Michigan
12-1,2-0Big Ten
Rutgers
5-8,0-2Big Ten
Michigan Comes From Behind, Takes Down Rutgers in Five Sets
9/29/2024 9:03:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan reverse swept Rutgers in five sets, dropping the first two before winning the final three including a 17-15 fifth set.
» Morgan Burke set a new career-high with 54 assists in the match and added nine digs.
» Allison Jacobs led the team offensively with 25 kills to match her career high.
» Serena Nyambio went 12-for-18 with no errors and added six blocks.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a back-and-forth match featuring 31 tied scores and 15 lead changes, the University of Michigan volleyball team defeated Rutgers (22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 17-15) in five sets on Sunday night (Sept. 29) at Cliff Keen Arena.
After winning the third and fourth sets, Michigan opened the fifth with a kill from Serena Nyambio. Rutgers responded with a kill, and the teams traded points until the Scarlet Knights went on a three-point run to lead 12-10. Valentina Vaulet registered a kill to bring Michigan within one, forcing a Rutgers timeout. The Scarlet Knights regained the lead, prompting Michigan's second timeout. Another kill from Vaulet and one from Jacque Boney tied the set at 13, leading to Rutgers' final timeout. Rutgers had the first match point, but Allison Jacobs' kill prevented it. After a Rutgers attack error, Michigan sealed the win with a kill from Nyambio.
Michigan (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) was led by Morgan Burke and Jacobs. Burke set a career high with 54 assists, while Jacobs matched her career high with 25 kills. Nyambio was error-free, posting 12 kills on 18 swings and adding six blocks. Maddi Cuchran led Michigan with 13 digs, while three other Wolverines recorded nine digs.
In the first set, after an opening kill from Nyambio, Rutgers (5-8, 0-2 Big Ten) went on a 3-0 run. Michigan tied the score at four and took the lead at five with back-to-back aces from Vaulet. Rutgers regained the lead and held it, despite Michigan pulling within two several times. A Rutgers ace secured a 25-22 first-set win.
Rutgers opened the second set with a 3-0 run and built an 8-4 lead. Michigan responded with a 5-0 run, highlighted by three Jacobs kills, to take a 12-11 lead and force a Rutgers timeout. The Scarlet Knights regained control, going up 16-14, and Michigan couldn't catch up, losing the set 25-22.
In the third set, Rutgers started with a kill, but Jacobs quickly matched it. Ella Demetrician contributed three kills and an ace early on, helping Michigan take a 10-5 lead. Rutgers went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead, but a block from Nyambio and Jacobs brought Michigan within one, and a Jacobs kill tied the set at 20. After a Rutgers timeout, Jacobs added another kill to push Michigan ahead. The Wolverines took four of the final six points, with Jacobs, Nyambio, and Demetrician each tallying kills to win 25-22. Michigan hit .500 in the set, with Demetrician posting five kills on six swings.
Rutgers again won the first point of the fourth set, but after a Boney kill and a Vaulet ace, Michigan went up 6-5 and never trailed again. Four straight points, including two kills from Jacobs, extended the lead to 11-7, forcing a Rutgers timeout. The Scarlet Knights closed the gap to three twice but couldn't catch up as Michigan ended the set on a 5-0 run to force a fifth set.
Michigan returns to action next Friday (Oct. 4) at USC at 7 p.m. PT.
