Michigan
9-4
Notre Dame
8-4
Wolverines Drop Notre Dame to Get Back on Track
10/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â South Bend, Ind. (Joyce Center)
Result:Â #23 Michigan 3, Notre Dame 1 (15-11, 8-15, 15-10, 15-10)
Records:Â U-M (9-4), ND (8-4)
Next U-M Match:Â Friday, Oct. 8 -- vs. Minnesota (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team finished off the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 3-1 (15-11, 8-15, 15-10, 15-10) victory over Notre Dame Tuesday (Oct. 5) to run its record against opponents outside the Big Ten Conference to 8-1. Michigan was paced by junior captain Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS), who recorded her third consecutive double-double in kills (19) and digs (12).
Michigan jumped out to an early lead in the match with a 15-11 game-one triumph. The Wolverines controlled game one with solid play at the net as they held the Fighting Irish to a game-one hitting percentage of just .077 (8-6-26). Michigan's strong play at the net was led by senior Anne Poglits (West Bloomfield, Mich./Livonia Ladywood HS), who finished with a team-high five blocks and a hitting percentage of .300 (5-2-10) for the match.
Game two proved to be a complete reversal of game one as it was Michigan which hit just .150 (12-6-40) for the game while the Fighting Irish compiled a hitting percentage of .371 (17-4-35). Wolverine junior Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who closed with a team-high 14 digs for the match, kept Michigan in the contest with timely defense before the Maize and Blue fell 15-8 to knot the match at a game apiece.
Michigan came out of the intermission on a mission and promptly took control of the match with a 15-10 game-three win. Sparking the Wolverine charge off the bench was freshman middle blocker Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS), who received the most extensive playing time of her young career. Lehman responded with career highs in kills (12), attempts (27) and blocks (4).
The Maize and Blue finished off Notre Dame in game four with another 15-10 win to close out the match 3-1. Michigan's strong bench play from Lehman and Pittenger as well as its outside hitting combination of Behnke and sophomore Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS), who combined for 37 kills on the match, proved too much for Notre Dame.
Michigan returns home for Big Ten action this weekend as the Wolverines host first-place Minnesota (4-0 Big Ten) on Friday (Oct. 8) at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan also hosts its annual "Rock The House" match this weekend with a tilt vs. the University of Iowa on Saturday (Oct. 9) at 7 p.m.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 69 (Sarah Behnke 19); Notre Dame 62 (Christi Girton 17)
Assists: U-M 66 (Shannon Melka 56); Notre Dame 57 (Denise Boylan 52)
Service Aces: U-M 7 (Nicole Kacor 3); Notre Dame 4 (Boylan, Marcie Bomhack 2)
Digs: U-M 61 (Alija Pittenger 14); Notre Dame 52 (Girton 12)
Blocks: U-M 8 (Anne Poglits 5); Notre Dame 14 (Mary Leffers 8)
NOTES
• Michigan now has a mark of 6-3 vs. 1998 NCAA Tournament teams.
• The Wolverines are now 8-1 against foes outside of the Big Ten. Among those eight wins are victories over 1998 NCAA Tournament teams Brigham Young, South Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas and Notre Dame. Brigham Young (No. 7) and Arkansas (No. 16) were also ranked in the top 20.
• Michigan's non-conference winning percentage of .889 is the best in school history.
• Sarah Behnke has led Michigan in kills just twice this season -- each of the last two matches.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On coming back from two losses to win on the road at Notre Dame ... "I thought our veteran leadership really pulled us together for this win. Our captains, Maggie Cooper and Sarah Behnke, really played solid matches. We also got an excellent contribution from one of our two seniors, with Anne Poglits' steady play in the front row."
