Michigan
2-0
Sacramento State
0-2
U-M Sweeps Sacramento State for Second Straight Win
9/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Stockton, Calif. (A.G. Spanos Center)
Event:Â Pacific Invitational
Result:Â #24 Michigan 3, Sacramento State 0 (15-7, 15-8, 15-10)
Records:Â U-M (2-0), CSUS (0-2)
Next U-M Match:Â Saturday, Sept. 2 -- at Pacific in Pacific Invitational (Stockton, Calif.), 7 p.m. PDT
STOCKTON, Calif. -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan volleyball squad upped its 2000 record to 2-0 with a three-game sweep (15-7, 15-8, 15-10) of Sacramento State at the Pacific Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 2). Michigan used a balanced offensive attack to hit .278 (50-15-126) and registered nine blocks while holding Sacramento State to a hitting percentage of .123 (33-17-130).
For the second time in as many matches, Michigan was led by Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who registered a match-best 15 kills and tied teammate Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) for match honors with 15 digs.
Unlike Michigan's season-opening win over Maryland, it was Sacramento State that jumped out to the early lead in game one as the Hornets scored the first four points of the game, prompting a Michigan timeout. Michigan answered by scoring nine consecutive points, aided by three kills from Kacor, to take control of the game. From that point, the Wolverines pulled away and capped a game one victory with three service aces, two from Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS), to score its final three points for the 15-7 win.
Michigan came out in game two and jumped on top of Sacramento State as the Wolverines scored 11 of the first 12 points. The Wolverines' run was buoyed by the play of junior middle blocker Annie Maxwell (Santa Barbara, Mich./Santa Barbara HS), who notched a solo block, one of a match-best six, during the Michigan rally. Michigan also hit .295 (18-5-44) in game two, led by freshman outside hitter Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS), who hit .529 (9-0-17) for the match. Sacramento State made a mini run at the Wolverines and cut the lead to 14-8 before the Wolverines won 15-8 to take a two-game lead into intermission.
For the second consecutive match, Michigan did not allow its opponent back in the match and ended it in game three. Maxwell, who hit .500 (7-0-14) continued her excellent play to lead Michigan's attack in game three and help the Wolverines to a 15-10 win for the three-game sweep. Maxwell helped the Maize and Blue hold Sacramento State to a hitting percentage of just .042 (10-8-48) for the final game.
Michigan's final match at the Pacific Invitational is Saturday night at 7 p.m. PDT against the host Tigers. The contest, a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament second-round battle, will decide the tournament champion as both teams are 2-0.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 50 (Alija Pittenger 15); CSUS 33 (Tasman Dwyer 8)
Assists: U-M 47 (Shannon Melka 39); CSUS 31 (Lisa Beauchene 23)
Service Aces: U-M 5 (Pittenger, Katrina Lehman 2); CSUS 3 (Beauchene 2)
Digs: U-M 67 (Pittenger, Nicole Kacor 18); CSUS 54 (Beauchene 16)
Blocks: U-M 9 (Annie Maxwell 6); CSUS 7 (Dwyer, Alison Gahr 4)
NOTES
• Michigan has begun the season 2-0 for the third straight year.
• Michigan's win over Sacramento State is its seventh straight regular-season win on a neutral site.
• Annie Maxwell's two solo blocks are a career best.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On beginning the season 2-0 ... "We played a very steady match today and that is the type of effort it takes to beat a well-coached team like Sacramento State. Our balance was a key ingredient in this win and everybody throughout our lineup contributed to this win."
On the play of freshman Nicole Poquette ... "She has been a great presence for us in both of our first two wins. For a freshman to step in and hit over .500 in her first two matches without recording a attacking error is very impressive."
