Michigan
7-3
Central Michigan
5-6
Wolverines Sweep Chippewas to Open Nike Challenge
9/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score:Â Michigan 3, Central Michigan 0 (30-17, 34-32, 30-16)
Records:Â U-M (7-3), CMU (5-6)
Next U-M Event:Â Saturday, Sept. 20 -- vs. Valparaiso at Michigan/Nike Challenge (Cliff Keen Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team continued its winning ways on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) at Cliff Keen Arena, downing in-state rival Central Michigan by a 3-0 margin (30-17, 34-32, 30-16) in the opening match of the Michigan/Nike Challenge. Junior Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) posted team highs of 12 kills and 13 digs as U-M won its fourth straight match.
The Wolverines, winners of six of their last seven matches, now stand poised to take their third straight tournament with a win over Valparaiso this evening.
U-M came out early in the match and quickly dispatched the Chippewas in game one, opening an early seven-point advantage and leading by as many as 13 in the 30-17 victory. In game two, 21 tie scores and 15 lead changes highlighted the stanza, which could have gone to CMU. Late in the game, Central's Meghan Moore recorded back-to-back kills to give the Chips game point, but U-M fought back with terminations by senior Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) and Gandolph to take a 32-31 lead. CMU forced a sideout to tie the score at 32 apiece, but Gandolph put U-M up 2-0 with two kills to end the game at 34-32.
The final frame saw the Wolverines rout the Chippewas again after a tight score in the early going as U-M built a 12-point lead and finished off CMU with a 30-16 win.
In addition to Gandolph's lead on both sides of the net, freshman Megan Bowman (St. John, Ind./Lake Central HS) recorded a career-high seven block assists as U-M out-blocked the Chippewas 10-7. Junior Sarah Allen (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg HS) also chipped in defensively with 10 digs.
The Wolverines will conclude play in the Michigan/Nike Challenge with a 7:30 p.m. match against Valparaiso on Saturday evening at Cliff Keen Arena.
NOTES
• Michigan has won six of its last seven matches, including a season-high four straight.
• Jennifer Gandolph has posted 10 or more kills in eight of her last nine matches. She recorded her sixth double-double of the season.
• Sarah Allen's 10 digs marked the fourth time this season, and fifth time in her career, that she has topped the 10-dig mark. Allen has recorded 10 or more digs in each of her last two matches.
• Megan Bowman's seven block assists are a career high.
