Michigan
4-1
Bowling Green
2-3
Lehman Sets U-M Blocking Record in Sweep of Falcons
9/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result: Michigan 3, Bowling Green 0 (30-13, 30-16, 30-20)
Records: U-M (4-1), BGSU (2-3)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Sept. 13 -- vs. Alabama at Nebraska U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic (Lincoln, Neb.), 7 p.m. CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) recorded five block assists and broke the University of Michigan volleyball record for career block assists in a 3-0 (30-13, 30-16, 30-20) sweep of Bowling Green tonight (Tuesday, Sept. 10) at Cliff Keen Arena. Lehman has racked up 307 block assists in her career, two more than the previous record of 305 block assists by Linsey Ebert (1995-98).
The feat cemented a solid defensive effort by the Wolverines. The squad posted record lows for points allowed in a game and points allowed in a match in the two-year-old rally scoring format. U-M held the Falcons (2-3) to just 13 points in the first game and 49 points in the match. Sophomores Carrie Ritchie (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive HS), returning after sitting out last week's match against Cincinnati (Sept. 6) with a back injury, and Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) led the Wolverines in digs with 12 and 14, respectively. Michigan totaled 44 digs and posted 10 team blocks while holding Bowling Green to a .009 (29-28-107) attack percentage.
On offense, Michigan (4-1) hit .360 (47-11-100) and spread its 47 kills over eight different players. Leading the way were Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) and Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS). Reedus posted match highs in kills (13) and attack percentage (.650, 13-0-20), while Gamalski hit .625 (5-0-8).
The match also allowed head coach Mark Rosen to give some playing time to younger members of the squad. Sophomore Candace Gay (Detroit, Mich./Academy of the Sacred Heart) and redshirt freshman Shaynell Neal (Glenwood, Ill./Bloom Township HS) each played in their first career match and recorded their first career kill.
Michigan hits the road for one of the toughest weekends of the season at the Nebraska U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic in Lincoln, Neb. The Wolverines face Alabama at 7 p.m. CDT on Friday (Sept. 13) before taking on No. 22 Santa Clara at 10 a.m. CDT and No. 4 Nebraska at 5 p.m. CDT on Saturday (Sept. 14).
NOTES
• The next record in the sights of Katrina Lehman is the school record for career blocks. She now has 341 career blocks -- fourth all-time at Michigan -- and needs 34 more to tie Julia Sturm (1987-90) for the all-time record of 375 total blocks.
• Tonight's victory was the 94th win for the volleyball program in Cliff Keen Arena. The squad needs six more to reach the century mark, making the Saturday, Oct. 26, match against Purdue the earliest possible date for the accomplishment.
• Tonight's match was the first of the season in which no Michigan player recorded a double-double.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On Katrina Lehman's block assists record ... "I think she has been playing great the last four years. She's done a great job and really deserves that record. We're excited about the things she is going to do for the rest of the season. Against Cincinnati and again tonight, I thought she really stepped up and took a big load on her shoulders, which is what you expect the seniors to do. She's been leading by example really well and playing great. We're really happy with what she's doing."
On Lehman's goals for the blocking records ... "I think that if you are a competitor, you want to be the best at what you do, especially for her. She's undersized, and people look at her and think she physically should not be able to play that position at this level. That's a challenge for her. The record is something she wanted to achieve, but it's not her primary goal. Her primary goal is for us to be successful and her teammates to win as a group. If the records come along with that, then I think she'd like that as anyone would, but the record hasn't been a major focus for her."
On playing time for Shaynell Neal and Candace Gay ... "I was hoping we could push away a little bit and create some separation between us and the other team to allow those players some experience. It's tough to get them experience in our conference since it's so strong. Anytime we can get a chance to get those players a little bit of experience and get them a little more comfortable is good because you never know when we might need them."
U-M Senior Katrina Lehman
On breaking the school record for career block assists ... "I didn't know when it happened on the court, but it feels awesome now. I wasn't thinking about it. I just wanted to get the win tonight. I couldn't do it without my teammates. Nicole Poquette is definitely the best blocker in the gym, and being next to her in two out of three rotations definitely helps me a lot."
On the season ... "I know it's my last year, and since I'm the only senior on the team, I want it to be my best year. I really want to make it to the NCAA Tournament and be in the top four in the Big Ten (Conference standings). That's what I'm looking for. I'm not really thinking about the records, I really want the wins."
U-M Sophomore Candace Gay
On playing in her first match ... "I was really nervous. (Associate head coach) Leisa (Rosen) was helping me from the side. We work a lot in practice at calling out the hitters and where the setter is. She was yelling all of that to me, and I said, 'I got it, I got it.' So I was nervous, but it was really exciting, just incredible."
