Michigan
16-8, 6-7
Wisconsin
17-6, 9-4
No. 25 Wolverines Drop Big Ten Match at No. 13 Wisconsin
11/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
» Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Knop (13) was the only Wolverine to record double-digit kills in the effort.
» Senior Tiffany Morales led the Wolverines from the back row, registering a team-high 13 digs.
» The loss marks Michigan's second straight 3-0 sweep.
Site: Madison, Wis. (UW Field House)
Score: #13 Wisconsin 3, #25 Michigan 0 (32-30, 25-12, 25-20)
Records: U-M (16-8, 6-7 B1G), UW (17-6, 9-4 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 7 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7 p.m. CST
MADISON, Wis. -- Despite a hard-fought effort from the No. 25-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team, the Wolverines dropped a 3-0 road match to the No. 13-ranked Wisconsin Badgers Friday evening (Nov. 6) from UW Field House.
No. 13 Wisconsin took the first point of the match, which ultimately set the tone of the game. Despite the early deficit, however, Michigan quickly regained its footing. The first set featured 14 tie scores and eight lead changes, but the Wolverine offense was relentless, forcing Wisconsin to take both timeouts early on. The Maize and Blue led the majority of the set, but when the Badgers tied the game at 21-21, it was a battle from there. Refusing defeat, both teams fought for each point in the first set, but Wisconsin eventually came away with a 32-30 lead.
Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Knop led Michigan with six kills during the first set, and sophomore outside hitter Katherine Mahlke and senior middle blocker Krystalyn Goode both blasted two kills on a team-leading .500 attack average. In addition, senior libero Tiffany Morales picked up six digs in the set, while senior setter Carly Warner guided the Wolverines to a .240 hitting percentage with 10 assists.
The second set of the night appeared much different than the first, as Wisconsin went on a 12-2 run for an early lead. Despite a hard-fought effort by the Maize and Blue defense, the Badgers took the set by a 25-12 score.
After a short intermission, both teams hit the court for set three. Wisconsin's momentum continued in the third game of the night, as the Badgers again took an early lead. Anchored by Michigan's back row, the Wolverines fought hard, but Wisconsin always stayed one step ahead. Although junior middle blocker Abby Cole registered a match-high .800 attack average, and Michigan picked up three team blocks in the final set, the Badgers took set three by a 25-20 score to force a 3-0 match victory.
Overall, Knop led Michigan in scoring with 13 kills on the evening. She was the only Wolverine to score in the double digits. In addition, Cole tacked on nine kills with a team-high .368 attack average.
Morales also led Michigan defensively from her libero position, tallying a team-high 13 digs for the second match in a row. From the front row, sophomore middle blocker Claire Kieffer-Wright tacked on a team-high five digs.
The Maize and Blue finished the match with a .122 attack average, the lowest since a 3-0 loss at North Caroline on Sept. 19 of this year. Michigan also recorded eight team blocks.
The No. 25-ranked Maize and Blue will wrap up its Midwest Big Ten Conference road series with a contest at No. 4 Minnesota tomorrow night (Saturday, Nov. 7). First serve is set for 7 p.m. CST from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the match will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
