Michigan
4-0
Xavier
2-2
Michigan Squashes Xavier in Four Sets to Open Bobcat Invitational
9/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
» After dropping the third set, Michigan rallied to win the fourth set in decisive fashion (25-11).
» Caroline Knop, Katherine Mahlke and Abby Cole combined for 35 of the team's 57 kills.
» The Wolverines limited Xavier to a .082 hitting percentage in the victory.
Site: Athens, Ohio (Convocation Center)
Event: Bobcat Invitational (Day 1)
Score: Michigan 3, Xavier 1 (25-21, 25-18, 25-27, 25-11)
Records: U-M (4-0), Xavier (2-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 4 -- vs. LSU - Ohio Invitational (Athens, Ohio), 5 p.m.
ATHENS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan volleyball team opened up the second weekend of play with a four-set win over Xavier (25-21, 25-18, 25-27, 25-11) in the first match of the Bobcat Invitational on Friday morning (Sept. 4) at the Convocation Center. Junior Abby Cole stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 11 kills, eight blocks, six digs and two service aces.
Sophomores Caroline Knop and Katherine Mahlke each recorded 12 kills to lead the attack, but it was the defense that really shined, as the Wolverines limited Xavier to a .082 hitting percentage. Senior Carly Warner had a double-double with 22 assists and 17 digs, while Knop (14 digs), freshman Jenna Lerg (13 digs) and freshman Maddy Abbott (15 assists) were also in double digits.
The first set was fairly even early on, but Michigan used a late surge to take it, 25-21. The score was tied 16-16, but U-M took six of the next eight points from there to break it open, a stretch that included kills from Lambert, Cole and Goode. Mahlke was very active, claiming six kills -- including the set point -- and hitting .500.
The Wolverines got off to a much faster start in the second set and cruised, winning 25-18. U-M led 9-2 early and never looked back, leading by as many as eight behind five kills each from Skjodt and Cole. The defense was stout, limiting Xavier to only nine kills and a .075 hitting percentage.
Xavier fought off Michigan to take the third set, 27-25. The Musketeers led for the first half of the set, but U-M responded, knotting things up at 18-18 thanks to back-to-back kills from Knop. Xavier called a timeout to try and stem the tide, but it was unsuccessful, as U-M took the next three points via blocks to lead 21-18. Michigan actually had two match points that were both turned back, as Xavier ended up taking the set on a pair of errors.
The Wolverines responded furiously in the fourth set, crushing Xavier, 25-11, to take the match. The Musketeers grabbed two of the first three points, but it was all Michigan after that, as U-M went on a 7-0 spurt and never looked back. Cole really made her presence felt down the stretch as she had a hand in six of the team's last seven points, including three kills, two blocks and a service ace to win the match.
Michigan returns to the court later this afternoon in Athens to take on LSU. The match will begin at 5 p.m.
