Michigan
4-6,4-6Big Ten
Nebraska
13-2,13-2Big Ten
Wolverines Fall to No. 5 Cornhuskers in Series Opener
3/25/2021 11:16:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan shocked the Cornhuskers with a 25-19 win in the first set after starting out with a 4-0 lead.
» Freshman Jess Mruzik (20) and Kendall Murray (seven) led U-M in kills.
» The teams split the first two sets with wire-to-wire wins for each team with no lead changes.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #5 Nebraska 3, Michigan 1 (19-25, 26-16, 25-15, 25-20)
Records: U-M (4-6, 4-6 B1G), Nebraska (13-2, 13-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 26 -- vs. #5 Nebraska (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team fell, 3-1 (25-19, 16-25, 15-25, 20-25), to No. 5-ranked Nebraska on Thursday night (March 25) inside Cliff Keen Arena.
Freshman Jess Mruzik led U-M offensively with 20 kills and hit .259 on the night, while classmate Kendall Murray stepped into the starting lineup for the first time in her U-M career and had seven kills (.167).
Michigan (4-6, 4-6 Big Ten) won the first set, 25-19, and never trailed after jumping out to a 4-0 lead and later extended the lead to as many as 10 points (16-6). U-M also was aided by a trio of service aces.
In the second set, the Cornhuskers (13-2, 13-2 Big Ten) took an early 5-0 lead in the set and led by as many as 13 (18-5). A kill from freshman Scottee Johnson made the tally 23-16 and brought U-M within seven, but the Huskers went on the close out the set, 25-16.
With the first two sets being wire-to-wire wins for each team, the third set saw a trio of ties and a pair of lead changes. A service ace from junior Kayla Bair made the score 5-5 and U-M then took a 7-5 lead, but and a kill from classmate Jess Robinson later in the set made it 9-8 Wolverines. However, Nebraska dominated the remainder of the set and led by as many as 10 points, 23-13, and closed out the stanza with a 25-15 score.
Michigan fought hard in the fourth set, which included 13 ties and seven lead changes. U-M led, 12-10, and was within one at 16-15, but the Huskers outscored the Wolverines, 9-5, the rest of the way to wrap up the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
Johnson led U-M in assists with 33, while freshman Hannah Grant had 16 digs.
Tweet of the Match
Freshman Jess Mruzik led us tonight with 20 kills, one away from a career-best.#GoBlue? pic.twitter.com/xDPTfsPyXl
— Michigan Volleyball (@umichvball) March 26, 2021
Michigan closes out its home slate on Friday (March 26) against the Cornhuskers. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
