Michigan
13-8,4-7Big Ten
Ohio State
14-5,10-1Big Ten
Michigan Drops Rivalry Road Match at Ohio State
10/26/2022 9:41:00 PM | Volleyball
» Jess Mruzik led the Wolverines offensively with 13 kills.
» May Pertofsky paced U-M at the net defensively with five blocks.
» Michigan will close out the week with another rivalry match when it hosts Michigan State on Sunday (Oct. 30) in Crisler Center.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan volleyball team fell to No. 6-ranked Ohio State in three sets (17-25, 21-25, 23-25) on Wednesday night (Oct. 26) at the Covelli Center.
The Buckeyes (14-5, 10-1 Big Ten) started out strong and used a balanced attack to pull to a 19-7 lead in the opening set. Michigan went on a 7-2 run late in the set and pulled within six points, but Ohio State closed out set one 25-17.
Michigan (13-8, 4-7 Big Ten) fell behind early in the second set, but the defensive effort at the net by May Pertofsky, Jess Robinson and Jacque Boney came in clutch as the Wolverines combined for four blocks in a row and tied things up at 8-8. U-M kept stride with the Buckeyes as the score was tied five times, but the Buckeyes used an 8-4 scoring run late to prevail in the second set, 25-21.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the third set and forced Ohio State to call an early timeout. Michigan kept tempo with an onslaught of kills from Allison Jacobs, Jess Mruzik and Robinson, but Ohio State chipped away at the U-M lead until the Buckeyes pulled even at 14-14. Pertofsky gave Michigan back the edge (15-14) with a cross-court kill assisted by Maddie Dowd and the teams exchanged blows from there until another kill by Pertofsky put Michigan up 23-21 late. Despite the late U-M lead and 18 kills in the frame for the Wolverines, the Buckeyes rallied for a 4-0 scoring run to come from behind and take set three, 25-23.
Mruzik led Michigan on the offensive front with 13 kills and Pertofsky totaled five blocks to lead the defensive effort at the net. Hannah Grant held down the backcourt with 18 digs while Scottee Johnson led the Wolverines with 18 assists.
Michigan will return to action on Sunday (Oct. 30) at home in Crisler Center for its Volloween match against in-state rival Michigan State. First serve is set for 2 p.m. and the contest will be streamed live on B1G+.
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