Michigan to Take on Northwestern Wednesday in Cliff Keen Arena

NEXT MATCH
Wednesday, Nov. 21 -- vs. Northwestern (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team (20-9, 9-9 B1G) will wrap the 2018 regular season with two home matches this week, starting with a midweek contest against Northwestern at 7 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 21) inside Cliff Keen Arena. U-M will move to Crisler Center for the regular-season finale against Michigan State on Saturday (Nov. 24) at 7 p.m.

U-M Captures 20th Win of the Season

With a four-set victory at Michigan State on Saturday (Nov. 17), the Wolverines have now reached the 20-win mark 12 times under head coach Mark Rosen, including each of the last four seasons. The victory snapped a three-match skid for U-M.

Big Ten Standings

With an 9-9 record in conference action, Michigan sits in seventh place in the Big Ten Conference. Following a perfect 11-0 run through non-conference play to kick off the season, all of Michigan's losses have come in Big Ten action. Minnesota, which boasts an 18-0 conference record, is the only unbeaten team remaining.

Maize and Blue on the Road

The Wolverines are 8-4 when playing on the road this season, with all four road losses coming in Big Ten action. The Wolverines' first road loss -- a 3-1 setback at then-No. 3 Nebraska (Sept. 21) -- also marked their first loss of the regular season and snapped an 11-match win streak.

Midweek Matches

Michigan is now 1-3 in midweek matches this season following losses at Indiana (Oct. 31), at home against Maryland (Nov. 7), and on the road at Penn State (Nov. 14). The Wolverines played just one midweek non-conference contest earlier this year, which ended in a 3-0 victory over Valparaiso (Sept. 4).

Scouting the Opposition

All-time series against Northwestern: U-M leads 45-29
Northwestern enters the week with a 15-15 overall record with a 5-13 record in Big Ten play. Due to its tough conference schedule, the Wildcats currently rank 13th in the Big Ten in hitting percentage (.188), 11th in digs per set (13.37) and 12th in blocks per set (2.05). Michigan and Northwestern met earlier in the season, with the Wolverines taking the match in three sets in Evanston, Illinois.

Michigan Inks Two During Signing Period

Head coach Mark Rosen announced Friday (Nov. 16) that high school senior outside hitters May Pertofsky (Los Angeles, California) and Jess Robinson (Troy, Michigan) signed National Letters of Intent for the 2019-20 academic year.

Michigan and the AVCA Coaches Poll

Following a 1-1 week that included a loss at then-No. 7 Penn State (Nov. 14) and a road win at Michigan State (Nov. 17), the Wolverines rose one spot in the AVCA Top 25 this week to check in at No. 18 with 497 points. Michigan began the year as the second team outside of the AVCA preseason poll with 153 points but has been ranked in every poll since a 2-0 showing at the War Eagle Invitational to kick off the season.

U-M Ranked 18th in Latest RPI

The Wolverines moved up two spots to No. 18 in the latest RPI ranking, which was released by the NCAA on Monday (Nov. 19). Michigan is ranked the seventh-highest of the Big Ten schools, behind Minnesota (No. 2), Illinois (4), Minnesota (3), Wisconsin (6), Nebraska (11), Penn State (13) and Purdue (16). Nine Big Ten schools rank in the top 64, while six are in the top 16. The NCAA announced the first edition of the RPI on Oct. 1, with the Wolverines coming in at No. 11.

Libero Lerg Anchors the Defense

Senior libero Jenna Lerg ranks second in the Big Ten Conference with 5.01 digs per set. The Michigan native has recorded an impressive 25 double-digit dig performances this season and has led the Wolverines in digs in 24 of 29 matches. She has finished with 20 or more digs on 10 occasions.

Skjodt Leads the Offense

Senior outside hitter and team co-captain Carly Skjodt has been the Wolverines' go-to hitter this season with a team-leading 4.17 kills per set, which ranks tied for third in the Big Ten. As a six-rotation player, Skjodt has posted 10 kill-dig double-doubles this year and ranks third on the team with 2.58 digs per set.

Freshman Jones Steps Up

Freshman outside hitter Paige Jones has been a force in the lineup for Michigan this season, leading Wolverine hitters in kills nine times and posting 17 double-figure kill efforts. The newcomer from New Bremen, Ohio, ranks second on the team with 3.38 kills per set.

Seniors Earn Academic All-District Nods

Senior captains Maddy Abbott, Jenna Lerg and Carly Skjodt were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District teams on Thursday (Nov. 15). Skjodt earned her second straight first-team selection, while Abbott and Lerg garnered second-team honors.