Michigan
7-1
Virginia
7-2
Wolverines Sweep Virginia to Win Carolina Classic
9/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Columbia, S.C. (Volleyball Competition Facility)
Result:Â #21 Michigan 3, Virginia 0 (15-9, 15-13, 15-5)
Records:Â U-M (7-1), Virginia (7-2)
Next U-M Match:Â Friday, Sept. 24 -- vs. Ohio State (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Coming back just 14 hours after an exhausting five-game win over host South Carolina, the University of Michigan volleyball team dropped Virginia in three games (15-9, 15-13, 15-5) on Saturday (Sept. 18) to win the 1999 Carolina Classic.
Michigan fought back in game one from an early 6-4 deficit and ran off six consecutive points to take a 10-6 lead. Michigan's run was paced by solid attacking as the Wolverines hit .297 (16-5-37) for the game. Junior middle blocker Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) led the Maize and Blue with six kills and a game one hitting percentage of .600 (6-0-10). The Wolverines eventually pulled away to post a 15-9 win.
After trailing 2-1 early in game two, Michigan ran off the next six points behind the strong serve of Fielder. After taking control of game two with a 13-8 lead, a strong service game from Virginia forced Michigan into a few mistakes, which resulted in a 13-13 tie. However, Fielder served out the final two points of the game following a Michigan timeout, including an ace to win the game 15-13.
Michigan came out of the intermission strong for the second straight match. After falling behind 3-1 early, Michigan rattled off a nine-point run for a 10-3 lead. The Wolverine run was paced by solid passing and great attacking from Fielder and sophomore outside hitter Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS). Michigan's hitting percentage of .300 (15-6-30) for game three was also keyed by fine setting from Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS). Virginia never challenged after Michigan's initial early lead and the Wolverines went on to claim a 15-5 game-three win and 3-0 match victory.
Following non-conference tournament titles at the Outback Invitational and Carolina Classic as well as a runner-up finish at the All Sport Challenge, Michigan prepares for the Big Ten Conference portion of its schedule next weekend with home matches on Friday (Sept. 24) vs. Ohio State and on Saturday (Sept. 25) vs. No. 2 Penn State.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 44 (Joanna Fielder 12); UVA 36 (Deanna Zwarich 11)
Assists: U-M 42 (Shannon Melka 37); UVA 30 (Mary Franc Scott 29)
Service Aces: U-M 6 (Fielder, Anne Poglits 2); UVA 7 (Katie Jones 4)
Digs: U-M 48 (Nicole Kacor 16); UVA 32 (Jones 8)
Blocks: U-M 6 (Annie Maxwell 5); UVA 7 (Jenny Harmon 5)
NOTES
• Joanna Fielder was named tournament Most Valuable Player upon the conclusion of the Carolina Classic on Sunday (Sept. 19). Fielder was joined on the all-tourney team by Wolverines Annie Maxwell (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) and Nicole Kacor.
• Annie Maxwell reached 50 career blocks and 100 career kills in Michigan's win over Virginia.
• Joanna Fielder registered double digits in kills for the seventh time in eight matches in 1999.
• Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) compiled 10 digs vs. Virginia, which included the 300th of her career.
• Michigan is 4-1 against 1998 NCAA Tournament teams thus far in 1999.
• Nicole Kacor amassed 10 kills and 16 digs for a team-leading fifth double-double of 1999.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On Michigan's win over Virginia ... "It was a good win over a solid team, especially considering we went through a five-game battle about 14 hours before. I thought Annie Maxwell and Joanna Fielder in the middle really played well and controlled the match from the net."
On Michigan's 7-1 mark in the non-conference part of the schedule ... "I am not completely shocked because I thought we could play with most of the teams on our schedule. The fact that we beat two top 20 teams as well as a few others who have NCAA Tournament aspirations will bode well for us come NCAA Tournament selection time."
