Michigan
5-2
Santa Clara
7-1
U-M Drops Five-Game Match Against No. 22 Santa Clara
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Lincoln, Neb. (Nebraska Coliseum)
Event: Nebraska U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic
Result: #22 Santa Clara 3, Michigan 2 (24-30, 30-26, 26-30, 30-21, 15-9)
Records: U-M (5-2), Santa Clara (7-1)
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Sept. 14 -- at Nebraska in Nebraska U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic (Lincoln, Neb.), 5 p.m. CDT
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team played well and had No. 22 Santa Clara in its sights but was unable to put the match away, dropping a five-game contest (24-30, 30-26, 26-30, 30-21, 15-9) today (Saturday, Sept. 14) on the second day of the Nebraska U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic. Sophomore hitter Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) tied her career high with 22 kills and completed her fourth double-double of the season with 11 digs.
Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) also tallied a double-double with 12 kills and season-high 14 digs. Setter Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) and Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) set career highs in digs with 18 and 16, respectively, to give the Wolverines a season-high four players with double-digit digs.
The team defensive effort was also solid at the net. Michigan posted 13 team blocks, including a team-high eight blocks by Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS).
Michigan (5-2) got out of the gate quickly in game one and ran the score to 7-2 thanks to five errors by the Broncos. As Santa Clara started to get back on track, Michigan's hitters found their rhythm. Gandolph, with six kills, and Moore, with three kills, paced the team with errorless hitting to give the Wolverines a 30-24 victory.
The second game was much closer and was tied at 20-20 after back-to-back kills by Poquette and Moore. However, three quick points by Santa Clara (7-1) put it out in front for the rest of the game. The Broncos won 30-26 to tied the match at one game each.
In a near repeat of the first game, Michigan took an early lead in the third game and never looked back. Lehman and Gandolph combined for 11 kills, helping the team to a match-high .312 (23-8-48) attack percentage. The Wolverines took the lead up to five points at 21-16 and finished out the game 30-26 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The 22nd-ranked Broncos did not let up and forced the Wolverines into hitting just .071 (11-8-42) in the fourth game. Despite the low attack percentage, Michigan was able take a lead after strong service rotations by Gamalski and Gandolph in which U-M went from being down 13-9 to leading 17-14. Santa Clara took control and outscored the Wolverines 16-4 for a 30-21 victory to tie the match and force a fifth game.
Although Michigan posted two blocks, Santa Clara hit .304 (11-4-23) and took an early 10-3 lead in the final game. The teams traded points the rest of the way, which was not enough for the Wolverines. The Broncos won the game 15-9 for a 3-2 victory.
The Wolverines finish the tournament with a match against No. 4 Nebraska at 5 p.m. CDT today.
NOTES
• With eight blocks, Katrina Lehman has 355 career blocks. She needs 20 more to tie Julia Sturm (1987-90) for the all-time record of 375 total blocks.
• This is the first match of the season in which Michigan had four or more players with double-digit digs (Gamalski 18, Poquette 16, Moore 14 and Gandolph 11).
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match ... "Physically, we matched up and played well against Santa Clara. Mentally, we were inconsistent. I though Jennifer Gandolph played really well. They serve tough, and we didn't pass well against them. It is a really frustrating loss because we had them in position to beat them. We just couldn't put the match away."
On the tournament ... "Alabama was much better than we thought they would be. Nebraska is just crazy (good). Tonight will be the ultimate test for this team."
On the solid blocking by Michigan ... "I think we are getting better at blocking. Last year we weren't very good at it, but this is a good blocking team. I think they are adjusting well. They are able to read the other team and do what they need to make the block."
