Michigan
Nebraska
Michigan to Hit Road to Take on No. 12 Nebraska, Iowa
9/29/2021 1:59:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan travels to Lincoln to battle #12 Nebraska on Friday and Iowa City on Saturday to face Iowa.
» The Wolverines rank in the top five of the Big Ten in five statistical categories.
» U-M has played in five matches in which it has collected double-digit blocks, including back-to-back contests last weekend.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 1 -- at #12 Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 6 p.m. CDT
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, Oct. 2 -- at Iowa (Carver-Hawkeye Arena), 7 p.m. CDT
TV: B1G+ | Live Stats | Live Video
• Complete Game Notes (PDF) | Rosen Report
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team hits the road for its second weekend of Big Ten Conference action, taking on No. 12 Nebraska on Friday (Oct. 1) in Lincoln, then will battle Iowa on Saturday (Oct. 2) in Iowa City. Friday match against the Cornhuskers will be broadcast on Big Ten Network, and Saturday's contest will be streamed live on B1G+.
Wolverine Bites
• Several Wolverines find themselves ranked in the Big Ten's top 10 in key statistical categories. Junior May Pertofsky sits closest to the top of a list at No. 2 in service aces per set (0.52). Senior Paige Jones ranks fifth in kills per set (3.79), redshirt sophomore Hannah Grant is tied for sixth in digs per set (4.17), freshman Jacque Boney also is tied for sixth in blocks per set (1.36) and sophomore Scottee Johnson is 10th in assists per set (9.64).
• Michigan ranks among the Big Ten's best in several team categories as well -- fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.151), opponent kills (10.86) and service aces (1.64). U-M is fifth in hitting percentage (.258) and blocks (2.67).
• Senior Paige Jones and sophomore Jess Mruzik had incredibly similar weeks to open Big Ten play, as both pin hitters averaged 3.78 kills and 2.11 digs per set. Jones finished the week hitting .300 and had a double-double of 18 kills and 10 digs against No. 9 Minnesota. Mruzik had seven total blocks and two service aces for the weekend, while registering a double-double against the Golden Gophers (18 kills, 14 digs).
• Freshman Jacque Boney opened the Big Ten season the same way she ended non-conference play: leading the Wolverines' vastly improved block defense. The Brookhaven, Ga., native led the team with 13 total blocks and a 1.44 blocks-per-set average against Minnesota and Michigan State. Her season blocks-per-set average has climbed to 1.36, tying her for sixth-best in the Big Ten and putting her in a first place tie among freshmen.
• Junior May Pertofsky played a major part in the Wolverines' 1-1 opening weekend, averaging 2.56 kills, leading the team with three aces, and adding eight total blocks. In Michigan's loss at No. 9 Minnesota, Pertofsky had 15 kills and hit a team-leading .361.
• Redshirt sophomore Hannah Grant led the team with 35 digs over the weekend for a 3.89 digs-per-set mark. Her 20 digs against Minnesota marked the second time this season the libero had 20-or-more digs in a match (25 vs. LSU, Aug. 27).
• Not only did sophomore setter Scottee Johnson orchestrate a strong offense in the opening weekend of Big Ten play, but she also was instrumental on the defensive side, collecting 33 digs for a 3.67 digs-per-set mark.
• Michigan has turned the tables on its blocking from the spring. After finishing last in the Big Ten in blocks per set (1.42), the Maize and Blue are currently fifth in the league at 2.67 blocks per set.
• The Wolverines, after not having a single match with double-digit blocks in the spring season, have had five occasions this fall. They have out-blocked opponents in nine of 11 matches, and are coming off back-to-back matches of 11 and 10 blocks, respectively.
• Individually, Michigan can look at some of its veterans to see the impact Jacque Boney's presence is making in blocking. Senior Paige Jones has the highest blocks-per-set average (0.46) of her career, and junior May Pertofsky already has twice as many total blocks this fall (42) as she had in 12 matches this spring (21).
• The Wolverines extended their win streak over Michigan State to seven matches with their 3-1 win Sunday. It is the longest stretch of consecutive wins for U-M over their rival in the series that dates back to 1973.
Time Changes for Maryland, Wisconsin Matches
The start times for a pair of Michigan's upcoming home matches have changed. U-M's contest against Maryland on Friday, Oct. 15, at Cliff Keen Arena will begin at 6 p.m. The Wolverines' matchup against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Crisler Center will start at 4:30 p.m. Both matches were originally scheduled for 7 p.m. starts. » Ticket Information
Opponent Preview
Nebraska
Nebraska leads Michigan in the all-time series 17-3
Michigan is still looking for its first program win in Lincoln this weekend, having an 0-8 record against the Cornhuskers in their home venue. Two of Michigan's win came in the friendly confines of Cliff Keen Arena, while the third came in front of a heavily pro-Nebraska crowd in Omaha at the Runza/AVCA Showcase to kick off the 2009 season.
The tandem of junior Madi Kubik and redshirt senior Lexi Sun have been the key offensive players for the Huskers this season. Kubik leads the team in total kills (102) and kills per set (2.68) while hitting .211 for the campaign. Sun leads the team in points per set (3.11) and service aces per set (0.39) and is second on the team in kills per set (2.42). Defensively, freshman Lexi Rodriguez leads the team with a 3.73 digs-per-set mark and senior Callie Schwarzenbach averages 1.33 blocks per set.
Nebraska's three losses came in succession to close out non-conference play, falling to No. 20 Utah, No. 16 Stanford and No. 5 Louisville. The Huskers returned to their winning ways with a pair of wins to start Big Ten play, beating Northwester in four on the road and sweeping Iowa at home.
Iowa
Michigan leads Iowa 44-27 in the all-time series
The Wolverines have dominated the series with Iowa in recent memory, having won 13 of the last 14 matchups with the Hawkeyes. Its lone blemish was a four-set road loss in the 2017 season. A win on Saturday would give U-M its fourth streak of five wins or more over Iowa since the series began in 1976.
Senior Courtney Buzzerio is the key to the Iowa offense, accounting for 238.5 points and 219 kills on the season. The right-side attacker has more than 100 more kills than the next closest Hawkeye, and is second in the Big Ten in kills per set with a 4.66 mark. Sophomore setter Bailey Ortega is averaging 9.15 assists per set on the campaign.
Iowa has started the season slow, compiling just a 2-10 record in the early going. Though giving Illinois a match in the Big Ten opener, the Hawkeyes ultimately fell in five sets. They then went on to get swept by Nebraska.
Up Next
Friday, Oct. 8 -- vs. Minnesota (Crisler Center), 9 p.m.
