Michigan
10-8, 4-4Big Ten
Wisconsin
14-5, 5-3Big Ten
U-M Middle Blockers Shine in Loss at No. 18 Wisconsin
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Madison, Wis. (UW Field House)
Result: #18 Wisconsin 3, Michigan 1 (30-26, 30-25, 25-30, 30-22)
Records: U-M (10-8, 4-4 Big Ten), Wisconsin (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Oct. 25 -- vs. Illinois (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team spread the ball around, which is usually a recipe for success, but double-digit kills by four attackers was not enough to outlast 18th-ranked Wisconsin tonight (Saturday, Oct. 19) in front of 3,444 fans at the UW Field House. The Wolverines fell 3-1 (30-26, 30-25, 25-30, 30-22) to the Badgers and dropped to a tie with Indiana and Michigan State for fifth place in the Big Ten Conference standings.
Michigan's middle blockers were on fire tonight, as Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS), who returned to the lineup after missing one match due to an ankle injury, teamed up with Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield, Hills, Mich./Marian HS) to tally 26 kills while hitting .429 (26-2-56). The duo was errorless with 23 kills in their first 43 attempts (.535) until an attack by Moore was blocked midway through the fourth game. Lehman hit .500 (13-1-24) with a team-best five blocks and Moore hit .375 (13-1-32).
Junior Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) followed her season-high 19 kills last night with a team-high 16 kills tonight against the Badgers. Michigan's other outside hitter, sophomore Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS), also found success with 14 kills and 13 digs for her 11th double-double of the season.
In the first game, Michigan (10-8, 4-4 Big Ten) was able to stick with the Badgers through the first half. However, an 8-1 run by Wisconsin when the score was tied 9-9 gave it a lead that the Wolverines could not overcome, and the Badgers went on to take a 30-26 victory.
In the second game, Wisconsin (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten) kept taking small leads which the Wolverines would counter. Michigan trailed by four points through the middle of the match until it was able to close the gap to one at 23-22. However, the Badgers scored seven of the last 10 points to take a 30-25 victory and a two-game lead.
After the intermission, Michigan took a 4-3 lead on a kill by Lehman in the third game and never looked back. The Wolverines had their best hitting game of the match (.350, 19-5-40) and took game three by a score of 30-25. The Badgers countered by hitting .392 (23-3-51) in the fourth game. Michigan was able to tied the game at 11-11, but a 10-3 run by Wisconsin by the match out of reach for the Wolverines. Wisconsin went on to win the game 30-22 and the match 3-1.
The Wolverines return to Cliff Keen Arena for a set of home matches next weekend. U-M hosts Illinois for a 7 p.m. match on Friday (Oct. 25) and welcomes Purdue at 7 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 26).
NOTES
• For the second consecutive match, the Wolverines were without starting libero Carrie Ritchie (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive HS), who is out due to illness.
• Michigan's only Big Ten losses have been road matches against the top four teams in the conference standings. The Wolverines dropped matches at then-No. 8 Minnesota (Sept. 28), then-No. 9 Penn State (Oct. 11), Northwestern (Oct. 18) and No. 18 Wisconsin (Oct. 19).
• Michigan is now 1-7 this season in matches at the opponent's home facility. Including neutral-site contests, the Wolverines are 4-8 away from Cliff Keen Arena.
