Weekly Release #4
9/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
This Week's Schedule
Michigan (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Eastern Michigan (5-1, 0-0 MAC)
Tuesday, Sept. 13 7 p.m. Cliff Keen Arena
Michigan (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) at Georgia (4-4, 0-0 SEC)
Friday, Sept. 16 7 p.m. Ramsey Student Center Georgia Invitational
Michigan (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Georgia Tech (3-3, 0-0 ACC)
Saturday, Sept. 17 7 p.m. Ramsey Student Center Georgia Invitational
Radio/Internet: Tuesday's match will air LIVE on MGoBlue.com (subscription) and the WCBN (88.3 FM) Sports Stream. Both of Michigan's matches in the Georgia Invitational will air LIVE on MGoBlue.com.
Two Reasons (Other Than the Volleyball) to Come to Cliff Keen ...
Free Domino's Pizza
Free Domino's pizza will be offered at Cliff Keen for fans who come out to see the Wolverines take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
The Mini 500 Race
Between the second and third games of the match, youngsters will compete in the Mini 500, a grueling test of strength, stamina and driving skills that pits the best underage drivers in the state of Michigan against one another in a no holds barred tricycle race.
The Scouting Report ...
An Inside Look at Eastern Michigan (Michigan leads the series, 27-15)
Michigan has faced Eastern Michigan only twice in the Rosen era, sweeping the Eagles at home last season and in Cliff Keen Arena in September of 2001. In fact, the Wolverines have not lost a single game to Eastern Michigan in the last 15. U-M's last loss to EMU was a 3-1 defeat on September 7, 1994 in Ypsilanti. In the last meeting, Danielle Pflum and Erin Cobler hit double-digits in kills with 11 and 10 respectively, while Stesha Selsky had 15 digs and a service ace. Megan Bowman also recorded the 200th kill of her career against the Eagles in 2004. EMU's lone loss this season came at Valparaiso in a five-game match.
An Inside Look at Georgia (Michigan leads the series, 4-1)
The Michigan/Georgia rivalry goes back to 1983 when the Wolverines defeated the Bulldogs, 3-2 in Ann Arbor. The last time these teams met was in 2001 at the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge where U-M downed the Dawgs, 3-1, to win the title. Coach Rosen is 2-0 against Georgia, with his first win against UGA in his first season with the Wolverines when U-M swept the Bulldogs to win the Outback Steakhouse Invitational in Athens, Ga. Despite a second round berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, Georgia has struggled in its last three matches, losing to Boise State, Texas Tech and San Diego State by a combined score of 9-1.
An Inside Look at Georgia Tech (First Meeting)
Michigan and Georgia Tech will lock horns for the first time in program history at the Georgia Invitational. Georgia Tech advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and opened the 2005 season with a No. 20 preseason ranking. Northwestern knocked off the Yellow Jackets two weeks ago and Georgia Tech is coming off a 3-0 loss at home to Western Kentucky on September 10.
This Week's Storylines ...
Michigan Pepsi/Nike Invitational Champions
Sophomores Katie Bruzdzinski and Lyndsay Miller and senior/junior Erin Cobler each earned the second all-tournament team honor of their careers as the Wolverines captured the Michigan Pepsi/Nike Invitational (Sept. 9-10). Bruzdzinski was named tournament MVP at the Pepsi/Nike Invite, while she was voted to the 2004 Michigan/Nike Invitational all-tournament team last season. Miller and Cobler each earned a spot on the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge all-tournament squad in 2004. Junior Danielle Pflum earned her first career all-tournament team honor after posting a career high for hitting percentage (.500) against Cleveland State (Sept. 9) and a career high for blocks (6) vs. Illinois State (Sept. 10).
Tough Start Behind Them
The Wolverines' first three opponents of the 2005 season finished the 2004 season with a combined record of 75-18 (.806) and are 19-2 to start the 2005 season, with wins over No. 3 Stanford, No. 4 Hawaii, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Minnesota, No. 6 Florida, No. 8 Southern California, No. 11 Texas and No. 12 Ohio State.
