Michigan
11-4, 1-2B1G
Ohio State
9-5, 2-1B1G
Record Crowd Sees Michigan Take Down Rival Ohio State
9/29/2017 11:40:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan defeated Ohio State in front of a record-setting 8,137 fans.
» Led by a career-high nine blocks from Claire Kieffer-Wright, Michigan totaled a season-high 15 blocks in the win.
» Michigan is now 1-2 in Big Ten play and will return to Cliff Keen Arena Saturday (Sept. 30) for a 7 p.m. match against Maryland.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: #23 Michigan 3, Ohio State 1 (25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22)
Records: U-M (11-4, 1-2 B1G), OSU (9-5, 2-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 30 -- vs. Maryland (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
• Kornacki Feature: Wolverines Shatter Attendance Record, Beat Buckeyes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Highlighted by a season-high 15 team blocks and double-figure kills from three different Wolverines, the No. 23-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team defeated Ohio State in four sets (25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22) in front of a record crowd of 8,137 fans Friday night (Sept. 29) inside Crisler Center.
Numerous Wolverines recorded career-best numbers in the effort. Senior Claire Kieffer-Wright ended with a career-high nine blocks, while freshman Natalie Smith earned a career-high three service aces. Freshman Kiara Shannon added a career-high two kills and three block assists in the first start of her career.
Despite Ohio State jumping out to an early 4-1 lead in set one, Michigan stormed back with an 8-1 run to take a defining lead. The Wolverines dominated the first set with a .344 attack average and five total blocks while holding the Buckeyes to a .073 hitting percentage. Kieffer-Wright and junior Carly Skjodt recorded four kills apiece to lead Michigan to the 25-15 first-set win.
The Wolverines' momentum continued early into the second set, as Michigan jumped out to a 10-5 lead. Though the Buckeyes rallied to flip the scoreboard and forced their first lead at 16-15, back-to-back kills by senior Adeja Lambert put Michigan back on top at 17-16. Using a .316 team attack average with just three errors, the Wolverines clinched the second set, 25-20.
The Buckeyes surged in the third set, posting a match-high .326 attack average with 18 kills and a 78 sideout percentage. Though Michigan posted a similar kill percentage at .333, Ohio State took the lead at 2-1 and never lost it from there. Led by Kieffer-Wright and Lambert, the Wolverines were able to cut the deficit to just one point at 22-21, but the Buckeyes rallied for a 25-22 third-set win.
Ohio State used a 5-1 lead to jumpstart the fourth set and force a Michigan timeout early on, and the Buckeyes extended their lead to 17-11. After the Wolverines used their second and final timeout, Michigan responded with a kill by Skjodt and a serving run by Smith for a 7-0 run and an 18-17 lead. An Ohio State kill then tied the score at 18-18, but another kill by Skjodt and a Buckeye error gave Michigan a two-point lead and the momentum needed to take set four, 25-22.
Offensively, Skjodt and Lambert led the Wolverines with 14 kills apiece, while Kieffer-Wright totaled 13. Sophomore setter MacKenzi Welsh guided the Michigan offense with 47 assists and added 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Junior libero Jenna Lerg posted a match-high 25 digs to aid the Wolverines on defense, and all but one Michigan hitter recorded a block.
The No. 23-ranked Wolverines will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 30) when they host Maryland to wrap up the Big Ten homestand. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
