Michigan
6-5, 3-2Big Ten
Michigan State
9-3, 2-3Big Ten
Wolverines Down Spartans in Come-From-Behind Thriller
10/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result: Michigan 3, Michigan State 2 (19-30, 28-30, 30-26, 30-23, 15-9)
Records: U-M (6-5, 3-2 Big Ten), MSU (9-3, 2-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Friday, Oct. 5 -- at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 7 p.m. EST/CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team came from two games down to defeat Michigan State 3-2 (19-30, 28-30, 30-26, 30-23, 15-9) in the first match of the annual State Pride Series tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 3) in front of 1,027 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. The Wolverines battled back to win the last three games, helped by a career-high 14 kills by sophomore Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS).
Freshman Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) recorded her fourth consecutive double-double -- and sixth of the season -- with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) led the Wolverines at the net with six blocks.
Michigan (6-5, 3-2 Big Ten) took an early 5-1 lead in the first game, but Michigan State went ahead for good at 11-10. Sophomore Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) led Michigan with four kills, but the Wolverines hit only .150 (14-8-40) compared to the Spartans' .417 (17-2-36) and fell 30-19.
In the second game, the Wolverines kept it close with Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) and Reedus leading the way with four kills each on their way to sharing match-high honors with 16 kills apiece. Senior Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) had a game-high 15 assists. The game was still tied at 28-28 before Michigan State (9-3, 2-3 Big Ten) took the game 30-28.
The Wolverines stormed back in the third game to win 30-26. Poquette and Moore each had four kills, while Gandolph had five digs. After a Spartan service error gave the Wolverines a 11-10 lead, Michigan never looked back as it went on to win nine of the next 11 points and take a commanding 20-13 lead. Michigan closed out the game with two strong kills by Reedus.
Determined not to let the match end in four, Michigan started the game with a block from Lehman to go ahead 1-0 and never relinquished the lead. Strong serving, led by Lehman's two service aces, and Gandolph's seven kills helped the Wolverines win the game 30-26 and even the match at two games each.
Moore was a dominating presence in the fifth game, with four kills on five attempts to finish the match hitting .387 (16-4-31). Michigan fell behind 2-1 early but consecutive kills by Moore gave Michigan a 7-4 lead. Michigan extended its lead to 13-9 before back-to-back kills by Moore and Gandolph gave U-M the game 15-9 and the match 3-2. As a team, the Wolverines hit .562 (10-1-16) in the fifth game.
Michigan hits the road for a match against Purdue at 7 p.m. EST/CDT on Friday (Oct. 5) in West Lafayette, Ind.
NOTES
• Tonight's win was the 250th win in U-M head coach Mark Rosen's 10-year career. He is 250-71, including a 41-34 overall record at Michigan in his third season leading the program.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match ... "Getting a win tonight is just awesome. I really thought we played well in the second game but we just didn't compete all the way to the end. In games three, four and five, we just competed better. Every win in the Big Ten is important, especially because of the games that were cancelled."
U-M Sophomore Middle Blocker Erin Moore
On the come-from-behind win ... "We weren't happy once we were down 0-2. We were playing really uptight. In the last three games we just let loose and it all came together."
