Michigan Stays Unbeaten with Sweep of Georgia State
9/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Atlanta, Ga. (O'Keefe Arena)
Score: Michigan 3, Georgia State 0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-11)
Records: U-M (4-0), GSU (0-4)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 6 -- vs. Arkansas (Atlanta, Ga.), 7 p.m.
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Led by a career-high 14 kills from junior Juliana Paz (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) and season-high 58 team digs, the University of Michigan volleyball team earned a sweep of Georgia State (25-20, 25-13, 25-11) to open the Georgia Tech Invitational Saturday afternoon (Sept. 6) in O'Keefe Gymnasium.

Megan Bower
Michigan and Georgia State battled back and forth in set one as neither team could find a consistent offensive rhythm early. The Wolverines finally took a 17-16 lead midway through the set and held on for a 25-20 win despite hitting just .182 in the opening frame. Junior Megan Bower (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) led the charge with five kills while juniors Paz and Veronica Rood (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) added three each.
In set two, U-M found its offensive stride, blasting its way to a .514 attack percentage. The Wolverine exploded for a 20-kill outburst on the strength of five terminations from Paz. Michigan jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the set and extended it to its largest single-set margin of the season, 20-8,cruising to a 25-13 victory. Sophomore Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) spread the attack to the tune of 12 assists in the set.
Set three saw more of the same from the potent U-M attack as Paz caught fire for six kills on seven attempts, leading Michigan to a 25-11 win to clinch the match. Rood and senior Beth Karpiak (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) each contributed a pair of kills in the final frame while the U-M defense slammed the door on Georgia State with 15 team digs.
Paz was joined in double-digit kills by Bower who posted 10 terminations. Michigan's season-high 58 team digs included 12 from senior Kerry Hance (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) and 11 from freshman Sloane Dohnoff (Louisville, Ky./Assumption).
The Wolverines will be back on the court against Arkansas in their second match today (Sept. 6) at 7 p.m. in O'Keefe Gymnasium.













