Michigan
19-6, 8-5Big Ten
Illinois
14-10, 7-6Big Ten
No. 17 U-M Rallies for Come-From-Behind Victory over Illinois
11/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
» Kelly Murphy led the Wolverine offense for third match in a row with 15 kills, earning a double-double along with back-to-back service aces.
» Jenna Lerg recorded double-digit digs for the 22nd time this season, finishing the match with a team-high 19.
» Four players recorded double-digit digs and double-digit kills in the effort, as Murphy and Carly Skjodt both earned double-doubles.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #17 Michigan 3, Illinois 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22)
Records: U-M (19-6, 8-5 B1G), ILL (14-10, 7-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 5 -- vs. Northwestern (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite dropping the first set of the night and trailing early on, the No. 17-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team rebounded to win the next three sets, defeating Illinois by a 3-1 score (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22) on Friday night (Nov. 4) inside a sold-out Cliff Keen Arena.
Illinois took the first point of the evening on a service ace, and though Michigan took a lead on back-to-back kills from Abby Cole, the Illini rallied to go ahead 12-6 early on. Despite the deficit, Michigan fought back, using timely kills from Kelly Murphy and Cole to come within three at 17-14 and force an Illinois timeout. The teams battled from there, and though Michigan tied the score at 23-23 on a service ace from Jenna Lerg, Illinois took set one, 25-23.
Trailing 1-0, Michigan took the first point of the second set, but the points went back and forth from there. Neither team maintained a lead until back-to-back kills from Katherine Mahlke and a service ace from Cole put the Wolverines up at 13-10. From there, Illinois strung together three consecutive points to tie the score once more, but a .351 team attack average and six kills from Murphy propelled the Wolverines to a 25-23 second-set victory.
With the match tied at one set apiece, the third set of the night was grueling for both teams. Mahlke started off the third frame with a kill, and solo block from Cole put the Wolverines up 8-4 early to force an Illinois timeout. Following the stoppage in play, Michigan jumped out to a 14-6 lead on kills from Murphy and Carly Skjodt, which forced the Illini to burn their final timeout of the set. From there, however, Illinois came back to tie the set four times, but a 4-0 Michigan run ended the set at a 25-21 score.
Illinois took the first point of the final set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead to force a Wolverine timeout early in the frame. Despite the deficit, Michigan launched a 6-2 run including back-to-back service aces from Murphy to come within one and coerce an Illini timeout. Following the stoppage in play, a kill from Claire Kieffer-Wright tied the game and allowed Michigan to jump back out to a three-point lead, but the Illini continued to battle, knotting the score at 22-22. Despite a tough Illinois offense, a kill from Skjodt and two straight service aces from MacKenzi Welsh ended the set, 25-22, awarding Michigan a four-set victory.
Overall, Michigan had four players with double-figure kills in the match for the first time since an Oct. 22 victory over Penn State. Murphy led the charge for the third-straight match, totaling 15 kills on the night, while Skjodt picked up 13, and Kieffer-Wright added 12 at a .308 clip. Mahlke also finished the match with 10 kills.
Defensively, the Wolverines also had four players earn double-figure digs, marking the first time since Michigan last played Illinois in the 2015 regular-season finale. Lerg led Michigan for the 25th straight match, picking up 19 for her 22nd match this season with digs in the double digits. Welsh also totaled 13 digs on the night for an assist-dig double-double, while Skjodt (13 digs) and Murphy (12 digs) recorded kill-dig double-doubles.
Michigan was also strong at the net defensively, earning 10 team blocks for the first time since a five-set loss to then-No. 1 Wisconsin in mid-October. Cole led the Wolverines with six total blocks, while Kieffer-Wright added four and four others registered at least one block-assist.
In total, the Wolverines recorded eleven service aces in tonight's match -- including the game winner -- marking their highest ace performance since Oct. 17, 2009.
The No. 17-ranked Wolverines will return to action on Saturday (Nov. 5) when they host the visiting Northwestern Wildcats to cap off another Big Ten weekend. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
