Michigan
6-0
Oakland
0-4
U-M Sweeps Oakland, Will Play Florida State in Finale
9/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: Michigan def. Oakland 3-0 (30-10, 30-12, 30-18)
Records: U-M (6-0), Oakland (0-4)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 11 -- vs. Florida State at Michigan/Pepsi Challenge (Cliff Keen Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) helped University of Michigan head volleyball coach Mark Rosen to his 300th career victory with 13 kills on 19 swings for a whopping .632 attack percentage, while 13 players combined for 38 kills, 12 blocks and a .443 team attack percentage as the Wolverines downed Oakland University 3-0 (30-10, 30-12, 30-18) Saturday afternoon (Sept. 11) in the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge in Cliff Keen Arena.
The Wolverines improve to 6-0 and are off to their best start since 1998 when the team began the season 6-0. Oakland University is still winless at 0-4 this season.
Sophomore Megan Bowman (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) had six blocks, including three solo, while Erin Cobler (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) added five blocks. Excellent serving and hard attacks forced Oakland into 34 attack errors and a -.157 hitting percentage. The Golden Grizzlies tallied just 20 kills and no blocks in the match.
Senior Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial) served for 10 points in the first game, a 30-10 route, while Bowman recorded four of her game-high six blocks in the opening stanza.
Ten Wolverines recorded at least one point in the match, led by Bruzdzinski's 14.0. Freshman Sarah Draves (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) recorded three kills and two digs in her collegiate debut, while junior Alicia Boswell (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson) served her first ace of the 2004 campaign.
Oakland grabbed its only lead of the match in the third game, but U-M rallied down 1-0 and 6-4 to cruise to victory.
Michigan will face Florida State in the championship match of the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge at 7:30 p.m. Florida State downed Eastern Michigan 3-0 in Saturday's first match to set up the final.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Mark Rosen
On his 300th career win... "I don't put a lot of stock into personal milestones like that. It's nice, but we still have a lot of unfinished business. I hope they keep me around long enough to go for another 300."
On facing Florida State in the tournament finale ... "It'll be a great match. Florida State looked good against Eastern Michigan this morning and we're in for a tough match. FSU didn't lose much from last season when they beat us in Florida, so we will be tested tonight."
Sophomore Erin Cobler
What has the team chemistry been like this season ... "Everyone is pulling for one another. The freshman are great too. They haven't used any excuses about being new for lack of production on the floor. We are all very focussed and we treat each match like the most important one of the season. It's been a lot of fun this year."
Did you feel good helping Coach Rosen to his 300th career win ... "Until he said something in the locker room after the match I had no idea that he had reached a milestone. Coach Rosen turned to us and said 'Gamo (Lisa Gamalski) got me 50 of those wins, and Jun (assistant coach Jun Liu) got me 100 of those wins.' It was really cool. We're happy to help."
N O T E S
• Michigan is 6-0 to start the 2004 season, the best start since 1998 when the Wolverines went 6-0 to begin that campaign.
• Head coach Mark Rosen recorded his 300th career victory in a 3-0 defeat of Oakland University. Rosen is 300-107 in his 13th season as a head coach. Rosen has 91 wins at the Michigan helm, third-best on the all-time list.
• Sophomore Megan Bowman recorded the 150th block of her career with six stuffs against Oakland University. Bowman now has 155 blocks at Michigan.
