Michigan
11-0
Albany
4-7
Wolverines Sweep Albany for 11th Consecutive Victory
9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan/adidas Invitational
Score: #25 Michigan def. Albany, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-18)
Records: U-M (11-0), Albany (4-6)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 20 -- vs. Arizona State in Michigan/adidas Inviational (Cliff Keen Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Juniors Juliana Paz(Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) and Veronica Rood(Temperance, Mich./Bedford) posted 12 and 11 kills, respectively, in the University of Michigan volleyball team's three-set sweep of Albany Saturday (Sept. 20) morning at Cliff Keen Arena. Sophomore Lexi Zimmerman(Barrington, Ill./Barrington) added 46 assists in the 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 win as the 25th-ranked Wolverines improved to 2-0 in the Michigan/adidas Invitational and 11-0 overall this season.
Michigan and Albany (4-6) battled closely in the opening set with the score tied as late as 10-10 before U-M won five of the next six points to take a 15-11 lead and never look back, cruising to a 25-18 victory. Zimmerman tossed 14 helpers, while senior Beth Karpiak(LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) posted four kills in set one. Michigan recorded a 73 percent success rate on sideout opportunities to aid in the fast victory.
In set two the Great Danes controlled play early, taking their first lead of the day at 3-2, but Michigan rallied behind a kill from Megan Bower(Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and service ace from Paz to jump on top, 13-10. From that point U-M hit its offensive stride, finishing with 18 kills on 40 attempts with Paz leading the charge with eight terminations for a 25-19 victory.
The third set saw Michigan race out to a 5-0 lead on a kill from Karpiak and back-to-back winners from Bower. Albany made a run midway through the set, closing the gap to 10-8, before Michigan stepped on the gas for a 25-18 victory. Rood heated up, posting seven kills in the set, while Karpiak and sophomore/freshman Karlee Bruck(Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) added three apiece. Zimmerman had 16 assists in the final frame.
Michigan played solid defensively, tallying 50 digs with senior Kerry Hance(Los Angelas, Calif./Marymount) leading the way with 12 and Bower adding 11. Karpiak posted two solo blocks and two assists to lead the Michigan net defense.
The Wolverines are back in action later tonight (Sept. 20) when they face Arizona State at 7:30 pm in Keen Arena to cap the Michigan/adidas Invitational.
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
