Michigan
4-0
Eastern Michigan
3-2
Middle Blockers Pace Wolverines in Sweep of Eastern Michigan
9/1/2018 2:55:00 PM | Volleyball
» The sweep is Michigan's fourth straight and second at home.
» Cori Crocker posted a season-high .769 attack average with a team-leading 10 kills.
» The Wolverines finished with a season-high .347 team attack average.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan Invitational
Score: #23 Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-10)
Records: U-M (4-0), EMU (3-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 1 -- vs. Harvard (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Using a .347 team attack average and a season-high 10 kills from redshirt junior Cori Crocker, the University of Michigan volleyball team defeated Eastern Michigan in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-10) in the second match of the Michigan Invitational inside Cliff Keen Arena.
The Maize and Blue offense was steady throughout the match, as Michigan surrendered the lead just once through three sets. The season-high .347 team attack average -- including a .538 mark in set three -- helped the Wolverines earn their fourth consecutive sweep and improve to 4-0 on the season.
Michigan's middle blockers led the way, with Crocker pacing all players with 10 kills at a season-high .769 attack average while sophomore Kiara Shannon added career highs of nine kills and a .467 hitting mark. Senior Carly Skjodt and junior Sydney Wetterstrom each finished with eight kills.
From the back row, senior Jenna Lerg led the Wolverines for the fourth straight match with 11 digs, and sophomore Natalie Smith posted 10 in her first start of the season.
Michigan took a lead in the first set on a kill from Crocker at 3-2 and held the edge from there. Using five kills from Wetterstrom and committing just five attacking errors, the Wolverines earned a .312 attack average in set one as they led by as many as seven. Eastern Michigan surged late, however, going on a 6-0 run before Michigan responded with five straight points, including three consecutive kills from Wetterstrom, and used the momentum to clinch a 25-19 first-set win.
The Maize and Blue defense prevailed in the second set, as the Wolverines held the Eagles to a .079 attack average and just nine kills while totaling 22 digs. Michigan grabbed hold of its defining lead at 8-7 on a kill from junior MacKenzi Welsh, and the Wolverines relied on multiple kills from Crocker, Shannon, Skjodt and freshman Paige Jones to rally for a 25-18 second-set victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.
A .538 attack percentage and kills from seven different players made Michigan's offense unstoppable in the third and final set of the day. Holding Eastern Michigan to just six kills at a .000 attack average, the Wolverines dominated the third set en route to a 25-10 victory and their fourth straight 3-0 sweep.
Tweet of the Match
The final point from today's victory: Abbey Malinowski with the kill ????#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/JbGlr4HXv0
— Michigan Volleyball (@umichvball) September 1, 2018
Michigan (4-0) will return to action for the final match of the Michigan Invitational on Saturday evening (Sept. 1) as the Wolverines host the visiting Harvard Crimson at 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
