Michigan
17-12, 7-11Big Ten
Iowa
13-13, 9-9Big Ten
Michigan Drops Second Straight Conference Match
11/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Iowa City, Iowa (Carver-Hawkeye Arena)
Result:Â Iowa 3, Michigan 1 (15-8, 15-12, 2-15, 15-12)
Records:Â U-M (17-12, 7-11 Big Ten), Iowa (13-13, 9-9 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Friday, Nov. 24 -- vs. Wisconsin (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan volleyball team lost its second consecutive match of the weekend, falling to Iowa on Saturday (Nov. 18) in four games (15-8, 15-12, 2-15, 15-12). Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS) had a match-high 25 kills with 15 digs, but Iowa was able to win the match with a balanced attack.
Michigan (17-12, 7-11 Big Ten) went up early 3-0 in the first game but then lost the next six points. The Wolverines rallied back to get even at 7-7, but the Hawkeyes (13-13, 9-9 Big Ten) won eight of the next nine points to take the game. Michigan had its lowest hitting percentage of the night (.115, 14-8-52), though Behnke had five kills in the game.
The Wolverines improved their hitting in the second game, with Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) and Behnke recording seven kills each and Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) adding eight digs. With the score tied 9-9, Iowa took the next three points, but U-M came right back with a service ace and kill by Kacor to make it 12-11. The Hawkeyes held on and eventually took the game for a 2-0 lead.
The third game was all Wolverines as they had a .304 hitting percentage for the game. Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) came up big at the net with four blocks, while Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) was strong as well with five digs in the third. On the offensive side, Behnke's five kills and .444 hitting mark (5-1-9) led the Maize and Blue. U-M scored the first seven points of the game, and after a couple of points by Iowa, Michigan would take the next seven points for its first game win of the night.
Behnke had her biggest kill total in the fourth game with eight, but it was Iowa's .305 (24-6-59) hitting percentage that closed the door on the Wolverines. The teams went back and forth, and eventually were tied at 11-11. Iowa then used a 4-1 run to close out the fourth and final game 15-12.
Michigan returns to Big Ten action next Friday (Nov. 24) with a match against the University of Wisconsin at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 63 (Sarah Behnke 25); Iowa 66 (Fabiana De Abreu 18)
Assists: U-M 62 (Shannon Melka 54); Iowa 59 (Renee Hill 29)
Service Aces: U-M 6 (Melka, Alija Pittenger 2); Iowa 6 (Sara Meyermann 3)
Digs: U-M 78 (Pittenger 19); Iowa 90 (Meyermann 18)
Blocks: U-M 12.5 (Katrina Lehman 6); Iowa 9 (Katie Panhorst 5)
NOTES
• Alija Pittenger's 11 kills and 19 digs represent her 16th double-double of the season in those categories.
• The 25 kills from Sarah Behnke is a Michigan season best for a four-game match, and the second most in any match this season by a Wolverine. Behnke's four blocks matched a season best.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match in general ... "This was a tough loss tonight, especially considering it was a match we could have won. However, you have to give Iowa a lot of credit tonight; they played well. The key for us will be how we respond next weekend, because our last two regular-season matches next weekend will have a bearing on our postseason opportunity."