In Pursuit of Katrina Lehman and the Blocking Record
Junior Megan Bowman is climbing the all-time blocks chart, beginning the season 10th and climbing to ninth place with six rejections vs. Illinois State (Sept. 10). Bowman has 315 blocks in her career, putting her four blocks out of eighth place (Fiona Davidson) and 15 out of seventh place (Sarah Jackson). Katrina Lehman is the all-time leader in blocks with 472, 40 more than the next-best total. If Bowman equals her 2004 block totals (143) she will finish her junior season in second place with 439 blocks.
These Kids Like to Block
Michigan's 35 block assists against Illinois State (Sept. 10) fell two shy of the school record for most block assists in a single match. The record of 37 was set in 1989 against Bowling Green. Three Wolverines (Lyndsay Miller, Danielle Pflum and Mara Martin) had career bests for blocks against the Redbirds.
Speaking of Blocks
Sophomore Lyndsay Miller's 11 total blocks against Illinois State (Sept. 10) tie the fourth-best total in a single match in U-M history, and her 11 block assists tie her for third on the single-match list. The last Wolverine to record 11 blocks in a match was junior Megan Bowman vs. No. 11 Texas in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
One More Hand For Lyndsay Miller
Sophomore Lyndsay Miller had the first double-double of her career with 16 kills and 11 blocks vs. Illinois State (Sept. 10). The 16 kills tie a career-high, equaling her total against Western Michigan in 2004.
Martin Sets the Table for the First Time
Sophomore/freshman setter Mara Martin is not only the first freshman setter to start a season opener for the volleyball program but at 6-2, she is the tallest setter in Wolverine volleyball history. She made her first start in the Maize and Blue in the season opener at Notre Dame (Aug. 27) and made her presence felt in a 3-1 win over Illinois State (Sept. 10), recording a career-best 51 assists and 11 digs for her first-ever double-double. She also added a career high five blocks against the Redbirds.
Now THAT's Service!
Senior Megan Knoebel recorded her fourth and fifth service aces of the season at the Michigan Pepsi/Nike Invitational, giving her five aces in six matches. Her 0.31 aces per game is second on the Wolverines behind super-server sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski's 0.47. Knoebel has an ace in four of six matches, including two against the No. 1 team in the land, Nebraska.
Home in September
Michigan is 9-1 in Cliff Keen Arena since September of 2004.
Freshman Debut For Karpiak
Freshman middle blocker Beth Karpiak earned her first-career start in the season opener at Notre Dame (Aug. 27), leading U-M with three blocks and recording four kills in her collegiate debut. Katie Bruzdzinski and Lyndsay Miller were the only freshman opening night starters for the Wolverines in 2004 and both went on to set freshman records in their debut campaigns.
Wolverine Streaks
Senior/junior right side Erin Cobler has made 35 consecutive starts and has played in 63 consecutive matches.
Wolverine Streaks Snapped
Sophomore libero Stesha Selsky had her streak of seven-straight double-digit dig outings snapped vs. Cleveland State. Selsky had nine digs against the Vikings. Her streak dated back to the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Michigan Milestones
Senior/junior Erin Cobler and junior Megan Bowman will each make the 70th starts of their careers against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 13), while sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski will make the 30th start of her career against the Eagles ... Sophomores Lyndsay Miller and Stesha Selsky will each make the 40th appearances of their careers against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 13) ... Senior defensive specialist Megan Knoebel had her fifth ace in six matches, notching at least one ace in four of six matches this season ... Sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski recorded the 400th kill of her career ... Senior/junior Erin Cobler recorded the 250th dig of her career against Illinois State (Sept. 10). Cobler's 11 digs in the match also tied a career best ... Junior Danielle Pflum had a career-best .500 hitting percentage (12 kills on 22 swings with one error) against Cleveland State (Sept. 9) ... Junior Megan Bowman set a career high for hitting percentage with .800 (eight kills on 10 swings) vs. Cleveland State (Sept. 9), bettering her previous high-water mark of .476 (13-3-21) ... Sophomore Stesha Selsky had a career-best three service aces against Illinois State (Sept. 10) ... Sophomore Sarah Draves had a career high with four digs against Cleveland State (Sept. 10).
