Michigan
15-9, 5-7B1G
Nebraska
18-4, 11-1B1G
Michigan Falls in Home Match Against No. 7 Nebraska
10/29/2017 4:12:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan is now 9-2 when playing at home this season, with both losses coming to teams ranked in the top 10 in the AVCA poll.
» The Wolverines were held to a season-low .046 hitting percentage in the effort.
» Carly Skjodt led Michigan with 11 kills, while MacKenzi Welsh totaled three kills on three swings.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #7 Nebraska 3, Michigan 0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-13)
Records: U-M (15-9, 5-7 B1G), NEB (18-4, 11-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Nov. 7 -- vs. Rutgers (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team had a two-match win streak halted on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 29) as the Wolverines fell to No. 7-ranked Nebraska in straight sets (22-25, 18-25, 13-25) inside Cliff Keen Arena.
The loss is Michigan's second when playing at home this season and brings the Wolverines' home record to 9-2. Michigan's only other home loss came to then-No. 6 Minnesota earlier this month (Oct. 7).
Michigan (15-9, 5-7 B1G) was held to a .046 hitting percentage, the team's lowest mark of the season. Junior outside hitter Carly Skjodt was the only Wolverine to finish with double-figure kills, totaling 11. Sophomore setter MacKenzi Welsh ended with three kills on three swings for a perfect 1.000 average.
Defensively, the Wolverines tallied eight blocks. Redshirt sophomore Cori Crocker totaled five, including three in the second set. From the back row, junior libero Jenna Lerg recorded 12 digs, while Welsh finished just short of an assist-dig double-double with nine.
Michigan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set on a kill by senior Adeja Lambert along with a kill and a service ace by Skjodt, but a 4-0 run by Nebraska allowed the Huskers to gain the lead. The teams traded points from there before Nebraska pulled ahead to a 14-10 lead, forcing Michigan to call a timeout. The Cornhuskers extended their lead to five at 19-14, but Michigan used a kill from Skjodt and two aces by senior Claire Kieffer-Wright to cut the deficit to one at 20-19. A Skjodt kill and an ace by Welsh then tied the score at 21, but the Huskers used a 3-0 run to close out the first set with a 25-22 victory.
Nebraska got off to a quick start in the second set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before a kill by Skjodt put Michigan on the board. The Huskers extended their lead to 11-4, but the Wolverines went on a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to three at 12-9, and a long rally ended with a double-block from Crocker and freshman Kiara Shannon to force a Nebraska timeout. Following the stoppage in play, a Husker attack error cut Nebraska's lead to one at 13-12, but the Huskers were able to pull away for a 19-15 lead and coerce a Michigan timeout. Despite four blocks by the Wolverines and four kills from Skodt, Nebraska used the momentum to take set two, 25-18.
The Wolverines fell behind early in the third set when Nebraska took a 10-7 lead. Despite trailing early, Michigan closed the gap at 10-9 on a big kill from Kieffer-Wright and pushed the Maize and Blue to a 13-12 lead on a cross-court kill from Skjodt. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Huskers used a 13-0 run to close out the third set by a score of 25-13.
Michigan will get back in action on Wednesday (Nov. 7) when the Wolverines host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a midweek Big Ten contest. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
