Weekly Release #11
11/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Friday, Nov. 12 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 14 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 2 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 19 -- vs. Illinois (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 20 -- vs. Indiana (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Michigan Hits the Road to Face Buckeyes and Nittany Lions
Michigan (12-11, 4-10 Big Ten) returns to the road for a pair of tough weekend tilts. The Wolverines travel to State College, Pa., on Friday, Nov. 12 (7 p.m.) for a match against top-ranked Penn State. After a day off on Saturday, Michigan closes out its weekend road trip in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, Nov. 14 (2 p.m.) for a match vs. Ohio State.
Penn State -- Penn State (24-1, 14-0 Big Ten) is alone atop the Big Ten, two games ahead of Minnesota ... Penn State is the No. 1-ranked team in the AVCA/USA Today Top 25 poll ... The Nittany Lions lead the nation in hitting percentage .328 (1342-340-3059) ... Penn State also leads the Big Ten in blocks (3.46 bpg) ... Lauren Cacciamani (.396, 386-60-824) and Bonnie Bremner (.359, 115-23-256) are 1-2 in the Big Ten in individual hitting percentage ... Penn State is currently riding a 24-match winning streak ... Penn State also currently holds the NCAA record for consecutive home wins with 72 straight ... Penn State on the Internet: www.psu.edu/sports.
Ohio State -- Ohio State (12-9, 6-8 Big Ten) is tied for sixth in the conference ... The Buckeyes as a team are second in the Big Ten in assists (15.29 apg) and third in kills (16.68 kpg) ... freshman setter Katie Virtue is second in the Big Ten in assists (12.92 apg) ... Ohio State reached the "Sweet Sixteen" round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament ... Ohio State on the Internet: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Michigan vs. Penn State: The Series
Michigan travels to Penn State for the second matchup between the teams after dropping a three-game match (2-15, 5-15, 3-15) at home to Penn State (Sept. 25). In that match, Michigan hit just .010 (25-24-103) and had only one player with double-digit kills as Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) collected 10. Michigan has one win in 19 all-time matches vs. Penn State, a series which dates back to Nov. 7, 1981. Michigan, which beat Penn State in five games on Nov. 18, 1995, has since dropped seven consecutive matches to the Nittany Lions.
All-Time Series: PSU leads, 18-1
In the 1990s: PSU leads, 16-1
Current "W" Streak: PSU, 7
Longest "W" Streak: PSU, 11 (11/7/81-10/20/95)
Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Series
The first meeting of 1999 between these rivals produced one of the most dramatic wins in recent Michigan volleyball memory. After trading the first four games of the match, Michigan and Ohio State went back and forth in game five before the Wolverines pulled out a 20-18 game-five win and a 3-2 match victory (Sept. 24). Michigan junior outside hitter Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) paced Michigan with 20 kills, 12 digs and a career-best four blocks. Michigan out-blocked Ohio State 15-6 on its way to victory. On Nov. 28, 1997, Michigan broke a 20-match losing streak to the Buckeyes with a 3-1 win over Ohio State. Including that match, Michigan and Ohio State have split the last four matches with one another.
All-Time Series: OSU leads, 35-6
In the 1990s: OSU leads, 17-2
Current "W" Streak: U-M, 1
Longest "W" Streak: OSU, 20 (11/27/87-10/26/97)
Michigan Drops Pair of Five-Game Matches at Home
Michigan returned to Cliff Keen Arena following a four-match road trip for key Big Ten matches against Purdue (Nov. 5) and Wisconsin (Nov. 6). In both matches the Wolverines fell behind 2-0 heading into intermission before battling back to force decisive fifth games only to fall just shy in each match.
For the second time this season, Michigan pushed Purdue to the limit before falling in the fifth game. On Friday (Nov. 5), the Wolverines lost 2-3 (7-15, 11-15, 15-3, 19-17, 12-15) with an identical fifth-game score to the first meeting. Michigan hit just .121 (30-18-99) in the first two games but hit .299 (57-19-127) during its comeback to force a fifth game. The Wolverines also out-blocked the Boilermakers 17-10 for the match.
