Michigan
7-0
Eastern Michigan
7-2
Wolverines Sweep Eastern Michigan in Home Opener
9/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14 University of Michigan volleyball team opened its home season with a commanding 3-0 win (30-28, 30-18, 30-24) over Eastern Michigan in the opening match of the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge, Friday morning (Sept. 7) at Cliff Keen Arena.
Four Wolverines had double-digit kills in the three-game match, led by sophomore Veronica Rood's (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) 14 finishers. Senior Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) took sole possession of second place on U-M's all-time kills list with 13 in the match, while junior Beth Karpiak (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) tallied 12 kills and senior Sarah Draves (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) added 11.
On defense, senior Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount), the two-time reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, tallied 21 digs and nailed two service aces, while freshman setter Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) quarterbacked the attack to a .290 hitting percentage and added three aces to her resume, nailing them in succession in game two. Zimmerman added 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the year.
Karpiak hammered six kills and hit .714 in game one, while Selsky and sophomore Megan Bower (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) each dug five balls as the Wolverines edged out a 30-28 victory. The Wolverines had to overcome eight service errors, winning by just a pair of points despite hitting .300 in the frame and tallying 23 kills.
Karpiak continued to exert her will on the match in game two, scoring four more kills and adding three blocks to the Wolverine cause. Rood added four terminations of her own, while Selsky notched eight digs. Zimmerman punctuated the game late, scoring three aces in a row to help the Wolverines score a dominating 30-18 win.
Game three was an offensive show for Bruzdzinski, Draves and Rood, who each tallied six kills in the 30-24 win. Selsky once again added eight digs, while freshman Jackie Nissen (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) tallied U-M's lone block -- her first career solo.
Michigan plays the final match of the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge Friday night, hosting Xavier at 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
N O T E S
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski took sole possession of second place on U-M's all-time kills list, passing Wolverine legend Erin Moore (2000-03). Bruzdzinski now only trails Jennifer Gandolph (2001-04) on the list.
Senior Lyndsay Miller ascended to fourth place on U-M's all-time blocks list, passing Julia Sturm (1987-90).
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski needs just three kills to reach 1,400 in her career.
Freshman Lexi Zimmerman tied a career high with three aces. In seven contests this season she has now thrice served three aces in a match.
Senior Stesha Selsky tallied 20 or more digs for the sixth time in seven matches this season.
Senior Katie Bruzdzinski hit double-digit kills for the 85th time in her collegiate career. Bruzdzinski has had double-digit terminations in all but 17 matces in her college career (102 matches played).
Freshman Jackie Nissen recorded the first kill of her collegiate career and added her first block solo.
Freshman Maggie Busch had her first collegiate ace and dig.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match ... "Pleased that we pulled out a win. I think we did some things offensively that were really good. In the first game we had 23 kills, which is a phenomenal number. The problem is that we had so many service errors and attack errors that we kept the game close. I'm disappointed because we need to get better at controlling our errors and controlling our play on our side of the court and our consistency. We certainly did not play well in that respect. But offensively we had pretty big numbers. To get 59 kills in a three-game match is pretty impressive."
On Michigan's top performers ... "Veronica Rood was really strong today. She was steady from beginning to end. Our middles -- Beth Karpiak did a really good job. Sarah Draves has been really solid the last few weeks. Katie Bruzdzinski is battling to improve and get into her flow a little bit. She did a good job of battling and played a lot better. Stesha (Selsky) was phenomenal and had a ton of digs and had half as many digs as Eastern did as a team."
U-M Freshman Setter Lexi Zimmerman
On the match ... "We played well but we have a lot of room for improvement. Every time we go out on the floor it's Michigan playing Michigan. When we're in synch we are a great team, but when we are out of synch we aren't as good."
On the team's serving ... "In game one our serving was off, and in game two we had the mindset that we had to get better. I just went out and tried to be aggressive. I wasn't aiming for a run, but it happened and it was great."
On her first match at Cliff Keen Arena ... "It was amazing. I've been to a lot of matches but it's completely different on the floor. When you watch it's exciting but you have no control over what's happening. On the floor you can see the plays and control what's happening. It's an unreal experience."
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
