Michigan
11-9, 7-6Big Ten
Minnesota
13-8, 7-6Big Ten
Michigan Falls in Four Games on the Road at Minnesota
11/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Minneapolis, Minn. (Sports Pavilion)
Result:Â #24 Minnesota 3, Michigan 1 (28-30, 30-22, 30-27, 30-23)
Records:Â Michigan (11-9, 7-6 Big Ten), Minnesota (13-8, 7-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Saturday, Nov. 3 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 7 p.m. CST
MINNEAPOLIS -- In Big Ten Conference volleyball, home-court advantage is more than just a saying. Tonight (Friday, Nov. 2), it proved to be true once again as 24th-ranked Minnesota knocked off the University of Michigan volleyball team 3-1 (28-30, 30-22, 30-27, 30-23) in front of 2,369 fans at the Sports Pavilion. The Wolverines won the first game but could not overcome their own attack errors and the Golden Gophers' top hitters in the following three games.
Sophomore Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) led the team offensively and defensively with 15 kills and 11 digs. Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) recorded 11 kills in 21 attempts with just one error for a .476 attack percentage. At the net, junior Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) recorded seven blocks, including six block assists to move into a tie with Joanna Fielder (1997-2000) for sixth all-time at U-M with 249 career block assists.
Michigan (11-9, 7-6 Big Ten) started the night by falling behind 7-0 on six kills by the Gophers in game one. The Wolverines regained composure to chip away at the lead. After an early attack error, sophomore Dana Chapman (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg HS) put together four consecutive kills which were followed by a service ace by freshman Carrie Ritchie (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive HS) to bring to score to 9-5. With momentum on Michigan's side, Moore stepped up and recorded three kills and helped out on two blocks to get the team within one point at 17-16. A kill by Lehman tied the game at 18-18, and a follow-up kill by freshman Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) game the Wolverines their first lead at 19-18.
Michigan pulled ahead on another set of kills by Lehman and Gandolph before the pair teamed up on a block to set the score at 22-20. Minnesota got back in the game and tied the score at 24-24 and then 28-28 before a kill by Poquette made it game point for U-M. On the final play of the game, Poquette and Moore blocked an attack by the Gophers' Kathy Tilson to grab a 30-28 win.
The victory did not last long as Minnesota (13-8, 7-6 Big Ten) took a 5-0 lead on Lindsey Berg's service series at the start of game two. The Wolverines closed the gap slightly at 8-4 but struggled to put together any scoring runs. The Gopher lead expanded to eight at 15-7 following two consecutive attack errors by the Wolverines. Michigan managed to stay with Minnesota thought the rest of the game, but poor hitting prevented a rally. In the game, the Wolverines hit just .051 (13-11-39).
After intermission, the Wolverines came out hot and took a 5-1 lead on three kills and a service ace from Moore in game three. The Gophers closed the gap and tied the score at 11-11 when Berg stepped back to serve. Just as in the previous game, she rattled off five consecutive points and gave Minnesota a lead at 16-11. Michigan whittled away at the lead and traded sideouts with the Gophers until the score was tied at 27-27. However, two consecutive attack errors after a Minnesota timeout made it game point for the Gophers at 27-29 before Tilson put away the game winner.
Down two games to one, Michigan again jumped out to an early lead before Minnesota came back to tie the score at 7-7. The teams traded sideouts until the score read 14-14. From there on out, Minnesota posted 12 kills and just two errors. The hot-hitting Gophers extended their lead to 19-16 but briefly allowed Michigan a chance to get back in the game at 21-20 before scoring 10 of the last 12 points to win game four 30-23 and take a 3-1 victory in the match.
Michigan travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to face the Iowa Hawkeyes tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 3) at 7 p.m. CST in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be televised Sunday (Nov. 3) at 3 p.m. CST on FOX Sports Chicago.
NOTES
• Freshman Jennifer Gandolph recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. She has accomplished the feat in 15 of the last 17 matches.
• Five players recorded double-digit kills tonight at Minnesota, giving the Wolverines back-to-back matches with four or more players in double digits for the first time this season. The Wolverines have had four or more players reach double-digit kills in six of 20 matches this year, including two matches with five in double figures.
