Michigan
3-3
Illinois State
4-3
Wolverines Squeeze by Redbirds, Win Pepsi/Nike Title
9/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team captured the Michigan Pepsi/Nike Invitational crown by defeating Illinois State in four games (30-28, 26-30, 31-29, 30-25) in the tournament's final match Saturday night (Sept. 10) at Cliff Keen Arena.
| | Miller hit .438 while tying her career best with 16 kills. |
Miller had a career high with 11 blocks while tying a career best with 16 kills for her first career double-double. Cobler tied a career high with 11 digs to go along with 11 kills -- posting her first double-double of the season -- and freshman Mara Martin (Monroe, Mich./St. Mary's Catholic) notched her first double-double of the season with a career-best 51 assists and 11 digs.
The Wolverines prevailed in a close game one and the Redbirds rallied behind all-tournament honoree Kari Staehlin to tie it a one game apiece with a victory in game two. U-M fought back from a 27-25 deficit in game three to win in extra points, 31-29, before sealing the victory with a 30-25 win in the final period.
The pivotal third game featured 13 ties and five lead changes thanks to equally strong play from both teams, but it was Michigan's six blocks that made the difference. U-M held a 16-12 lead, but the Redbirds stormed back to lead 26-24 with the match in the balance. With Illinois State leading 27-25, the Michigandefense forced the Redbirds into back-to-back errors and Bruzdzinski served up her second ace of the game to put U-M in front 28-27. A block by Pflum and Miller gave the Wolverines game point, but the feisty Redbirds rattled off two straight kills to tie it 29-29. The Wolverine defense hardened once more, forcing ISU into back-to-back attack errors again to win the game 31-29.
In game one, the Michigan offense stormed the net with five Wolverines putting down three or more kills, led by six terminations by Miller. U-M collected a .429 hitting percentage in the first period to the Redbirds' .222.
Illinois State came out strong in the second game, gathering a 4-0 lead before Pflum nailed a kill to jumpstart the Wolverine offense. Three attack errors by the Redbirds and two kills from Bruzdzinski drew the teams even, 8-8, but Illinois State weakened the Michigan defense with six straight kills, forcing Michigan into a timeout. Sophomore Sarah Draves (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) came off the bench to nail two kills and bring the Wolverines within six, 27-21, but ISU did not let up, forcing two Michigan attack errors to take game two and tie the match at one game apiece.
The Wolverines ripped through the Redbirds in game four, hitting .324 to Illinois State's .174 and forcing the Redbirds into nine attack errors. Bruzdzinski and Pflum were clutch when it counted, recording four kills each in the game, while Bruzdzinski added four digs on defense.
Michigan returns to action against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday (Sept. 13) at 7 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena.
Michigan Pepsi/Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team
Katie Bruzdzinski, Michigan (MVP)
Lyndsay Miller, Michigan
Erin Cobler, Michigan
Danielle Pflum, Michigan
Savannah Knowles, Illinois State
Kari Staehlin, Illinois State
Nickole Kennedy, Cleveland State
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
