Michigan
5-2,0-0Big Ten
Eastern Michigan
4-5,0-0MAC
Michigan Sweeps EMU to Kick Off Michigan Invitational
9/17/2021 3:57:00 PM | Volleyball
» Jess Robinson led Michigan with 11 kills and three total blocks.
» Jacque Boney finished with six kills and three blocks.
» U-M outhit EMU .368 to .179
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan Invitational
Score: Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-16)
Records: U-M (5-2), EMU (4-5)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Boston College - Michigan Invitational (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team got back to its winning ways Friday afternoon (Sept. 17) at Cliff Keen Arena, turning aside cross-county foe Eastern Michigan in straight sets (25-11, 25-20, 25-16) in the Wolverines' opening match of the Michigan Invitational.
Junior Jess Robinson was the only player to finish the match with double-digit kills, collecting 11 while hitting .556. The Troy, Mich., native also was a major factor in U-M's dominant net presence, turning in three total blocks. Freshman Jacque Boney added three blocks of her own (one solo block, two block assists) to go along with six kills. Junior May Pertofsky had a well-rounded match with six kills, four aces, two total blocks and a dig, while senior Paige Jones had eight kills and hit .400.
Michigan grabbed the momentum from the first point and never looked back, leading for the entire first set. The Wolverines hit .536 while holding the Eagles to just .059, and perhaps most impressively, had a sideout percentage of 91 percent (11-of-12) to lead Michigan to its most lopsided set victory of the season, 25-11.
Set two was a much closer battle than the first, but the Maize and Blue controlled play throughout. After slowly pulling ahead through the first 10 points, the Wolverines maintained a steady advantage throughout the set. Eastern Michigan climbed back to cut Michigan's lead to just two at 19-17, but U-M finished strong by winning six of the final nine points to shut the door, 25-20.
Michigan returned to its first-set form in the final frame and used the opportunity to dip into its bench, with 13 different student-athletes seeing action in the set. Junior Jenni Liu made her U-M debut and finished with a pair of assists, while senior Grace Persson made her season debut and finished with a kill.
The Wolverines out-hit the Eagles overall, .368 to .179 and also finished with more service aces (9-2), blocks (6-4) and assists (31-28).
U-M continues its weekend hosting the Michigan Invitational when it welcomes Boston College to Cliff Keen Arena on Friday (Sept. 17) at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed live on B1G+.
