Michigan
18-12, 8-11
Indiana
16-15, 6-13
Michigan Falls to Indiana in Last Regular-Season Road Match
11/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
» Freshman libero Jenna Lerg recorded a career-high 15 kills in the effort.
» Outside hitters Caroline Knop (18) and Abby Cole (15) led Michigan in kills.
» After winning set one, U-M dropped the final three sets for just its second loss to an unranked Big Ten Conference opponent this season.
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (University Gym)
Score: Indiana 3, Michigan 1 (24-26, 25-18, 25-22, 25-20)
Records: U-M (18-12, 8-11 Big Ten), IU (16-15, 6-13 Big Ten)
Attendance: 767
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 27 -- vs. Illinois (Cliff Keen Arena), 6 p.m.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- After rallying for a 26-24 first-set victory, the University of Michigan volleyball team dropped three straight sets to fall to the Indiana Hoosiers by a 3-1 score (24-26, 25-18, 25-22, 25-20)Â Wednesday evening (Nov. 25) inside University Gym.
Junior outside hitter Abby Cole earned the first point of the match, but it was a back-and-forth affair from there. The first set alone featured 16 tie scores and six lead changes, and IU led the match at 24-23, forcing Michigan to call a timeout to regroup. A Hoosier service ace then tied the score at 24-all, and the following kill from sophomore outside hitter Caroline Knop pushed Michigan up by one. With the score at 25-24 in favor of the Maize and Blue, a double-block from senior middle blocker Krystalyn Goode and Cole sealed the first-set victory for Michigan.
Trailing 1-0, Indiana returned in the second set to launch an offensive attack. Though only earning an attack average of .185 in the second set of the night, Indiana was stout on defense, holding Michigan to just a .118 hitting percentage. The Wolverines never led during set two, as the Hoosiers picked up a 25-18 victory to tie the match at 1-1.
After the intermission, both teams hit the court in set three ready to play, but it was Indiana which prevailed in the third set, defeating Michigan, 25-22, and holding the Wolverines to a .184 attack average. Despite trailing 22-15, the Wolverines rallied for a 6-1 run late in the set two, coming within two points. The run was not enough, however, as Indiana took the set to go ahead 2-1 in the match.
Trailing 2-1 at the start of set four, Michigan was still unable to ignite the offense, ending the set on a .171 hitting percentage. Despite the trailing by as many as five points early during the fourth set, the Wolverines fought until the very end, but it was not enough as Indiana took a 25-20 set victory and the match.
The defeat is just Michigan's second loss to an unranked Big Ten Conference opponent this season.
Despite the loss, Knop recorded 18 kills in the effort to lead the offense, while Cole tacked on 15.
Defensively, freshman libero Jenna Lerg led the back row with a career-high 15 digs. From the front row, sophomore middle blocker Claire Kieffer-Wright led Michigan with six kills, while Goode registered five.
The Wolverines will return to play on Friday (Nov. 27) when they host the visiting No. 18 Illinois Fighting Illini in Cliff Keen Arena for the last match of the regular season. First serve is set for 6 p.m., and the match will serve as Michigan's senior day, honoring seniors Lindsey Lerg, Olivia Reed, Tiffany Morales, Carly Warner and Goode.
