Michigan
14-5, 2-3Big Ten
Minnesota
13-3, 4-1Big Ten
U-M Loses at No. 10 Minnesota in Four Sets
10/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 3, 2012
• Box Score | Highlights 
Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Sports Pavilion)
Score: #10 Minnesota 3, Michigan 1 (25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22)
Records: U-M (14-5, 2-3 Big Ten), Minnesota (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,628
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 7 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 1 p.m. CDT
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Junior Lexi Erwin (Spring, Texas/Woodlands College Park) had 17 kills for the University of Michigan volleyball team, but No. 10 Minnesota hit .317 and had four players in double figures in kills in a 3-1 win on Wednesday night (Oct. 3) at the Sports Pavilion. Set scores were 25-13, 25-20, 23-25 and 25-22 on a match that was televised on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan had three players in double figures in digs, led by 15 from freshman Tiffany Morales (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union). Sophomore Lexi Dannemiller (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) and Erwin had 12 and 11 digs, respectively. Dannemiller added 34 assists as both her and Erwin had double-doubles on the night. Junior Jennifer Cross (Scarborough, Ontario/Birchmount Park Collegiate) had seven total blocks to lead the Maize and Blue.
After the two teams traded points to open the first set, Minnesota went on a 4-0 run, capped by a Daly Santana ace, to give the Golden Gophers a 6-2 advantage. The Wolverines cut that lead to 7-6 on a kill from junior Molly Toon (Middleton, Wis./Middleton). Michigan then tied the set at eight on a kill by freshman Kelly Murphy (Marietta, Ga./Walton). Minnesota went on a 4-0 run after that tie, as Michigan called a timeout after a Wolverine attack error. The Golden Gophers went up 14-10 on a Tori Dixon kill and built a 17-10 advantage on back-to-back service ace by Katherine Harms. A kill from Erwin made it 20-13, but Minnesota closed out the set scoring five straight points, including back-to-back service aces by Alexandra Palmer. Erwin had five kills, but Minnesota hit .519 in the opening set.
Michigan opened the second set by taking a 3-1 lead after a kill from freshman Ally Davis (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central). The Maize and Blue went up 6-3 on a Gopher attack error, but Minnesota came back to tie the set at six on a kill by Ashley Wittman. Michigan pulled ahead 10-7 on blocks from Toon and fifth-year senior Claire McElheny (Westfield, Ind./Brebeuf Prep)and went up 12-9 on a back-row kill from Erwin. Minnesota then came back to tie the set at 13 on a Santana kill, before the Wolverines took 15-13 and 17-15 leads on Erwin terminations; however, the Golden Gophers went on a 6-0 run, capped by a Dana Knudsen kill, to take a 21-17 advantage. Minnesota went up 23-18 on a Harms kill and won the set on a Dixon kill.
Michigan opened the third set up 4-1 after a service ace from junior Ally Sabol (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount). The Wolverines went up 7-4 on another service ace, this one from freshman Lindsey Lerg (Farmington Hills, Mich./Mercy). Erwin's 10th kill of the night gave Michigan an 8-5 lead and a Toon termination made it 10-6 U-M. A Cross kill off a Gopher overpass and a Murphy service ace gave the Maize and Blue a 15-10 lead. The Gophers cut the lead to 16-13 on a Santana service ace, but Erwin answered that with a kill, giving Michigan a four-point lead. Dannemiller's kill gave the Maize and Blue a 19-14 lead, but Minnesota went on a 6-0 run, taking the 20-19 lead on a Wittman kill. McElheny tied the set at 21 with a termination and a Gopher attack error put U-M back in front by a point. The two teams traded points, before a Davis tip kill gave Michigan set point at 24-22. Minnesota fought off one set point with a Santana kill, but an Erwin back-row termination gave the Wolverines the set at 25-23. Michigan hit .318 in the third set, holding the Gophers to a .255 hitting percentage.
An assisted block from Erwin and Cross tied the fourth set at 3-all, while Dannemiller's service ace put Michigan on top 6-5. The Wolverines went up 8-6 off a Gopher attack error, but Minnesota rattled off five straight points, the final on a block from Santana and Knudsen. Michigan scored three straight points off a timeout to tie the set at 11. Minnesota took a 16-13 lead on a Whitten kill. Another Whitten kill made it 18-14 Gophers, but Erwin's kill cut that lead to 18-17. The Gophers built a 21-18 lead off a Harms kill, but Morales' service ace cut that lead to 22-20. A Minnesota block gave the Gophers match point at 24-20. Davis and Sabol fought off two match points with a kill and a service ace, respectively. However, Harms' kill gave the Gophers the 3-1 win.
Michigan hit .237 for the match and had nine total blocks. Minnesota had seven blocks and nine service aces on the night.
U-M wraps up its four-match roadtrip this Sunday (Oct. 7) at Wisconsin. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT.
N O T E S
• Lexi Dannemiller recorded her sixth double-double of the season and 21st in her career as she had 34 assists and 12 digs on the night.
• Lexi Erwin had her 15th double-digit kill performance on the season. She also had her 10th double-double of the year. Erwin has led Michigan in kills 13 times on the year.
• Michigan lost the first set of the match for only the third time this season and the first since Sept. 7 at Marquette.
• Tiffany Morales led Michigan in digs for the 17th time this season. It also was her 15th double-digit dig performance.
Contact: Kent Reichert (734) 763-4423
