Michigan
17-10, 9-7Big Ten
Ohio State
10-14, 4-12Big Ten
Wolverines Snap Losing Skid with Victory at Ohio State
11/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
Score:Â Michigan 3, Ohio State 1 (27-30, 30-21, 30-24, 30-21)
Records:Â U-M (17-10, 9-7 Big Ten), OSU (10-14, 4-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event:Â Friday, Nov. 21 -- vs. Iowa (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan volleyball team snapped a season-high three-match losing streak on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 16) at Ohio State, winning the final three frames 30-21, 30-24, 30-21 after falling 30-27 in the first game. The Wolverines, who posted their first victory over the Buckeyes in Columbus in 25 tries, were led by junior Jennifer Gandolph's (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) 20 kills, while senior Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) tallied 17.
With the victory, the Wolverines improve to 9-7 in the Big Ten, one win shy of the number of conference victories they posted a year ago. In addition, Michigan completed a season sweep of the Buckeyes, following up on a 3-0 win on Sept. 26 in Ann Arbor.
Ohio State came out on fire in the first game, hitting .303 to capture game one 30-27. Michigan, which posted a .273 hitting percentage in the opening stanza, then turned up its defensive effort, causing the Buckeyes to commit 30 errors in the final three games and hit .121 while U-M hit .296 during that time. In addition, the Wolverines built a wall in the front row, out-blocking OSU 16-8, including a career-high 10 blocks (one solo, nine assists) by freshman Megan Bowman (St. John, Ind./Lake Central HS), who notched her first career double-double, adding 10 kills.
Bowman was reinserted into the starting lineup after a two-match hiatus, while freshman Danielle Pflum (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville HS) also made her first appearance in the starting six since suffering an injury against Illinois on Oct. 18. Pflum missed six matches and played in a reserve role on Friday (Nov. 14) at No. 16 Penn State.
Defensively, senior Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) posted 11 digs and a season-high seven blocks, while Moore chipped in 10 digs and five blocks for a double-double. Junior Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) also notched a double-double with a team-high 12 digs and 49 assists, while junior Sarah Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg HS) recorded 11 digs.
Stacey Gordon led the Buckeyes with 28 kills and 20 digs.
Michigan will return to Ann Arbor to host its final two home matches of the 2003 campaign, entertaining Iowa and Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22. Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. start at Cliff Keen Arena.
NOTES
• U-M halted a season-high three-match losing skid.
• Michigan posted its first-ever victory in Columbus, snapping a 24-match losing streak.
• With nine wins in Big Ten play, the Wolverines are one victory away from equaling last season's Big Ten total. U-M has four matches left in the Big Ten campaign.
• The season sweep of the Buckeyes marked the first time in the history of the series U-M has won both meetings.
• Erin Moore has recorded 10 or more kills in all but two matches this season, including a career-high 17 straight.
• With her 17 kills, Moore improved her U-M record career kill total to 1,309.
• Jennifer Gandolph reached the 20-kill mark for the third time this season.
• Gandolph served up two aces, tying a career high.
• Sarah Allen has registered 10 or more digs in 12 of the last 13 matches, including 10 straight. Allen has topped the 10-dig mark 17 times this year and on 18 occasions in her career.
• Danielle Pflum and Megan Bowman returned to the starting lineup against the Buckeyes. Bowman did not play in each of the Wolverines' last two matches, while Pflum was out with an injury suffered against Illinois on Oct. 18.
• Bowman's 10 blocks, including nine assists, marked career highs for block assists and total blocks. In addition, Bowman's double-double (kills-blocks) was the first of her career.
• Bowman posted 10 kills for the fourth time this season.
• Nicole Poquette's seven block assists are season highs for total blocks and block assists.
• Lisa Gamalski has recorded 10 or more digs in eight of her last nine matches, including six straight.
