Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverines Comeback Falls Short in Loss at Minnesota
10/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Minneapolis, Minn. (Sports Pavilion)
Score:Â #25 Minnesota 3, Michigan 1 (30-26, 21-30, 30-26, 31-29)
Records:Â U-M (13-7, 5-4 Big Ten), Minnesota (14-7, 7-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event:Â Saturday, Oct. 25 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 7 p.m. CDT
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- A comeback attempt by the University of Michigan volleyball team fell short in front of a packed house at Minnesota's Sports Pavilion, as the Wolverines fell by a 3-1 margin (26-30, 30-21, 26-30, 29-31) to No. 25 Minnesota on Friday night(Oct. 24) . Senior Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) led the team with 18 kills, while junior Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) posted a career-high 25 digs as U-M suffered its first road loss in Big Ten play.
With the loss, Michigan has now lost four straight to the Gophers, including six consecutive matches in Minneapolis. In addition, the Wolverines have dropped back-to-back Big Ten matches for the first time this season.
In game one, the Wolverines fought from a four-point deficit on two occasions to put themselves in a position to win the opening frame, but the Gophers halted a Michigan run late in the game to take the game, 30-26. Michigan, after trailing 24-20, fought back to 26-25 and with a chance to tie the game was called for a touch on a Minnesota attack. The Gophers, who received a two-point lead on the call, then took three of the final four points to take a 1-0 lead.
Michigan rebounded in game two, taking an early 2-0 lead and holding the advantage for the entire game. Minnesota got within one of the Wolverines early in the frame, but after Michigan took a five-point lead at 13-8, causing Minnesota to take a timeout, the rest of the game was a showcase for the Wolverines' offense, as U-M led by as many as 12 en route to a 30-21 victory. The Wolverines hit .340 in the stanza, including four kills by freshman Megan Bowman (St. John, Ind./Lake Central HS) and Moore, while holding the Gophers to .155 hitting to tie the match at 1-1.
Game three looked a lot like game one for the Wolverines as Michigan got down early to the Gophers, then spent the majority of the frame fighting back. U-M came from a five-point deficit, taking the lead at one point midway through the stanza, but Minnesota rallied late again, taking a six-point advantage at 26-20. The Wolverines tried to come back, pulling within three, but the Gophers closed out the game, 30-26.
In game four, the Gophers looked like they were on their way to an easy win, leading 18-6, but Michigan fought back valiantly, rallying to tie the game at 29 behind the blocking efforts of Moore and junior Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS). Minnesota eventually ended the run and took the final two points, winning the match with a 31-29 score.
Five Wolverines topped the 10-kill mark, including redshirt freshman Erin Cobler (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), who tallied a career-high 11 terminations. Gandolph added 13 to record a double-double, while Bowman tied a season high with 14 kills. Senior Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) added 10 kills as the Wolverines hit .235 as a team.
Defensively, Bowman led the squad with seven blocks, while five Wolverines, including Gandolph, recorded double-digit digs. Gamalski had a career-high 19 digs, Moore added 17 for a double-double, and Poquette registered a season-high 14. Junior Sarah Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg HS) also topped the 10-dig mark with 11.
The Wolverines (13-7, 5-4 Big Ten) will conclude their weekend road trip on Saturday (Oct. 25) when they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. CDT at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the Iowa campus.
NOTES
• Michigan fell on the road for the first time in Big Ten play.
• The Wolverines have dropped consecutive Big Ten matches for the first time this season.
• Jennifer Gandolph topepd the 20-dig mark for the second time this season with a career-high 25.
• Gandolph recorded a double-double, her team-best 12 of the season, and topped the 10-kill mark for the sixth straight match. Gandolph has posted 10 or more kills in all but three matches this year.
• Nicole Poquette's 14 digs are a season high, and Megan Bowman tied a season high with 14 kills.
• Lisa Gamalski's 19 digs are a career high. Gamalski recorded her sixth double-double of the season, adding 53 assists.
• Erin Cobler's 11 kills marked a career high.
• Erin Moore has reached double-digit kill totals in all but two matches this season, including 10 straight. Moore notched her eighth double-double of the year with a season-high 17 digs.
