Michigan
6-3
Georgia Tech
3-4
Wolverines Shut Down Georgia Tech, Claim UGA Crown
9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team extended its win streak to six matches and held its third opponent of the season below .075 hitting with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-16, 30-16) sweep of Georgia Tech Saturday night (Sept. 17) in the Georgia Invitational at the Ramsey Student Center. The victory, coupled with Friday's win against the host Bulldogs, secured the tournament championship for the Wolverines -- U-Ms second tourney crown of the season.
Sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) led the Wolverine attack with 17 kills, while junior Danielle Pflum (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) and senior/junior Erin Cobler (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) each added eight. The Wolverines combined to hit .347 while holding the Yellow Jackets to .019. Cobler and sophomore Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) each finished with nine digs.
U-M came back to win the first game, 30-25, before cruising to back-to-back 30-16 victories to seal the match. Georgia Tech hit .075 in the first game, -.056 in the second and .031 in the third to drop to 3-4 on the season. The win improves Michigan to 6-3 heading into Big Ten Conference play.
In game one, Michigan turned a four-point, 18-14 deficit into a six-point, 27-21 lead thanks to a 13-3 run that was highlighted by dominating blocking and strong serving, giving U-M the 30-25 win. Bruzdzinski led the Wolverines with six kills in the opening stanza, while Cobler terminated four balls and junior Megan Bowman (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) chipped in four blocks and two kills.
The Wolverines dominated game two out of the gates, leading 20-9 before the Yellow Jackets knew what hit them and cruising to a, 30-16 win. Michigan forced Georgia Tech to hit -.056 with 10 errors in the period. Offensively, U-M hit .412, recording 19 kills and three blocks. Miller shone with four kills, while Pflum threw in three.
The Wolverines clawed out an eight-point, 20-12 lead to kick off game three when senior Megan Knoebel's (Marysville, Mich./Marysville) seventh ace of the season sparked Pflum on a three-kill spree, putting U-M ahead 24-13 en route to the 30-16 victory. Bruzdzinski nailed five kills and two aces in the period to send U-M home with a six-match win streak.
The Wolverines begin the Big Ten schedule at Michigan State on Wednesday (Sept. 21) at 7 p.m. before heading to Indiana to face the Hoosiers on Saturday (Sept. 24).
N O T E S
Tonight was the first-ever volleyball meeting between Michigan and Georgia Tech.
After starting the season 0-3, Michigan has won each of its last six matches.
Sophomore Lyndsay Miller recorded the 200th block of her career.
Sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski made the 25th consecutive start of her career.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
