Michigan
13-14, 5-13Big Ten
Indiana
16-11, 8-10Big Ten
Michigan Spikers Drop Four-Game Match to Indiana
11/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result:Â Indiana 3, Michigan 1 (10-15, 15-7, 15-10, 15-10)
Records:Â U-M (13-14, 5-13 Big Ten), Indiana (17-10, 8-10 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Wednesday, Nov. 24 -- vs. Michigan State (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team could not sweep its weekend conference homestand, losing to Indiana 3-1 (15-10, 7-15, 10-15, 10-15) at home Saturday (Nov. 20) in Cliff Keen Arena. Despite the loss, Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) had another big night attacking with a hitting percentage of .314 (21-5-51). Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS) led Michigan with 22 kills as she and Fielder combined for 43 of Michigan's 71 spikes.
Game one was a game of spurts, with Michigan providing the first run to give it a 5-2 lead. However, Indiana came back with a run of its own to score the next five points for a 7-5 advantage. Michigan answered with a five-point run of its own, including an ace from sophomore setter Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS), to regain the lead 10-7. From there the Hoosiers only got as close as 12-10 before Michigan ran off the final three points of the game for a 15-10 win. Junior middle blocker Fielder continued her hot hitting by pacing Michigan with a hitting percentage of .417 (6-1-12) for the game.
Michigan trailed early in game two and was unable to overcome the Hoosiers, who led by as many as eight (10-2). Michigan went on a mini-run to cut the deficit to four at 10-6. The Wolverine rally was led by Behnke, who recorded a game-high six kills. However, Michigan was only able to muster a service ace from Behnke the rest of the way as Indiana tied the match at a game apiece with a 15-7 game-two win. Michigan hit .186 (15-7-43) for game two while the Hoosiers countered with a hitting percentage of .457 (18-2-35).
Michigan and Indiana went back and forth early in game three until Michigan went on a three-point run to turn a 4-4 tie into a 7-4 lead. Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS), who hit .500 (5-0-10) in game two, led the Michigan rally. Indiana came back with seven of the next eight points to regain the lead and expand it to 11-8. Fielder, who hit .462 (7-1-13) for the game, brought Michigan back to within 10-11, but that was as close as the Wolverines would get as Indiana converted the next four points for a 15-10 game-three win.
Indiana maintained its momentum in game four and scored the first seven points of the game. After the teams split the next six points Michigan regained its composure and went on a 6-1 run the cut the deficit to two at 9-11. Michigan's run was keyed by several big digs from Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who compiled nine digs in game four alone, as well as eight kills from Behnke. Michigan was not able to get any closer as Indiana recorded four of the last five points of the game for a 15-10 game-four win and a 3-1 match victory.
The Wolverines conclude their three-match homestand with a contest vs. Michigan State on Wednesday (Nov. 24) at Cliff Keen Arena. Match time for this year's second meeting in the "State Pride" series is 7 p.m.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 71 (Sarah Behnke 22); IU 83 (Ryan Connors 19)
Assists: U-M 64 (Shannon Melka 57); IU 82 (Laurie Gardner 70)
Digs: U-M 83 (Alija Pittenger 24); IU 93 (Cydryce Carter 20)
Service Aces: U-M 5 (Melka 2); IU 6 (Erin Heinmann 2)
Blocks: U-M 7.5 (Three with 3); IU 10 (Carter 6)
NOTES
• Joanna Fielder recorded 20 or more kills in back-to-back matches for the first time in her career.
• Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) led all players with 24 digs, which is a career high. That total also matches a team season best in a four-game match.
• Sarah Behnke collected 20 or more kills in back-to-back outings for the first time this season. Behnke's 22 kills was a Michigan season best for a four-game match.
• Maggie Cooper (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) compiled a career-best 12 digs.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match in general ... "I thought we played pretty well throughout the match -- (Joanna) Fielder and (Sarah) Behnke in particular -- but we need a little more balance offensively to be as successful as this team can be."
