Michigan
8-0,0-0Big Ten
Akron
3-5,0-0MAC
Michigan Bests Akron in Four Sets at Michigan Invitational to Remain Undefeated
9/13/2024 10:32:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan took down Akron in four sets to improve to 8-0.
» Allison Jacobs led the Wolverines with a career-high 25 kills.
» Morgan Burke led the Wolverines to a .317 hitting percentage with a career-high 51 assists.
» U-M totaled a season-high 12 blocks, including seven from Jacque Boney.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After dropping the first set, the University of Michigan volleyball team responded and won the next three to take down Akron (26-28, 26-24, 25-13, 25-17) on Friday evening (Sept. 13) in Cliff Keen Arena to improve to 8-0 on the season.
Michigan was led offensively by career highs from Allison Jacobs and Morgan Burke. Jacobs tallied a career-high 25 kills on 52 swings and added eight digs while Burke collected a career-best 51 assists and added 14 digs for a double-double. Jacque Boney also had a strong night with 12 kills and seven total blocks.
Both teams battled hard in a first set that saw 19 ties and seven lead changes. Michigan took the biggest lead of the set at 8-5 after a kill from Boney, but Akron (3-5) tied the match at nine. No team managed bigger than a two-point lead for the rest of the set. A kill from Ella Demetrician saw Akron take a timeout down 21-20 and a kill from Jacobs forced the second Zips timeout with U-M ahead 23-22. Michigan had two set-point chances, but the Zips tied the match at 24. Michigan fought off two Akron set points, but the Zips got the final two points of the set, winning 28-26.
The second set was another tight battle as the teams evenly split the first 10 points of the match. The Zips went on a run forcing two Michigan timeouts at 9-5 and 16-11, but the Wolverines were able to fight back and went on a 6-2 run led by two kills from Jacobs and an ace from Maddi Cuchran. U-M forced a Zips timeout, with the visitors holding a 19-17 advantage. Resuming after the timeout, Michigan continued rolling with a 5-2 run to take the lead at 23-22. Akron tied the match at 24 after stopping two Wolverines set points, but this time back-to-back kills from Jacobs sealed the 26-24 Wolverines set win.
The Maize and Blue dominated the third set opening on a 6-0 burst with Burke at the service line. The Zips ended the run, but Michigan then won five of the next six points to go up 12-2. Akron won six of the final 11 points of the set, but Michigan's lead was too large in a 25-13 set victory. U-M went errorless on 24 attacks with Jacobs leading the way with seven kills.
The fourth set featured 12 ties and six lead changes, with Kendyl Reaugh opening the set with a kill. The Zips responded with a short run to take a 3-1 lead. The teams traded points until, at 14-14, Michigan won the next seven points led by Trixie McMillin from the service line. The run included an ace and two blocks from Boney to go up 21-14. With a kill from Jacobs and Boney, Michigan went up 23-15. The Zips got the two points back, but two kills from Reaugh sealed the set win 25-17 and the match win.
Michigan will close the Michigan Invitational on Sunday (Sept. 15), hosting tournament co-host Oakland at Cliff Keen Arena. The match will be streamed live on B1G+.
