Michigan
5-0
Pittsburgh
1-4
Wolverines Make Quick Work of Panthers in Victory
9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio --The No. 20 University of Michigan volleyball team made quick work of Pittsburgh in the second match of the Miami Classic, downing the Panthers 3-0 (30-22, 30-23, 30-26) Saturday morning (September 1) at Millett Hall.
Michigan trailed for just six points all match long, once again using a balanced offense to come out on top. Senior Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) led the way with 13 kills in her 100th career match, while senior Sarah Draves (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) tallied 12 terminations, including five each in games one and two. Senior Lyndsay Miller (Ida, Mich./Ida) finished with nine kills and a team-high three blocks, with junior Beth Karpiak (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) and sophomore Veronica Rood (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) scoring seven kills apiece.
The Wolverines roared at the service line, with junior Kerry Hance (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount), freshman Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) and Miller combining for eight service aces in the three-game set. Hance set the tone with four aces, while Zimmerman recorded three and Miller put down one. Defensively, senior Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) started slow with just five digs through the first two games, but finished with 15 after a 10-dig showing in the final frame.
Michigan had little trouble handling Pitt early in the morning, holding the lead from 9-8 onward thanks to five kills each from Bruzdzinski and Draves, and a pair of aces from Zimmerman and one from Hance.
In game two, Michigan took a 4-3 lead and never looked back, using five kills each from Draves and Miller and a pair of aces from Hance and one from Miller to post a 30-23 win. Sophomore Megan Bower (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) anchored the back line with five digs.
Pitt tightened up in game three -- thanks to libero Michelle Rossi's nine digs and a pair of team blocks -- but the Wolverines maintained a lead after the 5-4 mark to close out the sweep, 30-26. Karpiak's four kills led the charge, while Selsky earned 10 digs in the final frame. Michigan added a pair of aces in the period, with one each for Zimmerman and Hance.
Michigan will grab some lunch before it returns to action for its final match of the Miami Classic, taking on Wake Forest this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
N O T E S
Michigan senior Katie Bruzdzinski competed in her 100th career match Saturday (Sept. 1) against Pitt.
Michigan begins the year 5-0 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 moved closer to sixth place on U-M's all-time kills list, sitting 23 terminations behind Michelle Horrigan (1989-93).
Senior Lyndsay Miller sits in fifth place on U-M's all-time blocks list, closing to within five rejections of fourth-place Julia Sturm (1987-90).
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski moved 13 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 will soon break into the Big Ten Conference's all-time top ten digs list, which begins at 1,536. She has 1,526 digs in her career.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
