home matches in 1999. Of those five wins, two have come against 1998 NCAA Tournament teams Ohio State and Arkansas. Michigan's three home losses have been to teams currently ranked the USA Today/AVCA Top 25: No. 1 Penn State, No. 11 Pepperdine and No. 22 Minnesota. Michigan's all-time record at Cliff Keen Arena now stands at 68-69, which gives Michigan an opportunity to go over the .500 mark at home during its next homestand, vs. Purdue on Friday, Nov. 5, and against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Upcoming Promotions
After a two-week, four-match road trip, the Wolverines return to Cliff Keen Arena to face Purdue University on Friday, Nov. 5, and the University of Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 6. For the Friday match vs. the Boilermakers, Michigan continues its Friday night 2-for-1 promotion, with every fan purchasing one ticket getting another ticket for free. At the following night's match against Wisconsin, fans with ticket stubs from the Michigan-Northwestern football game earlier in the day will gain free entrance to see the Wolverine spikers face the Badgers.
1999 Season Match Bests
Team
Kills 83, at Purdue (10/2) Attempts 250, at Purdue (10/2) Hit Pct. .449 (44-9-78), vs. Toledo (9/3) Assists 74, vs. Northwestern (10/16) Service Aces 13, vs. South Carolina (9/17) Digs 90, at Purdue (10/2) Block Solo 3, vs. Northwestern (10/16) Block Assist 26, vs. Ohio State (9/24) Total Blocks 15, vs. Ohio State (9/24)
Individual
Kills 25, Nicole Kacor vs. South Carolina (9/17) 25, Joanna Fielder at Purdue (10/2) Attempts 71, Nicole Kacor at Purdue (10/2) Hit Pct. .733 (11-0-15), A. Maxwell vs. Syracuse (9/10) Assists 67, Shannon Melka at Purdue (10/2) Service Aces 4, Nicole Kacor at Purdue (10/2) Digs 26, Nicole Kacor at Purdue (10/2) Block Solo 1, by numerous players Block Assist 10, Joanna Fielder vs. Ohio State (9/24) Total Blocks 10, Joanna Fielder vs. Ohio State (9/24)
Big Ten Conference Team Records (through Oct. 24)
BIG TEN OVERALL 1. Penn State 10-0 1.000 20-1 .952 2. Minnesota 8-2 .800 17-5 .773 Illinois 8-2 .800 12-4 .750 4. Wisconsin 6-4 .600 13-7 .650 5. Michigan State 5-5 .500 15-7 .682 6. Indiana 4-6 .400 13-6 .684 Purdue 4-6 .400 12-7 .632 Ohio State 4-6 .400 10-7 .588 9. MICHIGAN 3-7 .300 11-8 .579 Iowa 3-7 .300 4-13 .235 11. Northwestern 0-10 .000 2-18 .100
This Week in the Big Ten
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Penn State at Ohio State
Friday, Oct. 29
Illinois at Wisconsin
Indiana at Purdue
Michigan at Iowa
Michigan State at Minnesota
Northwestern at Ohio State
Saturday, Oct. 30
Illinois at Purdue
Indiana at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Iowa
Michigan at Minnesota
Northwestern at Penn State
Michigan 1999 Record ...
vs. ranked opponents 3-4 vs. unranked opponents 8-4 ALL three-game matches 6-6 ALL four-game matches 3-1 ALL five-game matches 2-1 BIG TEN three-game matches 1-5 BIG TEN four-game matches 1-1 BIG TEN five-game matches 1-1 in game one (ALL) 11-8 in game two (ALL) 8-11 in game three (ALL) 10-9 in game four (ALL) 5-2 in game five (ALL) 2-1 total games won-lost (ALL) 37-31 total games won-lost (BIG TEN) 12-24 points in total games (ALL) 809-805 points in total games (BIG TEN) 382-469 at Cliff Keen Arena (home) 5-3 on the road (away/neutral) 6-5
Big Ten Statistical Rankings
ALL GAMES TEAM INDIVIDUAL Hit Pct. 9th (.188) Annie Maxwell, 7th (.314) Assists 7th (13.79) Shannon Melka, 3rd (12.51) Blocks 7th (2.27) Joanna Fielder, 9th (1.13) Kills 7th (15.34) Nicole Kacor, 9th (3.94) Aces 9th (1.37) Nicole Kacor, 9th (0.34) Digs 1st (15.87) Nicole Kacor, 1st (3.89) Alija Pittenger, 2nd (3.41) BIG TEN TEAM INDIVIDUAL Hit Pct. 11th (.148) Assists 8th (13.47) Shannon Melka, 4th (12.76) Blocks 6th (2.25) Joanna Fielder, 7th (1.32) Kills 9th (14.86) Aces 10th (1.11) Nicole Kacor, 9th (0.32) Digs 1st (16.28) Nicole Kacor, 1st (4.26) Alija Pittenger, 4th (3.36) Sarah Behnke, 10th (2.97)
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