Milestones Upcoming
Sophomore Stesha Selsky is one dig shy of the 500th of her career.... Junior Danielle Pflum is one kill shy of 350 terminations in her career ... Sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski needs one more ace to pulverize the 50th of her career ... Sophomore Lyndsay Miller is three kills short of 350 for her career, while junior Megan Bowman is four terminations for 450 and junior/senior Erin Cobler is four shy of 500.
Super Happy Trivia Challenge ...
Last week's question was a two-parter: "The Wolverines have taken top spot in each of the Michigan/Pepsi Challenges EXCEPT for one. In which season did the Wolverines fail to win the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge, who did U-M lose the championship match to and what player was named tournament MVP"
Admittedly, this was a trick question because Michigan has NEVER lost the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge. The Wolverines did lose the final match of the 2003 Michigan/Pepsi Challenge to No. 16 Louisville, but U-M prevailed thanks to the best tournament record to win the tournament nonetheless. The tournament MVP was none other than Erin Moore, who went on to earn U-M's first volleyball All-America honor later that year.
Congratulations to Kevin Thomas of Homer, Mich., who clearly knew the tricky ways of the Super Happy Trivia Challenge and correctly answered that Michigan lost to No. 16 Louisville, but won the tourney due to a better tournament record. He also correctly named the tournament MVP - Erin Moore. Excellent work, Kevin! Mr. Thomas wins his second Super Happy Trivia Challenge this year.
Mike Penn and Karen Draves both make their second appearance in the weekly release, correctly guessing that Erin Moore was the tournament MVP. Mr. Penn also knew the correct year and result (loss to Louisville).
Now, this week's question. With Eastern Michigan (Eagles), Georgia (Bulldogs) and Georgia Tech (Yellow Jackets) on the schedule this week, the next question deals with college nicknames:
"Michigan's three opponents this week are each nicknamed after an animal or insect. Which of U-M's all-time opponents that are NOT nicknamed after an animal or insect have the Wolverines played the most matches against in the 33-year history of the program" To clarify, human nicknames like Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish" or Cleveland State's "Vikings" do not count as animals, and are, therefore, admissible as answers. GOOD LUCK!
A new feature to the Michigan volleyball weekly release, the Super Happy Trivia Challenge is a chance for U-M volleyball fans to test their knowledge of the program, its players, its coaches and other random facts. Answers can be sent to rretyi@umich.edu and each winner will be recognized the following week in the weekly release.
Page Three ...
Michigan Welcomes Ed Tolentino
U-M Interim Assistant Coach Ed Tolentino joins the Wolverines for the 2005 campaign. Tolentino served as an assistant coach at Michigan State last season and has served as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan and as a head coach at Oakland University.
Captain Kirk Ain't Got Nothing on Them
Senior/junior Erin Cobler and sophomores Katie Bruzdzinski and Lyndsay Miller were named captains for the 2005 squad. Bruzdzinski and Miller are the first-ever sophomore captains in U-M volleyball history.
A Face for Television
Michigan has three televised matches that have been confirmed this season. Michigan at Michigan State (September 21) will be shown on Comcast Sports Local, Michigan at Penn State (October 14) will be aired on ESPN2 and Michigan vs. Michigan State (November 9) will be shown on Comcast Sports Local.
Michigan Seventh in the Preseason Polls
The Wolverines were voted seventh in the Big Ten Conference Preseason Poll, down one spot from their sixth-place finish in 2004.
2005 Freshman Class
Four freshmen join the Wolverines in 2005, including Liz Andary, Kerry Hance, Beth Karpiak, and Liz Raschke. Andary is a right side/outside hitter who was all-state third team and a Detroit News/Free Press All-Conference first team selection in 2005. Hance is a defensive specialist who won a national championship with her club team (Sports Shack Volleyball Club) and was selected to the California State Volleyball Tournament All-Tournament Team in her senior year of volleyball. She is also a former high school teammate of sophomore Stesha Selsky. Karpiak is a middle blocker who was named Suburban Life Player of the Year and Champaign News-Gazette All-State first team in 2005. Raschke is a setter who was a Michigan Miss Volleyball finalist and all-state first team selection in 2005.
Cliff Keen Arena Updates
After a record-setting season at Cliff Keen Arena, the Michigan volleyball program has added a brand new, state-of-the-art, full color scoreboard that displays video animations, scores, graphics and real-time stats during home matches.
