Michigan
23-10, 10-10Big Ten
Miami (Ohio)
20-11, 13-3MAC
Michigan Sweeps RedHawks to Advance to NCAA Second Round
11/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: Michigan 3, Miami (Ohio) 0 (30-16, 30-18, 30-27)
Records: U-M (23-10), Miami (Ohio) (20-11)
Attendance: 2,328
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 1 -- vs. Colorado State in NCAA Second Round (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
• Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Hosting an NCAA Tournament match for the first time in program history, the University of Michigan volleyball team knocked off the Miami RedHawks, 3-0 (30-16, 30-18, 30-27), Friday night (Nov. 30) in front of 2,328 fans gathered in Crisler Arena. U-M trailed only once in the deciding final game, before a three-point run put the contest away.
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) led the Wolverine attack, tallying a team-leading 19 kills, her second highest total in NCAA Tournament play. Junior Beth Karpiak (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) tacked on 12 terminations of her own, while senior Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) led U-M with 18 digs.
The two teams traded points early in the first contest, but Michigan quickly took the lead and never looked back. The RedHawks climbed to within three points, 15-12, but the Maize and Blue went on a seven-point tear to put the game out of reach. The Wolverine attack was led by Bruzdzinski's five kills, including the final three of the set to cement the 30-16 win. Selsky chipped in six digs, while Karpiak added four kills and a pair of blocks to the effort.
Down 6-7 in the second game, U-M's offense found its awakening and kicked into full drive after a pair of big kills from Bruzdzinski and freshman Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) gave the Wolverines the 10-8 advantage. Michigan never looked back, jumping out to a 28-13 lead, the biggest of the match-up. Led by senior Lyndsay Miller's (Ida, Mich./Ida) game-sealing kill, U-M put game two away with a 30-18 final. Bruzdzinski again led the charge, tallying five terminations and four digs. Karpiak added five kills of her own, while both Zimmerman and Miller contributed a service ace.
Poised to knock off MU in straight sets, the Maize and Blue wasted no time in doing so, finishing off the match with a score of 30-27. Michigan trailed only once in the third and final game, falling behind 1-2 before going on a 12-3 run. Undeterred, Miami was able to turn the tide however, battling back to trail by a single point, 22-21. The teams exchanged points, but Bruzdzinski again proved the deciding factor in the match -- notching a kill and an ace to put the Maize and Blue up by three. Bruzdzinski knocked down nine terminations, adding a pair of aces and seven digs to her stats.
With the win, Michigan will face No. 21-ranked Colorado State on Saturday (Dec. 1) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The game is schedule to begin at 7 p.m.
N O T E S
• Seniors Lyndsay Miller and Stesha Selsky became Michigan's all-time leaders in matches played, competing in their 129th career matches.
• Freshman Lexi Zimmerman became Michigan's first freshman setter to lead the Maize and Blue in an NCAA match.
• Senior Lyndsay Miller climbed to within nine blocks of becoming U-M's all-time leading blocker. With 464 career blocks, Miller only trails Katrina Lehman (1999-2002) on the all-time list.
• Senior Katie Bruzdzinski moved into third place on U-M's all-time digs list with 13 against Miami (Ohio).
• Michigan climbs to 23 wins on the season -- the most wins under head coach Mark Rosen. Michigan's 23 wins tie for the third-most in U-M volleyball history. The Wolverines won 23 matches in 1979, 26 in 1980 and a record 40 victories in 1981.
• Michigan has defeated Miami (Ohio) twice this season, winning six of six games.
• Michigan advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in nine years.
• Michigan's match in Crisler Arena Friday was the volleyball team's second in two years. The Wolverines took on Pacific in 2006 in the "Crash Crisler" promotion on Sept. 9 during the finale of the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge. Michigan defeated Pacific, 3-0.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the tight play in game three ... "I don't think we were nervous. We relaxed a little bit and also Miami started to bomb serves. They knew they had to get back into the game and they served tough and it worked. They were down to a point where they had nothing to lose and it puts full pressure on us. Katie did a great job of serving us back into the game and then the last play Lyndsay (Miller) makes a huge play on an overpass and it makes a big difference. We didn't focus a lot on Miami and if we're playing the game we want to play we don't focus on our opponent. We were steady most of the match and served very well, putting a lot of pressure on them"
On the crowd at Crisler Arena ... "Not only did we have good numbers tonight but the passion that our fans were showing was really fun."
On playing Colorado State for the second time this year ... "It was such a long time ago that both teams have progressed. Colorado State is doing different things and doing things better and I think we're the same way. You'd hope after three months that everyone improved. I think it's going to be a great match tomorrow night."
U-M Senior Outside Hitter Katie Bruzdzinski
On Miami's comeback in game three ... "Miami played fearless in that game and they came out and went after the ball so I have to compliment them."
On the crowd at Crisler Arena ... "The crowd was awesome. I didn't know what to expect playing a new venue but the turnout was more than I expected."
On playing Colorado State for the second time this year ... "I would almost prefer that we had not played them because then you don't have any preconceived notions about how they will play."
U-M Junior Middle Blocker Beth Karpiak
On Miami's comeback in game three ... "Miami forced us into errors that we don't normally make but we gathered ourselves and fought back."
On the crowd at Crisler Arena ... "We have been working hard all week to get the word out and it paid off tonight."
