Michigan
5-0
Harvard
0-2
U-M Dominates Harvard, Completes Sweep of Michigan Invitational
9/1/2018 9:56:00 PM | Volleyball
» The sweep is Michigan's fifth straight and marks the Wolverines' second consecutive tournament title.
» Michigan totaled a season-high 11 blocks.
» Carly Skjodt led all players with 14 kills at a season-high .345 attack average.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan Invitational
Score: #23 Michigan 3, Harvard 0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-13)
Records: U-M (5-0), Harvard (0-2)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, Sept. 4 -- vs. Valparaiso (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team wrapped up the Michigan Invitational on Saturday night (Sept. 1) with a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-15, 25-13) of the Harvard Crimson inside Cliff Keen Arena.
The victory marked Michigan's fifth consecutive sweep, as the Wolverines have not yet lost a set this season. The win also gave U-M the program's second straight tournament title.
Michigan posted a .319 team attack average in the match as eight Wolverines totaled one kill or more. Senior Carly Skjodt led the charge with 14 kills at a season-best .345 clip, while freshman Paige Jones added eight kills at a career-high .500 hitting percentage. Guiding the offense was junior setter MacKenzi Welsh, who earned 34 assists.
Defensively, the Maize and Blue registered a season-high 11 blocks behind six from redshirt junior Cori Crocker and four from sophomore Kiara Shannon.
Harvard took an early lead in the first set of the evening, but Michigan responded quickly to take a defining lead at 7-6 on a cross-court kill from junior Sydney Wetterstrom. The Wolverines then dominated the remainder of the set, going on a 6-0 run to take a 14-7 lead and executing a 9-0 run late in the set to go ahead, 23-10. Holding the Crimson to just five kills and a -.185 attacking average, the Maize and Blue clinched the first set, 25-12.
Michigan took an early lead in the second set and quickly surged ahead for a 25-15 victory. Serving runs by Lerg, Wetterstrom and senior Maddy Abbott highlighted the effort, as the Wolverines committed just three errors and registered a .351 team attack average. Skjodt led Michigan with six kills in the set, while Jones added four.
Armed with a 2-0 lead, Michigan dominated the third set with a .400 team hitting percentage and a sideout percentage of 84 percent. Committing just four errors and allowing the Crimson just six kills, Michigan did not allow Harvard to string together back-to-back points for the entirety of the set, a 25-13 outcome.
Tweet of the Match
Five straight! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/9t10O265mj
— Michigan Volleyball (@umichvball) September 2, 2018
Michigan (5-0) will get back in action on Tuesday (Sept. 4) with a midweek non-conference matchup against Valparaiso. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
