Michigan
20-6, 8-6Big Ten
Wisconsin
16-10, 6-8Big Ten
Paz's Double-Double Leads Wolverines Past Badgers
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Result: #20 Michigan 3, Wisconsin 1 (18-25, 28-26, 28-26, 25-19)
Records: U-M (20-6, 8-6 Big Ten), Wisconsin (16-10, 6-8 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,091
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Nov. 12 -- vs. Ohio State (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Boxscore| Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team had five players reach double figures in digs, including junior Juliana Paz(Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC), who recorded a double-double (18 kills, 19 digs) to help the Wolverines to a four-set win over Wisconsin, 18-25, 28-26, 28-26, 25-19, on Saturday night (Nov. 8) in Cliff Keen Arena.
In the opening set, the U-M offense sputtered its way to a .020 hitting percentage as Wisconsin built a comfortable lead midway through the set on its way to a 25-18 victory. The Wolverines contributed to the Badger fortunes with 12 attacking errors, while Wisconsin posted only two faults of its own and four blocks in the triumph.
Set two saw the Wolverines fall behind early, 6-2, but Michigan battled back behind strong offensive outputs from freshman Alex Hunt(Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) and senior Beth Karpiak(LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) to tie the match at 13-all. The two teams traded their way through 11 ties and seven lead changes down the stretch before Michigan used back-to-back kills from Paz and junior Megan Bower(Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) to seal a comeback 28-26 win.
Set three had the same feel as the previous frame but this time it was Michigan that built the early lead. Consecutive kills from Hunt and sophomore Lexi Zimmerman(Barrington, Ill./Barrington) gave the Maize and Blue a 10-6 lead and forced a Wisconsin timeout. With Michigan up 17-12, Wisconsin reeled off five straight points to force a 17-17 tie. Continuing the theme of close play through the remainder of the set, the Wolverines clung to a one-point advantage until a U-M attack error gave Wisconsin its first lead, 25-24. In the frantic final moments, it was a combination of two terminations from Paz and unforced errors that eventually sealed the Badgers fate as Michigan repeated as 28-26 victors.
In the fourth set, the Wolverines built a six-point cushion, 13-7, and never looked back, using seven kills from Hunt and five more from Karpiak en route to a 25-19 win. Zimmerman dished out 13 helpers in the set, while senior libero Kerry Hance(Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) added seven digs to pace the Michigan defense.
The strong play of the Michigan defense was a big key to victory as five Wolverines -- Hance (19), Paz (19), Bower (15), freshman Sloane Donhoff(Louisville, Ky./Assumption) (13) and Zimmerman (11) -- reached double-figure digs. Zimmerman added 61 assists for her 10th double-double of the season. Hunt finished with a match-best 20 kills, just one shy of her personal best.
The Wolverines have a short turnaround as they stay home for a rare midweek Big Ten matchup on Wednesday night (Nov. 12) at 7 p.m. when they face Ohio State in Cliff Keen Arena. The match will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
