Michigan
Iowa
Michigan Heads to Iowa for B1G Midweek Action
10/3/2017 4:01:00 PM | Volleyball
THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 4 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 7Â p.m. CDT
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Saturday, Oct. 7 -- vs. Minnesota (Cliff Keen Arena), 1 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Following a 2-0 showing last weekend at home, the No. 22-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team (12-4, 2-2 B1G) will hit the road for a Wednesday night (Oct. 4) matchup at Iowa (12-5, 1-3 B1G) before returning to Ann Arbor on Saturday (Oct. 7) for an afternoon contest against No. 6-ranked Minnesota at Cliff Keen Arena. The week marks the first time this season that Michigan will face an opponent in a midweek contest.
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
With Big Ten wins over Ohio State and Maryland last weekend, Michigan jumped one spot in the AVCA poll this week and is now ranked 22nd. The Wolverines began the season ranked 16th in the preseason poll and have appeared in the poll every week this season. Michigan 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
Currently ranked No. 22, Michigan is one of seven Big Ten Conference teams represented in the AVCA Top-25 this week. Penn State (3), Nebraska (4), Minnesota (6)Â and Wisconsin (7) sit inside the top 10, while Michigan State (14) and Purdue (18) reside in the top 20. Michigan (22) rounds out the group in the top 25 and Ohio State is receiving votes in the poll.
Kieffer-Wright Earns Big Ten Weekly Honor
Senior middle blocker Claire Kieffer-Wright was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday (Oct. 2) after guiding Michigan to four-set victories over Ohio State and Maryland last weekend. The senior led the Wolverines defense with a career-high nine blocks on Friday (Sept. 29) and totaled a match-high seven blocks on Saturday (Sept. 30) to finish the weekend with 16 total blocks. She also led U-M with 15 kills in Saturday's victory and finished the weekend with a .440 kill percentage after averaging 3.5 kills per set.
Scouting the Opposition
Iowa (12-5, 1-3 B1G)
2016 Finish: 9th in B1G
All-time record against: U-M leads 40-26
The Hawkeyes will go into Wednesday with a 12-5 overall record and a 1-3 record in Big Ten play after three straight losses to ranked Big Ten teams. Iowa swept the American Volleyball Classic, beating Howard, American and Princeton and then opened conference play with a win over Rutgers before falling to Penn State, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Freshman setter Brie Orr is having an outstanding first season, with an overwhelming team leading 652 assists. She is also in the top two on the team for service aces and digs, with nine and 112, respectively.
No. 6 Minnesota (13-2, 2-2 B1G)
2016 Finish: Final Four
All-time record against: U-M trails 16-50
Minnesota will enter the weekend with an impressive 13-2 record along with a 2-2 record in Big Ten action. The Golden Gophers began the season with 12 straight wins, including against the Wolverines, before losing two straight to Michigan State and Nebraska. The team bounced back by beating Iowa in straight sets last weekend. Freshman Stephanie Samedy is coming off a double-double against Iowa, recording 13 kills and 11 digs. She is first on the team and second in the conference with 218 kills on the season. Junior setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson leads the Big Ten with 12.1 assists per set.
