Michigan
Valparaiso
Michigan to Welcome Valpo for Tanks and Tacos Student Promotion
9/3/2018 2:54:00 PM | Volleyball
• Rosen Report: Week 3
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Sept. 4 -- vs. Valparaiso (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Following a sweep of the Michigan Invitational last weekend, the University of Michigan volleyball team (5-0) will return to action Tuesday (Sept. 4) for a midweek non-conference contest against Valparaiso. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
Michigan Invitational Recap
Michigan swept its first home tournament of the season last weekend (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) with 3-0 wins over Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan and Harvard. Senior outside hitter Carly Skjodt (MVP), redshirt junior Cori Crocker and senior libero Jenna Lerg were all named to the all-tournament team.
How Sweep It Is
The Wolverines will enter the week with a perfect 5-0 record and a 3-0 record when playing inside Cliff Keen Arena this season. All five of Michigan's wins to start the 2018 campaign have come by a 3-0 sweep, and the five-sweep start ties a program-record during the rally-scoring era.
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
Following a perfect 3-0 sweep of the Michigan Invitational Tournament, the Wolverines jumped three spots in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches Poll this week and are ranked No. 20 with 310 votes. Â Michigan began the year as the second team out of the top-25 preseason poll with 153 votes, but entered the poll at No. 23 following a 2-0 showing at the War Eagle Invitational to kick off the season.
New Blue
In addition to freshman Paige Jones, who made her debut in the Wolverines' season opener against High Point, the Maize and Blue had three more players make their Michigan debuts this past weekend. Freshman Kayla Bair made her collegiate debut in Friday's win (Aug. 31) over Cleveland State, while freshman Abbey Malinowski made her first collegiate appearance Saturday (Sept. 1) in a victory over Eastern Michigan. Junior transfer Katarina Glavinic also appeared for the first time in a Michigan uniform on Saturday (Sept. 1) in the sweep of EMU.
Scouting the Opposition
Valparaiso will enter the week with a 6-1 record and on a 6-0 win streak after sweeping the Chippewa Invitational last weekend at Central Michigan. The Crusaders dropped their first match of the 2018 regular season to Fresno State (Aug. 24) but have rattled off six straight wins since that lone loss. As a team, Valpo is hitting at a .271 average with 2.58 blocks per set and an impressive 18.65 digs per set. Sophomore Peyton McCarthy leads the front row with 2.91 kills per set at a .358 hitting percentage as well as a team-leading 1.48 blocks per set.
History Against
Michigan and Valparaiso have met just twice before, with the Wolverines boasting a 2-0 all-time record over the Crusaders. The programs most recently met in 2004, with Michigan sweeping Valpo on the road.
Season Openers
Following a 3-0 sweep of High Point to kick off the 2018 campaign, Michigan is now 33-13 in season openers and has not dropped the first match of a season since a 3-0 loss to Notre Dame to begin the 2005 year.
Wolverines at Home
Michigan's senior class has posted a 43-10 record at home since the trio stepped on campus in the fall of 2015 and will look to maintain an edge at home once again this year. Based on the AVCA preseason poll, Michigan is already set to host seven matches against top-25 competition this season.
Schedule Breakdown
The 2018 schedule will see the Wolverines face 12 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season for a total of 17 matches. The Wolverines' 18-match home slate will feature 13 regular-season home matches inside Cliff Keen Arena and a record five matches inside Crisler Center.
