Michigan
Rutgers
U-M to Kick off Road Swing at Rutgers, Penn State
10/10/2017 11:38:00 AM | Volleyball
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This Week:
Friday, Oct. 13Â -- at Rutgers (New Bruswick, N.J.), 7Â p.m.
Watch | Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 14Â -- at Penn State (State College, Pa), 7 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats
• Complete Notes (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team (12-6, 2-4 B1G) will kick off a four-match road swing this weekend when they square off at Rutgers (5-13, 0-6 B1G) on Friday (Oct. 13) and at No. 2-ranked Penn State (15-1, 5-1 B1G) on Saturday (Oct. 14). Both matches will be played at 7 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live on BTN Plus (subscription required).
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
After an 0-2 week with losses to Iowa and Minnesota, Michigan dropped out of the AVCA Poll this week and is unranked for the first time this season. The Wolverines are still receiving votes, however, and are the second team out of the top-25. Michigan began the season ranked 16th in the preseason poll and appeared in the poll for the first seven editions this season. The Maize and Blue finished the 2016 campaign ranked No. 12 and captured multiple victories over ranked opponents, including home wins over Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Oregon.
The Big Ten and the AVCA Poll
With Michigan no longer ranked in the top-25, the Big Ten Conference has six teams represented in the AVCA Top-25 this week. Penn State (2), Nebraska (4), Minnesota (6) and Michigan State (10) sit inside the top 10, while Wisconsin (11) and Purdue (16) sit inside the top 20. Michigan and Illinois are also receiving votes in the coaches' poll.
Michigan on the Road
Despite three neutral-site victories in the non-conference portion of the season, the Wolverines have picked up just one road victory this year and have not yet won a road match in Big Ten play. Michigan's last and only road win came at Loyola Marymount in the first non-conference tournament of the season. Besides a loss to Iowa last week, all of the Wolverines road losses have come to teams recognized in the AVCA poll at the time.
Wolverines Ranked 36th in Latest RPI
The Wolverines are ranked 36th in the latest RPI. The Big Ten Conference occupies six of the spots in the top 15, and 10 of the top 30 teams. Penn State, an upcoming opponent, currently sits in the No. 1 spot with a 15-1 record. The first RPI of the season was released on Oct. 2, and Michigan was ranked 27th in that edition.
Scouting the Opposition
Rutgers (5-13, 0-6 B1G)
2016 Finish: 14th in Big Ten
Rutgers will enter the weekend with a 5-13 overall record and an 0-6 record in Big Ten play this season. After dropping their season opener, the Scarlet Knights rallied for three straight wins before a five-match losing skid put them back under .500. Rutgers has faced just one ranked opponent this year (Nebraska) and has not yet won a set in conference action. Despite a losing record, the Scarlet Knights are led offensively by freshman right-side hitter Kamila Cieslik, who is averaging 3.00 kills per set and leads the team with 25 service aces on the season.
Penn State (15-1, 5-1 B1G)
2016 Finish: Sweet 16
In addition to a No. 2-ranking in the AVCA and a No. 1 ranking in the RPI, Penn State will enter the week with a 15-1 overall record and a 5-1 record in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions only loss of the season came in their Big Ten opener to Nebraska back in September, but Penn State currently leads the conference and the country with a .352 team hitting percentage. Individually, senior middle blocker Haleigh Washington leads the nation with a dominating .509 kill percentage and has been named a Big Ten Player of the Week three times this year. Before playing host to Michigan on Saturday (Oct. 14), Penn State will first host No. 10-ranked Michigan State on Friday (Oct. 13), in what will mark Penn State's second match against a ranked Big Ten opponent this season.
All-Time History and Last Time Out
Record vs. Rutgers:Â Michigan leads 3-0
Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the teams have met just three times with the Wolverines holding a 3-0 all-time record over the Scarlet Knights. Michigan most recently defeated Rutgers in straight sets during the 2016 season at the Scarlet Knight's home court. All-American Abby Cole totaled 17 kills at a .552 kill percentage in that victory.
Record vs. Penn State: Michigan trails 48-5
Michigan and Penn State first met in 1981, and the Nittany Lions have had the upper hand in the majority of the 43 meetings since that time. Despite having just five all-time wins against the perennial volleyball powerhouse, two of the Wolverine victories have come in the last two seasons. In 2015, Michigan picked up its first-ever road victory over Penn State, and in 2016 the Wolverines rallied for a five-set win over the Nittany Lions at home inside Cliff Keen Arena.
