Michigan
14-4, 2-4Big Ten
Wisconsin
11-7, 3-3Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 25 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 3 |
| Michigan | 18 | 19 | 25 | 15 | 1 |
U-M Unable to Overcome Early Hole, Loses in Four Sets to Wisconsin
10/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result: Wisconsin 3, #18 Michigan 1 (25-18, 25-19, 18-25, 25-15)
Records: U-M (14-4, 2-4 Big Ten), Wisconsin (11-7, 3-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Oct. 12 -- at Illinois (Champaign, Ill.), 7 p.m. CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team could not recover from a two-set deficit in a four-set (25-18, 25-19, 18-25, 25-15) loss to Wisconsin on Saturday night (Oct. 8) at Cliff Keen Arena.
Jennifer Cross
Michigan, which committed 29 attack errors on the night, was led offensively by senior Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph), who put down 15 kills and recorded seven digs. Freshman setter Lexi Dannemiller (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) handed out 45 assists with six digs, two kills and two service aces. Senior libero Sloane Donhoff (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) anchored the Michigan defense with 19 digs and sophomore Ally Sabol (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) recorded nine digs.
The Maize and Blue fell behind early in the first frame, forced to use a timeout at 10-6 after an attack error by sophomore Lexi Erwin (Spring, Texas/Woodlands College Park). Wisconsin increased its lead to six points at 18-12, before the Wolverines ripped off four consecutive points to climb back within two. The Badgers responded with four straight points to take control en route to a 25-18 win.
Michigan once again fell behind early in the second frame as Wisconsin never trailed in a 25-19 win. After falling in a 5-1 hole, Michigan scored five of the next six points to get back within a point, but Wisconsin's lead grew to as many as six points, before U-M used a block by senior/junior Claire McElheny (Westfield, Ind./Brebeuf) to come within three at 22-19. An ensuing service error by the Wolverines put a halt to the streak as the Badgers scored the next two points to take the 2-0 lead.
The Wolverines raced out to a 12-2 lead in the third and did not look back in a 25-18 third-set triumph to push the match to another set. U-M held Wisconsin to a .094 attack percentage while hitting .320, with three Wolverines going for at least three kills in the frame.
The teams went back and forth in the early stages of the fourth set, before Wisconsin went on an 11-2 run to end the match with a 25-15 win. Holding a 14-13 lead, the Badgers ripped off 11 of the next 13 points for the 25-15 win to take the match. Michigan hit -.024 in the frame, hampered by 10 attack errors and 5.0 Wisconsin blocks.
Next up for the Wolverines is a midweek match at No. 1 Illinois on Wednesday (Oct. 12) at 7 p.m. CDT. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network.
NOTES
• Michigan dropped three consecutive matches for the first time this season.
• Michelle McMahon recorded the first service ace and the first kill of her career tonight, scoring a career-high 2.0 points. She also tied her season high with four digs.
• Lexi Erwin was held to a season-low three kills.
• Molly Toon faced her sister, Kirby Toon, who is a junior/sophomore on Wisconsin. Both saw action tonight.
• Alex Hunt recorded at least 10 kills for the second consecutive match.
• Sloane Donhoff has led Michigan in digs 15 times this season. It was the 17th time this season and 92nd time in her career she has recorded at least 10 digs.
• It is the first time since Nov. 17-18, 2006, that Michigan has dropped back-to-back home matches. Michigan lost to No. 19 Ohio State, followed by No. 5 Penn State that weekend.
• Michigan falls to 18-46 all-time against Wisconsin.
