Michigan to Welcome Rutgers in Midweek Action

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This Week:
Wednesday, Nov. 1 -- vs. Rutgers (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
TV: BTN Plus | Live Stats | Tickets
Saturday, Nov. 1 -- at Illinois (Champaign, Ill.), 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats

• Complete Notes (PDF)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team (15-8, 5-7 B1G) will wrap up a three-match home streak this week before heading back out on the road for a single contest this weekend. The Wolverines will first face off against Rutgers (5-19, 0-12 B1G) on Wednesday (Nov. 1) at 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena and finish the week with a match at Illinois (16-7, 7-5 B1G) on Saturday (Nov. 4) at 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can stream Wednesday's contest via BTN2Go (subscription required) and watch Saturday's match live on the Big Ten Network.

Week 11
This week will mark the first time since the end of September that Michigan will not face a ranked opponent, as the Wolverines faced an opponent ranked in the AVCA Top-25 every week during the month of October. The last time Michigan did not face a ranked opponent during the week, the Wolverines defeated both Ohio State (Sept. 29) and Maryland (Sept. 30).

Scouting the Opposition
Rutgers (5-19, 0-12 B1G)
2016 Finish: 4-29, 0-20 B1G
The Scarlet Knights will enter the week with a 5-19 overall record and an 0-12 record in the Big Ten following a 3-0 loss to No. 5 Minnesota this past Saturday (Oct. 28) at home. Sophomore libero Karysa Swackenberg recorded a match-high 16 digs, matching her Big Ten career high, while junior outside hitter Sahbria McLetchie and freshman opposite hitter Kamila Cieslik added seven kills apiece. Rutgers' team-high .286 attack clip was highlighted by five kills from sophomore middle blocker Stasa Miljevic. Saturday marked Miljevic's 13th match with at least five kills through 24 contests. The Scarlet Knights have 852 kills, 801 assists and 892 digs on the season.

All-Time History
Record vs. Rutgers: U-M leads 4-0
Since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten conference in 2014, Michigan has owned the series, winning all four meetings. The teams most recently met three weeks ago, with the Wolverines taking the contest in four sets (25-12, 22-25, 25-18, 25-16) and allowing Rutgers to capture its first set victory of the conference season. The victory featured three players with kills in double figures and a season-high 11 service aces. Individually, Junior Carly Skjodt led all players with 13 kills in the effort and senior Adeja Lambert earned her third kill-dig double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs.

Win Streak Snapped
With a loss to No. 7-ranked Nebraska on Sunday (Oct. 29), the Wolverines saw a two-match win streak snapped. So far this season, Michigan has been unable to string together a win streak longer than four matches, and both four-game win streaks came during the non-conference portion of the season.

Michigan Drops out of the AVCA Poll
Following a 1-1 week with a sweep of Iowa and a loss to No. 7-ranked Nebraska, Michigan dropped out of the AVCA Poll this week for the first time this season. The Wolverines began the season ranked 16th in the preseason poll and appeared in the poll for the first seven editions before receiving votes in the last three editions. 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
The Big Ten Conference has six teams represented in the AVCA Top-25 this week. Penn State (1), Minnesota (5), Nebraska (7), Wisconsin (8) and Michigan State (9) all sit inside the top 10, while Purdue (22) rounds out the group. Illinois is the third team out of the Top-25 with 20 votes, while Michigan did not appear on two or more ballots this week and is no longer receiving votes. Overall, seven of the 14 Big Ten teams are receiving votes in the poll.

Stat Stories: Hitting Percentage
Michigan's offense had both highs and lows last week, mostly in terms of efficiency. The Wolverines swept Iowa (Oct. 27) behind a .465 attacking percentage, which marked the highest average of the season. Michigan also recorded a season-low eight errors in the effort. Just two days later, however, the Maize and Blue fell to No. 7 Nebraska in straight sets and finished with a season-low .046 hitting percentage.

Wolverines at Home
Michigan's senior class has posted a 36-13 record at home over the last three seasons and will look to maintain an impressive home record this year. Prior to a loss against Minnesota (Oct. 7) which spoiled the Wolverines perfect 8-0 home record, Michigan had only lost three sets when playing at home this season. The Maize and Blue ended its 2016 campaign with a 16-2 home record, and both losses came to teams ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll at the time.

Michigan Ranked 29th in Latest RPI
The Wolverines are ranked 29th in the latest RPI (released Oct. 30). The Big Ten Conference makes up six of the spots in the top 20, and 10 of the top 40 teams. Penn State sits in the No. 1 spot with a 21-1 record. The first RPI of the season was released on Oct. 2, and Michigan was ranked 27th in that edition.