Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan Looks to Extend Series Win Streak Wednesday at Michigan State
11/18/2019 4:09:00 PM | Volleyball
THIS WEEK
Saturday, Nov. 16 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 7 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team (18-8, 11-5 Big Ten) will travel to in-state rival Michigan State Wednesday (Nov. 20) to take on the Spartans at 7 p.m. inside Jenison Field House in East Lansing.
Keep the Streak Alive
Michigan will be going for its fifth consecutive win over Michigan State, a feat that has not been accomplished by the Wolverines in the 46-year history of their rivalry with the Spartans. U-M previously won four consecutive matches against MSU once during the Mark Rosen era, beginning Nov. 13, 2008 and running through Oct. 13, 2010. The only other four-match win streak against the Spartans came in four matches during the 1981 campaign.
Killing It with Crocker
Fifth-year senior Cori Crocker has been a vital part of the Michigan offense this season, and she has the numbers to back it up. The middle blocker boasts the best attack percentage in the Big Ten (.442) and is ranked third in the entire NCAA.
Jones Leading the Way
Sophomore Paige Jones leads the Wolverines and is fourth in the Big Ten in kills per set (3.85) this season while hitting .258, and she has had double-digit kill efforts in 15 of 16 conference matches. She picked up her eighth double-double of 2019 with 13 kills and 10 digs at No. 5 Minnesota (Nov. 16).
Ace, Ace, Baby
Michigan ranks second in the Big Ten in service aces per set (1.54) after an eight-ace performance against No. 5 Minnesota Saturday (Nov. 16). Paige Jones (0.36 per set, 8th in Big Ten) and freshman May Pertofsky (0.35, 11th) have fared well from the service line as individuals, while senior Katerina Rocafort had a hot week at the line, finishing with five total aces (0.83) against Iowa and Minnesota.
Closing In On 5,000
Senior MacKenzi Welsh is set to become just the fourth player in Michigan volleyball history to dish out 5,000 career assists, needing just 37 more to reach the milestone. Welsh moved into fourth in Michigan volleyball history in all-time assists thanks to her 44-assist performance at Northwestern (Nov. 2). Her 4,963 career assists put her 109 behind Linnea Mendoza (5,072, 1994-97) for third place in U-M annals. Welsh had her fifth 50+ assist performance of the season with 53 against Michigan State (Nov. 6) in what was her first time this season topping that plateau in a four-set match.
Scouting the Opposition
Michigan State
All-time series against the Spartans: U-M trails 53-46
Michigan State (14-12, 5-11 Big Ten) has lost two of its last three matches since falling to Michigan in Ann Arbor Nov. 6, and MSU has gone 1-8 in Big Ten action since starting league play 4-3. The Spartans' strength comes from their front line, as they rank second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.175) and third in blocks per set (2.68). Naya Gros ranks sixth in the Big Ten in blocks per set (1.23), and Rebecka Poljan comes in at 12th (1.08).
Michigan Under Mark Rosen
The 2019 volleyball campaign marks the program's 47th season and 21st under head coach Mark Rosen. In his time leading the Maize and Blue, Rosen has compiled a 426-262 record and guided Michigan to 17 of its 20 NCAA postseason appearances. In addition to serving as the longest-tenured volleyball coach at Michigan, Rosen is the winningest coach in program history.
