Season Review: 2015 Volleyball
12/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 18, 2015
Team Captains: Oliva Reed, Tiffany Morales, Kelly Murphy
Record: 20-13 overall, 9-11 Big Ten Conference (9th place)
NCAA Tournament: Second Round
The University of Michigan volleyball program ended a historic season with its first NCAA Tournament second-round appearance since 2012 and its first NCAA berth since 2013. Led by 17th-year coach Mark Rosen, the squad earned an NCAA berth for the 15th time in program history, defeating Santa Clara in the first round before falling to UCLA in a five-set heartbreaker.
Team Highlights
• The Wolverines jumpstarted the 2015 campaign with 10 consecutive victories -- their best start since the 2011 season. Michigan's early victories included tournament titles at the Michigan Invitational, Bobcat Invitational and Michigan Challenge.
• Competing in the toughest volleyball conference in the nation, the Maize and Blue showed its fight in all types of matches during the regular season, especially contests that went to five sets. Throughout the regular-season slate, Michigan claimed five-set victories over Ohio, Michigan State and Iowa, dropping a lone-five set match to the reigning national champions, No. 5-ranked Penn State.
• Highlighting Michigan's season were three victories over top-ranked opponents including Ohio State, Penn State and Illinois. In addition to defeating the rival Buckeyes in four sets at Ohio State's home court, the Maize and Blue rallied from a one-set deficit to conquer Penn State on the Nittany Lions' home court for the first time in program history.
• The season culminated in an NCAA selection for the first time since 2013, and a trip to the NCAA second round for the first time since 2012. Overall, the NCAA berth was the team's 15th in program history. The Wolverines defeated Santa Clara by a 3-1 score before falling to No. 14-host seed UCLA in a five-set heartbreaker on Dec. 5.
Individual Highlights
• Junior Abby Cole transitioned from the middle blocker position to the role of outside/opposite hitter nearly halfway through the season, and ended the year on an offensive streak that propelled her to numerous postseason honors. The junior was selected to the All-Big Ten Conference first team, the AVCA All-North Region team and finally to the AVCA All-America second team. She ended the season with a team-high .318 attack average after leading Michigan in kills in 13 out of 33 contests.
• Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Knop also contributed heavily from both the front and back rows, earning 3.02 kills per set and averaging 2.75 digs per set. The sophomore led Michigan with 11 kill-dig double-doubles and led Michigan in kills during 12 matches, earning a career-high 20 kills against No. 6 Nebraska on Nov. 21.
• In just her first season as a Wolverine, freshman Jenna Lerg had a breakout year, making 13 starts as a defensive specialist and taking over the libero role towards the end of the season. The freshman recorded double-figure digs in 16 matches and registered a career-high 30 digs in the Wolverines' final match against UCLA. She now leads all players in Michigan history in digs recorded during an NCAA contest.
• Middle blockers Claire Kieffer-Wright and Krystalyn Goode were a force at the net this season, combining for 170 total blocks. The pair led Michigan in blocking in 21 contests, and Kieffer-Wright notched a career-high eight blocks in Michigan's 31 victory over Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament. Goode, who also finished the year with a .314 attack average, now sits at sixth in Michigan's all-time record books with 379 total blocks.
Honors and Awards
Abby
Cole
Carly
Skjodt
Caroline
Knop
Claire
Kieffer-Wright
Carly
Warner
Tiffany
Morales
American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
All-America (Second Team): Abby Cole
American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
All-North Region: Abby Cole
Big Ten Conference
All-Big Ten (First Team): Abby Cole
Sportsmanship Award: Kelly Murphy
Big Ten Player of the Week
Offensive: Abby Cole (Sept. 14)
Freshman: Carly Skjodt (Oct. 19)
Academic All-Big Ten
Ally Davis, Sr., communication
Lindsey Lerg, Sr., sport management
Katherine Mahlke, So., undeclared
Tiffany Morales, Sr., psychology
Kelly Murphy, Sr., biopsychology/cognitive & neuroscience
Olivia Reed, Sr., business administration
All-Tournament Team Selections
Claire Kieffer-Wright: Michigan Invite
Caroline Knop: Michigan Challenge, Bobcat Invitational
Tiffany Morales: Michigan Invite
Carly Warner: Michigan Challenge
Katherine Mahlke: Bobcat Invitational
Abby Cole: Michigan Challenge, Michigan Invite, Bobcat Invitational
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn
