Michigan
11-1,1-0Big Ten
Michigan State
7-5,0-1Big Ten
Michigan Sweeps Rival MSU in Big Ten Opener at Crisler
9/27/2024 10:06:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan took down Michigan State in three sets to improve to 11-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.
» Michigan held Michigan State to an .071 hitting percentage across the match.
» Allison Jacobs led Michigan offensively with 14 kills and had just two errors.
» Jacque Boney and Serena Nyabmio combined for 11 total blocks in the match.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In front of the third largest crowd in program history, the University of Michigan volleyball team swept Michigan State 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 on Friday night (Sept. 27) at Crisler Center to open Big Ten conference play with its 11th win of the season.
A crowd of 6,939 watched the Wolverines (11-1, 1-0 Big Ten) use 11 blocks and 47 digs en route to holding Michigan State to an .071 hitting percentage. Jacque Boney and Serena Nyambio were strong in front of the net with Boney tallying six blocks Nyambio five. Allison Jacobs led the way offensively with 14 kills and just two errors on 36 attacks. Maddi Cuchran was a presence in the backcourt, tallying a team-leading 15 digs with Morgan Burke collecting 31 assists.
Nyambio opened the match with a kill before Michigan State (7-5, 0-1 Big Ten) evened the set at one. Michigan took a 4-2 lead, but the Spartans countered with a 5-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. After kills from Boney and Jacobs and a combined block between them, U-M took an 8-7 lead. The teams traded the lead twice and tied it seven times until the Wolverines finished the match on an 8-3 run. A kill from Jacobs broke a 17-17 tie and a block from Nyambio and Jacobs put the Wolverines up 19-17 to force an MSU timeout. The Spartans got a point back, but a kill from Nyambio gave Michigan a 20-18 lead. An MSU attack error forced the second Spartans timeout of the set. Two Michigan State errors, a block from Nyambio and Valentina Vaulet, and a Nyambio kill were the final four points of the set leading Michigan to a 25-20 set win.
The second set was Michigan's from start to finish. Opening on a 3-0 run, U-M took later held an 11-6 lead to force an MSU timeout. Four different Wolverines picked up kills in the opening part of the second set with Jacobs leading the way with four. The Spartans chipped away but still trailed 18-14 taking their second timeout of the set. Trixie McMillin aced Michigan State out of the timeout, but the Spartans tied the score at 21 and 22 but were unable to take the lead. A kill by Vaulet sandwiched by kills from Kendyl Reaugh kept the Spartans at bay and gave Michigan a 25-22 set win.
Michigan State opened the third set with a kill but committed five errors to give Michigan an early 5-2 lead. Kills from Jacobs and Boney extended the Wolverines lead to 7-3 and later, two blocks in a row from Nyambio put the Wolverines in front 12-8. MSU took the next three points of the set to bring the score within one. The Spartans tied the match at 13, but a kill from Jacobs and a Boney and Reaugh block forced an MSU timeout with Michigan leading 16-13. The teams traded the next two points which brought Vaulet to the line. She led Michigan on a 5-0 run bookended by aces. Michigan State took a timeout in the middle of the run but could not shake the Wolverines, who used a block from Boney and Burke to take a 23-16 lead. After a Michigan State attack error, Cuchran ended the match with an ace giving U-M the 25-17 set win and completing the sweep.
The Wolverines will return to action on Sunday (Sept. 29) at 5 p.m. against Rutgers at Cliff Keen Arena. The match will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
