Michigan
12-11, 8-8Big Ten
Northwestern
8-15, 4-12Big Ten
Ritchie Helps Wolverines to Sweep of Northwestern
11/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result:Â Michigan 3, Northwestern 0 (30-17, 30-20, 30-21)
Records:Â U-M (12-11, 8-8 Big Ten), Northwestern (8-15, 4-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Friday, Nov. 16 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman Carrie Ritchie (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive HS) drilled a shot over the net on the final play of the match to give the University of Michigan volleyball team a 3-0 sweep (30-17, 30-20, 30-21) over Northwestern tonight (Saturday, Nov. 10) in front of 939 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. The win broke a three-match losing streak and helped the Wolverines improve to 8-8 in Big Ten Conference play and 12-11 overall, moving the team closer to an NCAA Tournament bid with two weeks remaining in the season.
While Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) recorded her 15th kill-dig double-double of the season, it was Ritchie, a first-time regular in the front row, who put on the show. She increased her career high in kills for the third consecutive match, posting nine against the Wildcats, and contributed defensively with 10 digs and a career-high two blocks. She also added a pair of service aces.
As a team, the Wolverines had their best hitting night of the conference season as they hit .381 (52-12-105) and committed a conference season-low 12 errors in the entire match, down from their average of over six per game.
Michigan opened the match slowly and held a 6-5 lead early in the first game. The Wolverines took control of the game by scoring eight consecutive points to take a 14-5 lead during a service series by Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McCauley HS). Following a service ace by Ritchie at 20-8, Michigan put together one of its strongest defensive rallies, which included two key saves by Ritchie, to keep the momentum on its side and increase the lead to 22-8. The Wolverines held the lead before a pair of kills by Ritchie gave them a 30-17 victory in the game. As a team, Michigan hit .467 (16-2-30) and forced the Wildcats into 12 attack errors.
After the Wildcats scored the first two points in the second game, Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) stepped back to serve and rattled off seven consecutive points to give the Wolverines a 7-2 lead. Northwestern closed the gap to one point, but Michigan took the game back with a run of five consecutive points to take a 19-11 lead. In the rally, the Wolverines picked up three of the points on a pair of kills by Gandolph and a block by Gandolph and Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS).
As in the first game, U-M put together a strong defensive stand late in the game on two solid digs by Kacor and Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) and a kill by Ritchie to take a 25-15 lead. The teams traded sideouts before Northwestern put up consecutive attack errors to hand the game to Michigan. The Wolverines continued their impressive hitting by recording an attack percentage of .361 (17-4-36) in the game, including a perfect four kills on four attempts by Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS).
The third game started much the same as Michigan took an early 7-1 lead on a service series by Melka. Michigan extended the lead to eight at 20-12, but the Wildcats got back in the game by recording three of their five blocks to draw within five at 21-16. However, Michigan adjusted and countered with a kill by Gandolph and a service ace by Moore. After a four-point service series by Melka, Michigan finished the game 30-21 to complete the sweep.
Gandolph finished with 14 kills and 14 digs to lead all players in both categories. Moore and Ritchie added nine kills each, while Lehman and Poquette had eight kills apiece as Melka distributed the ball evenly and ended up with 39 assists to go along with three aces.
Michigan starts its final road trip of the conference regular when it heads to No. 13 Penn State for a match at 7 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 16). On Saturday (Nov. 17), the Wolverines finish the trip with a 7 p.m. match at No. 9 Ohio State.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the play of Carrie Ritchie ... "She did a great job in a new role tonight. She still provided a lot of defense and really did a great job on offense."
On the outlook for the rest of the season ... "We'd have loved to sneaked out a win last night (against Wisconsin) but didn't. That leaves us with a big challenge for the rest of the season. We need to take care of business on this road trip if we want to keep playing in the NCAA Tournament. If we can get at least one on the road and come back and get one or two wins at home, we should be in good shape."
U-M Freshman Outside Hitter Carrie Ritchie
On playing in the front row for the entire match ... "It was really exciting. I just want to prove that I can play in the front row despite my size, which is what everyone says will keep me from being able to. It took me a while to get comfortable and get into it, but I felt good once I did."
NOTES
• The only match this season in which the Wolverines hit better than they did tonight (.381) was against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 8), when the team posted an attack percentage of .512 (49-8-80).
• Michigan committed 11 attack errors against Pittsburgh (Sept. 7) and eight against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 8), the only two matches that were better than tonight's total of 12 errors.
• Michigan's two-match attendance total of 2,168 was the highest of any weekend so far this season.
