Michigan
Oakland
U-M to Kick Off 2019 with Michigan Invitational
8/27/2019 1:48:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan begins the 2019 season ranked No. 15 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll after ending last season at No. 12.
» U-M will host 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Northern Arizona, Oakland and Tennessee Tech in this weekend's Michigan Invitational at Cliff Keen Arena.
» Michigan brings back 14 players from last season's Sweet 16 team that finished 24-10.
THIS WEEK
Fri-Sat, Aug. 30-31 -- host Michigan Invitational (Cliff Keen Arena)
Tournament Central
Friday, Aug. 30 -- vs. Oakland, 11 a.m.
Live Stats
Friday, Aug. 30 -- vs. Northern Arizona, 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats
Saturday, Aug. 31 -- vs. Tennessee Tech, 2 p.m.
Live Stats
• Complete Game Notes (PDF) | Digital Program (PDF)
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
PROMOTIONS
• Aug. 30, 11 a.m.: Free admission, team posters, schedule magnets
• Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m.: Mini LED fans
• Aug. 31: Team posters, schedule magnets
• Full Promotions Schedule
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team will kick off the 2019 season this weekend (Fri-Sat, Aug. 30-31) when it hosts the Michigan Invitational at Cliff Keen Arena. U-M will welcome 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Northern Arizona, Oakland and Tennessee Tech to Ann Arbor.
• The round-robin tournament for Michigan will begin Friday (Aug. 30) with the season opener against Oakland at 11 a.m., followed by an evening match against Northern Arizona at 7:30 p.m. The weekend will wrap up Saturday (Aug. 31) with a 2 p.m. match against Tennessee Tech.
• Michigan is 14-0-1 all-time against Oakland, while U-M will square off against both Northern Arizona and Tennessee Tech for the first time in school history.
• Michigan came in at No. 15 in the first AVCA poll of the season after another run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2018. U-M is one of eight Big Ten teams to earn a spot in the preseason poll. In addition, Michigan was picked to finish seventh in the Big Ten by the conference coaches.
• The 2019 volleyball campaign marks the program's 47th season and 21st under head coach Mark Rosen. In his time leading Michigan, Rosen has compiled a 408-254 record and guided the Wolverines to 17 of its 18 NCAA postseason appearances. In addition to serving as the longest-tenured volleyball coach at Michigan, Rosen is the winningest coach in program history.
• Michigan's seven-member senior class has posted a 42-10 record at home over the last three seasons. The Wolverines finished the 2018 campaign with a 13-5 record when playing in Ann Arbor.
• Head coach Mark Rosen and junior libero Natalie Smith represented Michigan as the Big Ten sent a team to Japan to compete internationally. Rosen served as the head coach, with Smith Michigan's representative on the team. The group traveled to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan from June 14-26.
• Michigan returns seven of its eight top scorers from last season despite the graduation of leader Carly Skjodt (565 points/4.64 points per set). Following is a breakdown of the returning offense:
Paige Jones -- 455.5 points/3.80 points per set
Kiara Shannon -- 233.5 points/2.00 points per set
Sydney Wetterstrom -- 185.5 points/2.85 points per set
Cori Crocker -- 171.5 points/2.02 points per set
MacKenzi Welsh -- 138.0 points/1.16 points per set
Katarina Glavinic -- 133.0 points/1.99 points per set
Kayla Bair -- 66.0 points/1.38 points per set
