Michigan
13-6,6-3Big Ten
Minnesota
13-4,7-2Big Ten
Michigan Falls in Heartbreaker to No. 7 Minnesota
10/25/2019 10:01:00 PM | Volleyball
» Paige Jones had a career-high 26 kills to lead Michigan.
» Sydney Wetterstrom registered a double-double with 11 kills and a personal-best 18 digs.
» Jess Robinson set a new career high with 13 kills while hitting .476.
» Michigan got a 56-assist, eight-kill performance from MacKenzi Welsh.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: Minnesota 3, Michigan 2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-13)
Records: U-M (13-6, 6-3 B1G), Minnesota (13-4, 7-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 27 -- vs. No. 6 Wisconsin (Cliff Keen Arena), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team fell in heartbreaking fashion in a five-set match, 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 18-25, 13-15), against No. 7-ranked Minnesota on Friday night (Oct. 25) at Crisler Center.
After leading the match, 2-0, out of the gate, the Wolverines (13-6, 6-3 Big Ten) could not sustain its momentum, falling in its third five-set match of the season.
Individually, sophomore Paige Jones had 26 kills to go with 13 from freshman Jess Robinson and 11 more from senior Sydney Wetterstrom to pace the Wolverine attack. Jones also added four service aces and six digs to her match-high kill total. Wetterstrom added 18 digs to secure a double-double in the contest, while junior Natalie Smith chipped in 17 digs on the defensive end. Senior setter MacKenzi Welsh dished out a match-high 56 assists while adding eight kills and seven digs.
With the match in the balance, the Wolverines came up short in a back-and-forth fifth set, falling in a stanza that featured six lead changes and was tied six times.
The Wolverines grabbed the first set, 25-22 thanks to a solid performance on the attacking side. Michigan put together a .372 attack percentage with 20 kills in the set victory.
After their win in the first set, Michigan registered a .378 attack percentage in the second set. Once again, the Wolverines used a late rally to secure the win, rattling off two consecutive points with the match knotted at 23 to put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-23 victory.
U-M came up short in the third, 25-21, as Minnesota grabbed the advantage at 12-11 and never looked back.
Michigan then dropped their second straight set, 25-18, to bring the match level at two sets apiece. The Wolverines jumped ahead to a 4-0 start, but the Golden Gophers rallied back to earn the fourth-set victory.
The Wolverines will be back in action Sunday (Oct. 27), when they host No. 6 Wisconsin (13-4, 9-0 Big Ten) at 1 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
