Michigan
26-9
Nebraska
30-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Michigan | 13 | 16 | 18 | 0 |
Wolverines' NCAA Run Ends With Loss to No. 4 Nebraska
12/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Seattle, Wash. (Bank of America Arena)
Event: NCAA Championship
Result: #4 Nebraska 3, #19 Michigan 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-18)
Records: U-M (26-7), Nebraska (30-2)
Next U-M Event: Season Completed
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Playing in an NCAA regional match for the second straight season, the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team suffered a three-set defeat to No. 4 Nebraska, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18, on Friday night (Dec. 12) at Bank of America Arena on the campus of the University of Washington.
Megan Bower
In set one, Michigan took an early lead on kills by junior Megan Bower (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and senior Beth Karpiak (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) for a 2-1 advantage. From there, Nebraska dialed in, building a seven-point lead and cruising to a 25-13 victory. The Huskers held the Wolverines to a .000 hitting percentage while attacking at a .323 clip of their own. Bower and junior Juliana Paz (Porto Allegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) each posted three terminations in the frame.
After building a 6-3 lead to start set two, the Wolverines saw Nebraska roar back with six unanswered points to take a 9-6 lead. The lead swelled to 14-9 before U-M closed the gap with a run of stellar defensive play to get within two, 14-12. That was as close as Michigan got, however, as Nebraska pulled away for a 25-16 win and two sets to none lead.
After the intermission, Nebraska quickly built a 13-6 lead in the third set. Michigan tried to seize momentum on a kill from Bower and three from freshman Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) to get within four, 17-13, but the Huskers regained control and extended their lead to 20-13. The Wolverines refused to go away quietly, chipping away at the Nebraska advantage on kills from sophomore Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington), Bower and Paz before the Huskers closed out the set and the match, 25-18.
The Wolverine attack was held to a .100 hitting clip in the season finale, while the Huskers responded with a .347 attack percentage. Hunt led Michigan with nine kills, while Paz added eight and Bower seven to go with 10 digs in defeat. Zimmerman dished out 24 assists and senior Kerry Hance (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) added 10 digs, tying her with Bower for the team lead.
Michigan wraps up a 26-win campaign, tying for the second-most in program history with the 1980 squad and the most victories under head coach Mark Rosen.
NOTES
• Tonight was the final collegiate match for two Wolverine seniors: Kerry Hance and Beth Karpiak. Karpiak closes her career with the highest attack percentage (.317) in Wolverine history, while Hance finishes her career with the third-most digs (1,286) in team history and tops with 132 match appearances.
• With the loss, Michigan moves to .500 all-time in NCAA tournament play at 9-9.
• Three Wolverines, Beth Karpiak, Lexi Zimmerman and Juliana Paz, capped a string of 35 straight starting assignments this season. Karpiak closed her career with her 104th consecutive start, a string that dates back to her sophomore season. Zimmerman has started every match in her Michigan career, as has Paz. Karpiak, Zimmerman and Paz were the only U-M players to start every match this season.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
Opening statement ... "First and foremost, I am extremely proud of our team. Despite the outcome, I couldnt be any prouder of the effort they brought to the court tonight and all season long. I also want to congratulate Nebraska. They played a great match and they deserve a ton of credit. They have a great team. Tonight it just seemed like we werent able to get into sync consistently. We had a few little streaks where I thought we played well, but we just were a little bit off tonight. The team that you saw on the floor tonight is not the team that I know we can be, but some of that needs to go to Nebraska. They forced us into some tough situations out there."
On what Nebraska did that frustrated Michigan ... "I think it was a little bit of everything, actually. I felt they served the ball really well tonight and we struggled with that. They have an explosive offensive team, and they certainly got into a rhythm. We were definitely out of sync, and a lot of that came from Nebraskas serve-receive game."
On the state of the program after another Sweet 16 ... "I hope what it says about Michigan is that we are a quality program. That is something that we as coaches know, and out team knows, but maybe not everybody else knows. Obviously things didnt go well for us tonight, but if you look at our season as a whole, I am very proud of what we accomplished. I think it raises the bar for Michigan teams that follow this one. This group has set a high standard."
On saying goodbye to the senior class ... "Beth and Kerry are two great volleyball players, two great ambassadors for our program and for the University. I am so proud of them, extremely proud. I told them right after the match that they were the glue to this team. This team accomplished what it did because of the leadership of those two, and they should be very proud of that. They will be extremely tough to replace."
U-M Senior Middle Blocker Beth Karpiak
On the end of her Michigan career ... "It is sad to think about it being over. It seems like it just started, but I have no regrets. What we were able to accomplish from my first year here to now is amazing and it is an experience I will remember forever and always look back on with great memories."
U-M Senior Libero Kerry Hance
On the legacy of this team ... "I hope our legacy is two straight Sweet 16 appearances and establishing a standard for the program. It was a total team effort. Everything we did this year was as a team. We played well because we all played for each other. I hope that stays with this team as they go on next year and beyond."
