Michigan
4-0
Miami (Ohio)
0-3
Wolverines Clip RedHawks in Three-Game Sweep
8/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio -- The No. 20 University of Michigan volleyball team defeated a dogged Miami (Ohio) squad on its home court, pulling out a 3-0 sweep (30-23, 30-22, 30-28) Friday night (Aug. 31) at Millett Hall in the opening day of the Miami Classic.
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) and sophomore Veronica Rood (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) led the attack on the left side with 10 kills apiece, while junior Beth Karpiak (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) and senior Sarah Draves (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) followed close with nine kills each. Karpiak led all blockers with four rejections, while senior Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) remained a defensive dynamo with 25 digs in the three-game set.
Despite the stubborn attempts of Miami (Ohio), Michigan never trailed in game one and won 30-23. Michigan watched a seven-point lead evaporate after a 6-0 RedHawk run evened it up, 17-17, midway through the first frame. Michigan rebounded with a 9-3 run of its own to make it 26-20, and U-M went onto pull out the win.
In game two, Miami (Ohio) led through the early goings until Michigan knotted it up four times. U-M finally pulled ahead, 17-16, on a Rood kill. The Wolverines then rumbled on a 9-4 run, forcing the RedHawks to burn both timeouts, pushing the Wolverines to victory.
Michigan took an early and commanding lead in game three, building an eight-point, 17-9 lead. However, U-M squandered the advantage through the middle goings to find itself up by just two, 20-18. U-M rallied to rebuild a comfortable margin, holding game point at 29-24, but Miami (Ohio) put together a 4-0 run to make it 29-28 and put a scare into the Wolverines. A spectacular series of defensive plays by the Wolverines extended a crucial point in the match, and a big Wolverine block ended the match, 30-28.
Michigan returns to action bright and early at the Miami Classic, taking on the Pitt Panthers Saturday morning (Sept. 1) at 10 a.m. at Millett Hall. Pitt (1-3) defeated Wake Forest (0-1) in the tournament opener on Friday.
N O T E S
Michigan seniors Stesha Selsky and Lyndsay Miller competed in their 100th career matches Friday (Aug. 31) against Miami (Ohio).
Michigan begins the year 4-0 for the third time in the last four seasons. The Wolverines were 8-0 to start 2004, and 13-0 to start 2006.
Senior Lyndsay Miller climbed to seventh place on U-M's all-time kills list, settling 1,092 -- 32 behind sixth-place Michelle Horrigan (1989-93).
Senior Lyndsay Miller climbed to fifth place on U-M's all-time blocks list, closing to within eight rejections of fourth-place Julia Sturm (1987-90).
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski moved 26 kills away from second place on U-M's all-time kills list. Erin Moore (2000-03) occupies the number two spot.
Senior Stesha Selsky hit the 1,500 dig milestone against Miami (Ohio). Selsky will soon break into the Big Ten Conference's all-time top ten digs list, which begins at 1,536.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
