Michigan
2-1
Pacific
3-0
Tigers Hand Wolverines First Loss in Tight Rematch
9/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Stockton, Calif. (A.G. Spanos Center)
Event:Â Pacific Invitational
Result:Â #12 Pacific 3, #24 Michigan 0 (15-13, 15-12, 15-12)
Records:Â U-M (2-1), Pacific (3-0)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Sept. 8 -- vs. Northern Illinois in All Sport® Challenge (Cliff Keen Arena), 2 p.m.
STOCKTON, Calif. -- In a rematch of 1999's thrilling NCAA Tournament second-round match, No. 24 Michigan suffered its first loss of 2000 at No. 12 Pacific, falling in three close games (15-13, 15-12, 15-12) Saturday night (Sept. 2) in the final match of the Pacific Invitational. Pacific won the tournament with a 3-0 record, and the Wolverines (2-1) finished second.
Despite match bests from Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) in digs (23) and Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) in blocks (eight), the Wolverines were held to a hitting percentage of .115 (51-31-174) as their record dropped to 2-1.
Michigan's best attacking game of the match came in game one as the Wolverines hit .190 (22-10-63) for the game. Michigan's top attackers for the match were Kacor and senior outside hitter Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who tied a team high with 13 kills for the match. Despite their efforts Pacific took the early lead with a 15-13 game-one win.
The Wolverines matched Pacific at the net throughout the match as each team recorded 11 blocks, with Lehman leading the way for the Wolverines. Lehman received plenty of help at the net from freshman outside hitter Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS), who registered a career-best seven blocks. The Wolverines' play at the net could not quite get them over the hump as Pacific won game two 15-12 to take a two-game lead into the intermission.
Michigan came out of the locker room for game three and struggled with its attacking as the Wolverines hit .039 (12-10-51) for the game, despite the best match of freshman Erin Moore's (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) young career as she hit .250 (8-3-20) for the match. Pacific closed out the match with another 15-12 win in game three.
Michigan's next match is its 2000 home opener on Friday, Sept. 8 (2 p.m.) vs. Northern Illinois in the All Sport Volleyball Challenge at Cliff Keen Arena.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 51 (Alija Pittenger, Nicole Kacor 13); Pacific 59 (Danielle Shin 13)
Assists: U-M 48 (Shannon Melka 41); Pacific 53 (Kara Gormsen 44)
Service Aces: U-M 4 (Pittenger 3); Pacific 2 (Courtney Miller 2)
Digs: U-M 78 (Kacor 23); Pacific 83 (Clarissa Bonner 17)
Blocks: U-M 11 (Katrina Lehman 8); Pacific 11 (Jennifer Joines 7)
NOTES
• Alija Pittenger notched a double-double in kills and digs in all three matches at the Pacific Invitational.
• Katrina Lehman's seven block assists is a new career high for the sophomore middle blocker.
• Michigan's 11 team blocks vs. Pacific is its highest total of the young 2000 season.
• Alija Pittenger and Shannon Melka were named to the all-tournament team.
