Michigan
19-9, 8-9B1G
Penn State
21-6, 12-5B1G
Michigan Suffers Setback at Seventh-Ranked Penn State
11/14/2018 9:31:00 PM | Volleyball
» Carly Skjodt posted a team-leading 11 kills to earn her 23rd double-figure kill performance this season.
» The loss marks the Wolverines' third straight.
» Michigan will play its final road match of the regular season on Saturday (Nov. 17) at Michigan State.
Site: State College, Pa. (Rec Hall)
Score: #7 Penn State 3, #19 Michigan 0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-15)
Records: U-M (19-9, 8-9 B1G), PSU (21-6, 12-5 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 17 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 6:30 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team was unable to garner significant offensive momentum on Wednesday night (Nov. 14) as the Wolverines dropped a 3-0 decision (25-12, 25-22, 25-15) to No. 7 Penn State inside Rec Hall.
Michigan led just three times during the match, all of which occurred during a span of seven points late in the second set. The loss marks the third straight for the Wolverines.
The Nittany Lions (21-6, 12-5 B1G) jumped out to an early lead and used a 3-0 scoring run to go ahead, 9-4, which caused the Wolverines to take a timeout. Following the stoppage, Michigan answered with a kill from senior outside hitter Carly Skjodt, but a .484 team hitting percentage allowed Penn State to maintain an edge and take a 19-11 lead before a second Maize and Blue timeout. The Wolverines were held to just eight kills in the frame as the Nittany Lions clinched the first set, 25-12.
Michigan (19-9, 8-9 B1G) kept better pace to begin the second set, though Penn State took an early lead on a Wolverine service error. Trailing 17-12, a 3-0 run -- including an ace from Skjodt -- allowed Michigan to come within two, 17-15, which forced Penn State's first timeout of the match. Back-to-back aces from Skjodt tied the score, and Michigan took its first lead of the match, 19-18, on a dump kill from junior setter MacKenzi Welsh. The teams traded points from there, until a 3-0 scoring run allowed Penn State to come from behind for a 24-22 lead. After fighting off one set point with a Skjodt kill, Michigan surrendered the second set, 25-22, and fell behind two sets in the match.
A 3-0 Penn State run started the third set, and the Nittany Lions had the early momentum and carried it from there. Holding the Wolverines to just eight kills at a .031 team attack average, Penn State maintained control and worked efficiently with just four errors to clinch a 25-15 third-set victory and execute the sweep.
Skjodt led the Wolverines with 11 kills in the effort, marking her 23rd outing this season with kills in double figures. As a team, Michigan finished with a .107 team hitting percentage.
Michigan will be back in action on Saturday (Nov. 17) with a match at Michigan State. First serve is slated for 6:30 p.m. inside Jenison Field House, and the match will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