Michigan turned around 24 hours later and went to a fifth game against Wisconsin before again falling in five games (4-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-8, 9-15). Michigan juniors Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS) and Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) led the Wolverine attack with 18 and 16 kills, respectively.
Career Night for Melka
Sophomore setter Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) set or matched career highs in four different categories in Michigan's match vs. Purdue (Nov. 5). Melka recorded career bests in assists (70), blocks (seven) and service aces (five) and matched her career high with six kills. Melka also hit .308 (6-2-13) and delivered 14 digs vs. Purdue. The following night Melka matched her career high with 15 digs vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 6).
Melka Reaches Milestone
In the process of recording her career-best 70 assists vs. Purdue (Nov. 5), Shannon Melka continued her move up the Michigan record books. After collecting 51 assists the next night vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 6) Melka's career assist total reached 1,631, which moves her up a spot to fourth on Michigan's all-time assist list passing Erin McGovern (1993-96).
Michigan's All-Time Assist Leaders
| 1. | Linnea Mendoza (1994-97) | 5,072 |
| 2. | Tarnisha Thompson (1989-92) | 2,619 |
| 3. | Lisa Vahi (1984-87) | 2,139 |
| 4. | Shannon Melka (1998-current) | 1,631 |
| 5. | Erin McGovern (1993-96) | 1,538 |
Block Party
Michigan played one of its strongest matches of 1999 at the net in its five-game loss to Purdue (Nov. 5). The Wolverines out-blocked the Boilermakers 17-10, which was a team season high for Michigan, after amassing just 10 blocks in their first five-game loss at Purdue (Oct. 2). Seven different Michigan players compiled at least two blocks, with Joanna Fielder leading the way with nine. Michigan's previous season high for blocks was 15, which it delivered in its five-game win over Ohio State (Sept. 24).
Near Triple-Doubles
Both Joanna Fielder and Alija Pittenger came close to recording the first triple-double of the year for the Wolverines in their matches vs. Purdue (Nov. 5) and Wisconsin (Nov. 6). In the match vs. Purdue Fielder played one of her most complete matches of the season as she amassed 20 kills, nine digs and nine blocks, leaving her just one dig and one block short of a triple-double. Pittenger nearly turned the trick the following night vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 6) as she compiled 12 digs, eight kills and eight assists. Pittenger's eight assists is a season high. Pittenger, who recorded 633 assists a year ago while sharing setting duties with Shannon Melka, also hit a team-high .300 (8-2-20) vs. Wisconsin.
Kacor Leads Wolverines
Nicole Kacor continues to be one of Michigan's most versatile performers and was the first Wolverine to reach the 300-mark in both kills and digs this season. Kacor collected her 14th double-double in kills and digs in 1999 with a 14-kill, 15-dig performance vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 6). That performance put her over the 300-mark for 1999 in both categories. Kacor continues to lead the Big Ten in digs (3.78 dpg) and is 10th in kills (3.84 kpg). Kacor also delivered a career-high four blocks vs. Purdue (Nov. 5)
Michigan Uses Balanced Attack
For the first time in 1999 Michigan had three players register at least 20 kills when a Wolverine trio turned the trick vs. Purdue (Nov. 5). Sarah Behkne and Nicole Kacor tied for team-high honors with 21 kills apiece, while Joanna Fielder nailed 20 kills of her own.
Wolverines Set Season Highs
In addition to its season-best 17 blocks vs. Purdue (Nov. 5), Michigan also set two other team season bests in that match. Michigan registered 87 team kills while also delivering 84 team assists. Michigan's previous team high in kills was 83, which it set in the first meeting with Purdue (Nov. 5), while the 84 assists bested the previous mark of 74 vs. Northwetern (Oct. 16).
