Michigan
1-3
Pittsburgh
2-3
Wolverines Sweep Pittsburgh in Home Opener
9/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event:Â Pepsi Volleyball Challenge (Day 1)
Result:Â Michigan 3, Pittsburgh 0 (30-18, 30-20, 30-27)
Records:Â U-M (1-3), Pittsburgh (2-2)
Next U-M Match:Â Saturday, Sept. 8 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (2 p.m.), vs. Georgia (7:30 p.m.) in Pepsi Challenge (Cliff Keen Arena)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS), sophomore Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) and junior Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) put on a show for the 783 fans at Cliff Keen Arena for the first day of the Pepsi Volleyball Challenge. Each posted double-digit kills and attack percentages of over .400 to lead in Michigan's 3-0 sweep (30-18, 30-20, 30-27) of the Pittsburgh Panthers tonight (Friday, Sept. 7).
Gandolph, in her first home match as a Wolverine, posted 10 kills, hit .500 (10-2-16) and added 10 digs for her first career double-double. Lehman manned the net and assisted on seven of Michigan's 11 team blocks while also contributing 11 kills for a match-high .526 attack percentage (11-1-19). Reedus' night included a team-high 13 kills for a .440 attacking mark (13-2-25) and seven digs.
As a team, Michigan jumped out to big leads in each of the first two games. In game one, Michigan had worked its way out to a 13-8 lead when redshirt freshman Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) stepped in and served a eight-point run to extend the lead to 21-8. Michigan held the lead the rest of the way and took the game 30-18.
In game two, it was much of the same. Sophomore Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS), freshman Carrie Ritchie (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive HS) and Lehman each put together runs of at least four points, including a service ace for each, to run up the score to 26-14 in a matter of minutes. A late rally by the Panthers was nullified by a service error, allowing the duo of Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) and Lehman to put the match away with one of Michigan's five blocks in the game. As a team, the Wolverines hit .429 (16-1-35) in game two.
Behind two games to none, Pittsburgh came back in the third game and gave Michigan just about all it could handle. After serving well and recording eight blocks in the first two games, Michigan wasn't able to force the Panthers into as many bad passes in the final game. As a result, the game stayed tight the entire way, with the teams trading leads throughout. However, behind the strength of Lehman's three-for-five attacking and Reedus' perfect four-for-four attacking, Michigan was able to go ahead 29-27 and open the door for Ritchie to end the match with a service ace.
In the first game of the Pepsi Volleyball Challenge, the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles in four games (30-22, 30-20, 26-30, 32-30).
Play resumes tomorrow with Georgia and Pittsburgh battling at 11 a.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan faces Eastern Michigan at 2 p.m. In the final two matches, Pittsburgh and Eastern Michigan do battle at 5 p.m., while the Wolverines wrap up the tournament with a match against Georgia at 7:30 p.m.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the solid blocking ... "What really helped the blocking was good serving. In the first two games, we really gave them trouble. They weren't able to get good passes and that allowed our blockers to set up and be successful at the net. The third game wasn't that way, and our blockers had a tough time."
On the runs ... "We did a really good job tonight of making tough serves and forcing bad passes. There were a couple of times in the first two game where we put together runs of several points. Again, that helped the blockers in those games."
On the young lineup ... "I'm very excited about that group, and I really like their personality on the court. The played hard and competed well. It's a fun and exciting group for the fans as well."
