Michigan
2-1
Pepperdine
3-2
Michigan Falls to No. 8 Pepperdine in Tournament Finale
8/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Malibu, Calif. (Firestone Fieldhouse)
Event: Howdy's Pepperdine Classic (Day 2)
Result: #8 Pepperdine 3, Michigan 1 (28-30, 35-33, 30-23, 30-21)
Records: U-M (2-1), Pepperdine (3-2)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Sept. 6 -- vs. Cincinnati in Pepsi Challenge (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
MALIBU, Calif. -- Another balanced attack and solid work at the net helped the University of Michigan volleyball team stand up to No. 8 Pepperdine tonight (Saturday, Aug. 31) in the team's final match of the Howdy's Pepperdine Classic. The Wolverines fell to the Waves 3-1 (28-30, 35-33, 30-23, 30-21) despite a third consecutive kill-dig double-double from Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) and a season-high 16 kills by Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS). Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) and captain Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) each put back a team-high five blocks.
In addition to Gandolph's 13 kills and 13 digs, Moore posted a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs. Setter Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) increased her career high in assists with 55 and tied her career highs in blocks (four) and block solos (one).
Michigan (2-1) fell behind by as many as five points in the early stages of game one but fought hard to even the match. Trailing 14-9, the Wolverines put together a run with a kill from Gandolph and a pair of kills from Reedus to close the gap at 15-14. Michigan tied the game at 22-22 on a block by Reedus and Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) and immediately took its first lead on a service ace by Gandolph. The game remained tight until Moore and Gandolph put down back-to-back kills and gave Michigan a 30-28 win.
The second game was much different, as Pepperdine (3-2) established a small lead for most of the game until the Wolverines tied the score at 20-20. A solo block by Gamalski and a pair of kills by Moore gave U-M the lead at 23-20, but the Waves got right back in the game and tied the score at 25-25. Michigan had game point twice but wasn't able to put the game away either time. The contest stayed tight until a kill and service ace gave the Waves a 35-33 victory and tied the match at one game each.
The Wolverines returned from the break and suffered a tough third game. As a team, U-M hit just .023 (14-13-43) and was blocked five times by Pepperdine. The game started well, and U-M took an 11-8 lead on a service rotation by Moore. However, from that point on the Waves shut down the Michigan offense, recording all five of their blocks in the last half of the game. Pepperdine grabbed the momentum and won the game 30-23 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth game was more of the same, as Pepperdine jumped out to a 13-3 lead. Michigan cut the lead to six points on several occasions but was unable to stop the Waves as they rolled to a 30-21 victory and won the match 3-1.
The Wolverines face Cincinnati in the Pepsi Volleyball Challenge at 7 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 6). The match with the Bearcats is the home opener for U-M. Michigan will host a Welcome Back Party starting at 5:30 p.m. with free pizza and Pepsi products for the first 400 fans in the Cliff Keen Arena courtyard.
NOTES
• For the third consecutive match, Michigan had at least three players with double-digit kills.
• Lisa Gamalski chipped in with 12 digs to give Michigan three players with double-digit digs in the match.
• Michigan's 12 team blocks are a season high. The previous mark was 11 blocks against South Florida (Aug. 30).
• Defensive specialist/libero Lindsay Dern (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte HS) became the first freshman to play this season. She served in all four games and recorded one service ace.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match ... "The first two games tonight were great battles. After we won the first game, we had a lead late in the second before they scored a few quick points and tied it up. We battled back and forth for a little bit before they won 35-33. After that we were a little bit deflated. They are a very experienced team, and when we got a little frustrated, they jumped all over us in the last two games."
On the weekend ... "This is a really good tournament for us to come back with a 2-1 record. I am really proud of how we played, and I think we learned a lot. These games forced us to be better. Now we are ready to come back and work hard. We need to take what we learned and go on with the next challenge."
