Michigan
(7-0)
American
(6-3)
U-M Sweeps American in First Match of Panther Invite
9/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
» Sophomore Carly Skjodt led Michigan in kills for the third time this season, tallying 11 on 23 swings for a .348 kill percentage.
» Sophomore Jenna Lerg recorded double-digit digs for the seventh straight contest this season, tallying 20 during the three sets.
» The 3-0 sweep is Michigan's fifth this season and marks the seventh straight victory for the Maize and Blue.
Site: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Fitzgerald Field House)
Event: Panther Invitational
Score: #22 Michigan 3, American 0
Records: U-M (7-0), AU (6-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Coastal Carolina (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 10:00 a.m.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The 22nd-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team kept its win streak alive on Friday afternoon (Sept. 9) with a three-set sweep (25-14, 25-19, 25-15) of American inside Fitzgerald Field House to begin the Panther Invitational.
Ten Michigan players recorded at least one kill in the match, including sophomore Carly Skjodt, who had 11 terminations on 23 swings to finish the day at a .348 clip. Senior Abby Cole recorded eight kills at an impressive .638 attack average as well, despite only playing two sets. Sophomore Katherine Mahlke also registered seven kills, and sophomore Claire Kieffer-Wright added five kills and a team-leading four blocks.
From the back row, sophomore libero Jenna Lerg anchored the defense with 20 digs -- her seventh straight outing this season with digs in double digits.
The Eagles took the first point of the match on a double-block, but a kill from senior Kelly Murphy quickly evened things up for the Wolverines. Michigan gained a lead from there, but American stayed just points behind until kills from Skjodt and Cole pushed the Wolverines ahead at 15-11 and forced an American timeout. Following that, however, the Maize and Blue gained momentum and used a .394 first-set hitting percentage to take the game, 25-14.
Trailing 1-0 in the match, the Eagles jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set of the day, but a kill from Cole and an American attack error tied the score. From there, Skjodt and Kieffer-Wright took control of the offense to put the Wolverines up by six and coerce an Eagles timeout. After the stoppage in play, the Wolverines pulled ahead for a 10-point lead, but the Eagles executed late in the set to make it close. Despite the late push, Michigan's .378 second-set attack average and kills from Skjodt and Mahkle propelled the Wolverines to a 25-19 set victory and a two-set lead.
Up in the match 2-0, Michigan took the first point of the third and final set of the day, cruising ahead from there. Nearly every Wolverine took the court in set three, and kills from Skjodt, Kieffer-Wright, Mahlke and Murphy continued to build on the momentum. A 25-15 third-set win sealed the match for the Wolverines, who have now won seven straight matches to begin the 2016 season.
Michigan will return to the hardwood on Saturday (Sept. 10) for a 10 a.m. match against Coastal Carolina before wrapping up the weekend with a 7 p.m. primetime match against host Pittsburgh. All tournament matches will be played inside Fitzgerald Field House.