Upcoming Promotions
Following a weekend road trip to Penn State (Nov. 12) and Ohio State (Nov. 14), the Wolverines return to Cliff Keen Arena on Friday, Nov. 19, vs. Illinois and Saturday, Nov. 20, against Indiana. Michigan will continue its Friday night two-for-one promotion, in which everyone purchasing a ticket to Michigan's match vs. Illinois gets the second one free. Michigan's match against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 20, is "Girl Scout Night." Any young lady wearing something that identifies herself as a Girl Scout (i.e., uniform, t-shirt, membership card, badge, etc.) will gain free admission to see the Wolverines battle the Hoosiers.
1999 Season Match Bests
Team
Kills 87, vs. Purdue (11/5) Attempts 250, at Purdue (10/2) Hit Pct. .449 (44-9-78), vs. Toledo (9/3) Assists 84, vs. Purdue (11/5) Service Aces 13, vs. South Carolina (9/17) Digs 90, at Purdue (10/2) Block Solo 3, vs. Northwestern (10/16) Block Assist 34, vs. Purdue (11/5) Total Blocks 17, vs. Purdue (11/5)
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 70, Shannon Melka vs. Purdue (11/5) Service Aces 5, Alija Pittenger at Iowa (10/29) 5, Shannon Melka vs. Purdue (11/5) Digs 26, Nicole Kacor at Purdue (10/2) Block Solo 2, Sarah Behnke vs. Purdue (11/5) 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 Nov. 7)
BIG TEN OVERALL 1. Penn State 14-0 1.000 24-1 .960 2. Minnesota 12-2 .857 22-5 .815 3. Wisconsin 9-5 .643 16-8 .667 4. Illinois 8-6 .571 12-8 .600 Michigan State 8-6 .571 18-8 .692 6. Indiana 6-8 .429 15-8 .652 Purdue 6-8 .429 14-9 .609 Ohio State 6-8 .429 12-9 .571 9. MICHIGAN 4-10 .286 12-11 .522 10. Iowa 3-11 .214 4-17 .235 11. Northwestern 1-13 .071 3-21 .125
This Week in the Big Ten
Wednesday, Nov. 10
Illinois at Indiana
Friday, Nov. 12
Northwestern at Indiana
Iowa at Wisconsin
Michigan at Penn State
Michigan State at Ohio State
Minnesota at Purdue
Saturday, Nov. 13
Northwestern at Illinois
Iowa at Purdue
Michigan State at Penn State
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Sunday, Nov. 14
Michigan at Ohio State
Michigan 1999 Record ...
vs. ranked opponents 3-5 vs. unranked opponents 9-6 ALL three-game matches 7-7 ALL four-game matches 3-1 ALL five-game matches 2-3 BIG TEN three-game matches 2-6 BIG TEN four-game matches 1-1 BIG TEN five-game matches 1-3 in game one (ALL) 12-11 in game two (ALL) 8-13 in game three (ALL) 12-9 in game four (ALL) 7-2 in game five (ALL) 2-3 total games won-lost (ALL) 41-37 total games won-lost (BIG TEN) 16-30 points in total games (ALL) 927-933 points in total games (BIG TEN) 500-597 at Cliff Keen Arena (home) 5-5 on the road (away/neutral) 6-5
Big Ten Statistical Rankings
ALL GAMES TEAM INDIVIDUAL Hit Pct. 9th (.187) Annie Maxwell, 16th (.300) Assists 8th (13.72) Shannon Melka, 6th (12.31) Blocks 7th (2.28) Kills 9th (15.12) Nicole Kacor, 10th (3.84) Aces 8th (1.40) Alija Pittenger, 7th (0.31) Nicole Kacor, 10th (0.31) Digs 1st (15.52) Nicole Kacor, 1st (3.78) Alija Pittenger, 2nd (3.30) BIG TEN TEAM INDIVIDUAL Hit Pct. 10th (.150) Assists 9th (13.24) Shannon Melka, 7th (12.36) Blocks 8th (2.24) Joanna Fielder, 9th (1.24) Kills 9th (14.52) Aces 9th (1.17) Alija Pittenger, 5th (0.37) Digs 1st (15.76) Nicole Kacor, 1st (3.96) Alija Pittenger, 4th (3.20)
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