Rosen Leads USA Selects in Argentina
Head coach Mark Rosen traveled to Argentina in June 2005 to coach a team of USA Selects, competing against the Argentina Junior National Team as well as a number of club and professional squads. A demanding 10-day schedule - including stops in Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Santa Fe - featured six matches in six different cities against some of the best volleyball players in Argentina.
Bruzdzinski and Bowman Tour Italy
Katie Bruzdzinski and Megan Bowman competed abroad this summer, playing with a group of United States collegiate selects on Team VolleyHut in the Sibillini Tournament in Comunaza, Italy, which will feature some of the top under-20 teams in Europe. Bowman and Bruzdzinski competed against some of the top under-20 teams in Europe, including three-time Slovakian champions Slavia Bratislava, Olomuc from the Czech Republic, Postar Belgrade from Serbia and Vasas Budapest from Hungary.
News and Notes From Last Season ...
2004 Honors and Awards
Academic All-Big Ten
Erin Cobler
Lisa Gamalski
Candace Gay
U-M Athletic Academic Achievement
Alicia Boswell
Ashley Buckingham
Erin Cobler
Sarah Draves
Lisa Gamalski
Candace Gay
Lyndsay Miller
Stesha Selsky
All-Big Ten Team
Lisa Gamalski
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Katie Bruzdzinski
Manhattan Invite All-Tourney Team
Lisa Gamalski (MVP)
Jennifer Gandolph
Michigan/Pepsi Challenge All-Tourney Team
Lisa Gamalski (MVP)
Jennifer Gandolph
Lyndsay Miller
Erin Cobler
Michigan/Nike Invite All-Tourney Team
Lisa Gamalski (MVP)
Katie Brudzinski
Megan Bowman
Fifth Tourney in Six Seasons
Michigan's berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament was the fifth in six seasons for the Wolverines. The 2001 season is the only one in which Michigan did not make the field of 64 in head coach Mark Rosen's tenure. Michigan is 5-1 all-time in the first round of NCAA Tournament matches.
Freshmen Recordbreakers
Katie Bruzdzinski, Lyndsay Miller and Stesha Selsky each shattered Michigan freshmen records in their first campaigns with the Wolverines. Bruzdzinski finished with the most kills by a freshman in program history (355), Miller had the most blocks by a freshman (160) and Selsky had the most-ever digs by a freshman (402).
Graduating Legends
Lisa Gamalski, Jennifer Gandolph, Sarah Allen and Alicia Boswell made up Michigan's graduating class in 2004. Gamalski left Ann Arbor second on the all-time assists chart, while posting the best career hitting percentage in Michigan volleyball history. Gandolph graduated the program leader in kills, digs and attempts, while Allen cracked the top 10 for career digs.
Rosen Gets His 300th Win
Head coach Mark Rosen recorded his 300th-career victory in a 3-0 win over Oakland University on September 11, 2004. Rosen is second on Michigan volleyball's list of all-time winningest head coaches with 105 wins, while his winning percentage at U-M (.559) is tops in program history.
Record Setting Start
Michigan's 14-2 start to the 2004 season was the best beginning to any season in U-M volleyball history.
Team Record For Hitting Percentage
Michigan bettered its record for best hitting percentage in a single season, hitting .251 in 2004. The Wolverines hit .250 in 2003 and .246 in 2002 - both previous records.
Three Tournaments - Three Crowns
Michigan won all three of its preseason tournaments in 2004, taking the Manhattan College Invitational, the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge and the Michigan/Nike Invitational. Lisa Gamalski was named MVP of all three tournaments.
Bruzdzinski Serves Notice
Katie Bruzdzinski broke Michigan's record for most service aces in a single-match, recording eight against Virginia Tech on September 17, 2004. Bruzdzinski led the Wolverines with 40 service aces in 2004.
Cliff Keen Arena Rocks
Michigan set a weekend series attendance record in 2004 when 3,947 fans packed Cliff Keen Arena for back-to-back matches against Ohio State and Penn State. Five of U-M's top 10 crowds were set in 2004, including 2,223 fans who watched the Wolverines take on Penn State on November 27 - the second largest crowd in U-M volleyball history.
Wolverines vs. the Field of 64
Michigan finished 7-11 against teams that earned berths in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
