Michigan
7-5, 1-1Big Ten
Minnesota
15-2, 2-0Big Ten
Wolverines Swept by Eighth-Ranked Gophers on Road
9/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Sports Pavilion)
Result: #8 Minnesota 3, Michigan 0 (30-26, 30-23, 31-29)
Records:Â Michigan (7-5, 1-1 Big Ten), Minnesota (15-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match: Friday, Oct. 4 -- vs. Indiana (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The eighth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers proved to be too much for the University of Michigan volleyball team tonight (Saturday, Sept. 28) at the Sports Pavilion. In front of 2,113 fans, the Gophers defeated the Wolverines 3-0 (30-26, 30-23, 31-29) to close out the first week of Big Ten Conference play.
Michigan was led by junior captain Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) and junior Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS), who each recorded a team-high nine kills. Sophomore Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) led the way on defense with 15 digs.
Michigan (7-5, 1-1 Big Ten) opened the first game with three consecutive points, but Minnesota quickly tied the game at 4-4. The teams continued to trade points -- neither team took more than a three-point lead -- until Moore tied the score at 26-26. A U-M service error gave the Golden Gophers a point and the ball. Minnesota proceeded to force game point on a pair of kills and then won the game 30-26 on a Michigan attack error.
Game two started much the same with Michigan taking an 8-4 lead on back-to-back kills by Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS). Minnesota (15-2, 2-0 Big Ten) chipped away at the difference and tied the game at 12-12. The contest remained close, and the Wolverines took a one-point lead at 20-19. From there, the Golden Gophers went on a small run with three consecutive kills followed by two Michigan attack errors to take a 24-20 lead. Minnesota, which hit .371 (16-3-35) in the game, finished out game two with five kills to win 30-23 and take a two-game lead into the intermission.
The Wolverines opened the third game with four kills and two blocks to take an early 9-6 lead. Michigan kept the pressure on and drew the lead to 16-11 on a service ace by Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS). The five-point lead, U-M's largest of the match, forced Minnesota to take a timeout. When play resumed, the Gophers started working away at Michigan's lead and tied the game at 22-22. Six more ties took the game to a score of 28-28, and a service error by the Gophers gave the Wolverines game point at 29-28. However, an attack error and reception error by Michigan gave Minnesota game point at 30-29, and the Golden Gophers won the game 31-29 when the Wolverines' final attempt hit the antenna.
The Wolverines host Indiana at 7 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 4) at Cliff Keen Arena in the 11th annual Rock the House match. The first 400 fans will receive free T-shirts, courtesy of Pepsi Blue. Following the match, fans can pick up free team photo cards and meet their favorite Wolverines at an autograph session on the court.
NOTES
• With three blocks tonight, Katrina Lehman now has 371 career blocks. She has moved into second place on U-M's career list and needs just four more to tie Julia Sturm (1987-90) for the all-time record of 375 total blocks.
• Four of Michigan's five losses this season have been to teams which were ranked at the time of the match -- at No. 8 Pepperdine (Aug. 31), vs. No. 22 Santa Clara (Sept. 14), at No. 4 Nebraska (Sept. 14) and at No. 8 Minnesota (Sept. 28).
