Michigan
Georgia
U-M Dumps Georgia, Claims Outback Invitational Title
9/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Athens, Ga. (Ramsey Center)
Result: Michigan 3, Georgia 0 (15-12, 15-10, 16-14)
Records:Â U-M (3-0), Georgia (1-2)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Sept. 11 -- vs. Syracuse at All Sport® Challenge (Cliff Keen Arena), 2 p.m.
ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team ushered in the Mark Rosen coaching era in spectacular fashion this weekend as it earned the Outback Steakhouse Invitational championship with a three-game (15-12, 15-10, 16-14) sweep of host Georgia on Saturday (Sept. 4). Michigan was led by tournament MVP Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS), who hit .308 (13-5-26) and registered four block assists in the Wolverines' win over Georgia.
Michigan was not as sharp against Georgia as it was in wins over seventh-ranked Brigham Young and Toledo on Friday, yet fought back from behind in all three games to sweep the Bulldogs. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) finished off a great tournament by leading the Michigan attackers for the second consecutive match, with a career-high 18 kills. Kacor hit .366 (18-3-41) for the match.
Michigan took control of the match at the net by outblocking Georgia 11-4, marking the third time Michigan has outblocked its opponent in three matches this season. Sophomore middle blocker Annie Maxwell (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) led the Maize and Blue with a career-high five block assists and six total blocks. Also coming up big at the net for Michigan was sophomore setter Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS), who compiled a career-high four block assists to go along with her match-high 42 assists.
Michigan opens its home season next weekend with the All Sport Volleyball Challenge in Ann Arbor. No. 12 Pepperdine, No. 20 Arkansas and Syracuse will join the Wolverines in the two-day tournament on Sept. 10-11 in Cliff Keen Arena.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 48 (Nicole Kacor 18); Georgia 48 (Erin Gornes 14)
Assists: U-M 45 (Shannon Melka 42); Georgia 41 (Mindi Westfall 28)
Service Aces: U-M 5 (Melka 2); Georgia 3 (Jennifer Foyitch 2)
Digs: U-M 34 (Kacor 13) Georgia 47 (Stacey Buerger 16)
Blocks: U-M 11 (Annie Maxwell 6); Georgia 4 (Rebecca Dady, Courtney Shealy 2)
NOTES
• Nicole Kacor recorded the first double-double of her career (18 kills, 13 digs) en route to all-tournament honors.
• Michigan dominated game two with an hitting percentage of .394 (17-4-33).
• The Wolverines amassed 28 blocks in nine games (3.11 bpg) in the tournament after struggling averaging only 2.11 bpg in 1998.
• Michigan also opened up the 1998 campaign with three wins and a tournament title. The Wolverines won the Georgetown Acumen Classic with victories over Maryland, Georgetown and Temple.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On winning the tournament title ... "This was obviously a terrific way for us to begin the season. We struggled against Georgia a little bit, but still came away with the victory, which is something good teams do. The biggest positive from the weekend is that we competed very well, and that was especially evident in the match vs. Georgia because we did not play our best game."
On the play of tournament MVP Joanna Fielder ... "Joanna was tremendous all weekend and really took over the Georgia match for us with solid play. She played like our leader and deserved the MVP award."
