Michigan
14-1, 3-0
Ohio State
13-3, 1-2
Wolverines Win in Four at Ohio State
10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2010
Site: Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
Score: #19 Michigan 3, Ohio State 1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-16, 25-19)
Records: U-M (14-1, 3-0 Big Ten), Ohio State (13-3, 1-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 2 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa. ), 6 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team used 17 kills from junior outside hitter Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) to win its 12th consecutive match, and third straight Big Ten affair, defeating Ohio State, 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-16, 25-19), on Friday night (Oct. 1) at St. John Arena.
Hunt once again spearheaded the offense with 17 kills to go along with six digs and a service ace. Freshman middle blocker Jennifer Cross (Scarborough, Ont./Birchmount Park Collegiate) chipped in nine, with redshirt sophomore right side Claire McElheny (Westfield, Ind./Brebeuf) and junior middle blocker Courtney Fletcher (Duluth, Ga./Northview) each putting down eight. Senior setter Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) recorded 39 assists, 11 digs and six kills as Michigan hit .365 as a team.
U-M found itself in an early 4-1 hole in the fourth and deciding set before slowly rebounding. Two consecutive Hunt kills gave Michigan a 10-9 lead it never relinquished en route to a 25-19 victory.
The Wolverines came out fast in set three, taking a 9-2 advantage before OSU reeled off four straight points. U-M regrouped and kept the lead throughout the rest of the set on the strength of three kills apiece from Hunt, Zimmerman, Fletcher and McElheny for a 25-16 win.
U-M jumped out to a fast 7-1 lead in the second set, taking advantage of four consecutive attack errors by Ohio State in the early going. The Wolverines kept at least a five-point lead the remainder of the set, taking a 25-17 win.
The Wolverines dropped a close 26-24 decision in the first set, fighting off set point at 24-23 before OSU capitalized on its second one. Ohio State hit .444 with only three errors to go along with five blocks to take the first-set win.
U-M completes its weekend road swing tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 2) at No. 4 Penn State. The 6 p.m. contest will air live on the Big Ten Network.
• Ally Sabol scored the first point of her career with a service ace in the third set.
• Alex Hunt reached double digits in kills for the sixth consecutive match.
• Michigan is 5-0 in four-set matches (Oregon State, Arizona State, Utah, Pacific and Ohio State).
• It is the second consecutive season that Michigan has started 3-0 in Big Ten action.
• U-M is 3=4-0 when losing the first set (Arizona State, Pacific, Minnesota, Ohio State).
• Lexi Zimmerman had her third consecutive double-double and ninth of the season.
• Each front row player (Courtney Fletcher, Alex Hunt, Claire McElheny, Jennifer Cross, Lexi Zimmerman and Molly Toon) had at least six kills.
• Ally Sabol reached double-digit digs for the second time this season.
Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
