Weekly Release #10
11/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Friday, Nov. 5 -- vs. Purdue (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6 -- vs. Wisconsin (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 12 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 14 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 2 p.m.
Michigan Returns Home After Four-Match Road Trip
Michigan (12-9, 4-8 Big Ten), which is in ninth place in the Big Ten, returns home to Cliff Keen Arena after a four-match road trip to face of pair of teams the Wolverines are looking up at in the Big Ten standings. Michigan plays host to sixth-place Purdue on Friday, Nov. 5 (7 p.m.) and fourth-place Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 6 (7 p.m.).
Purdue -- Purdue (13-7, 5-7 Big Ten) is tied for sixth in the Big Ten ... Purdue setter Taryn Catlin leads the Big Ten in assists with 13.53 apg ... Purdue leads the Big Ten and the nation in team kills (18.03 kpg) ... Purdue also leads the Big Ten in team assists (16.11 apg) ... outside hitter Aneeka Arosarena is second in the conference in kills (5.06 kpg) ... Purdue faces the Wolverines coming off a 3-1 upset win over No. 23 Illinois at West Lafayette (Oct. 30) ... Purdue on the Internet: www.purduesports.com.
Wisconsin -- Wisconsin (15-7, 8-4 Big Ten) is tied for third in the conference ... Wisconsin was the preseason No. 9 team in the country and spent the first seven weeks of the season in the AVCA/USA Today Top 25 before falling out on Oct. 18 ... sophomore middle blocker Sharisa Livingston is tied for first in the Big Ten in blocks (1.52 bpg) ... Wisconsin is second in the conference in service aces (1.83 sapg) ... The Badgers reached the Pacific Regional final of the 1998 NCAA Tournament before falling to Nebraska 3-2 ... Wisconsin on the Internet: www.wisc.edu/ath.
Michigan vs. Purdue: The Series
Michigan, which dropped a tough five-game match (15-8, 11-15, 15-7, 2-15, 12-15) at Purdue (Oct. 2), gets a second shot at the Boilermakers on Friday, Nov. 5, at Cliff Keen Arena. In the first meeting Michigan junior middle blocker Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) registered a career-high 25 kills and a hitting percentage of .281 (25-9-57). Purdue has won the last three matches in this series, snapping Michigan's own three-match win streak over the Boilermakers. In its last eight matches at Cliff Keen Arena, Michigan holds a 6-2 advantage over Purdue. From 1977-1989 Purdue won 19 of 20 matches vs. the Wolverines. However, the series has evened up since then with Purdue holding a slight 10-9 series lead in the 1990s.
All-Time Series: PU leads, 29-10
In the 1990s: PU leads, 10-9
Current "W" Streak: PU, 3
Longest "W" Streak: PU, 19 (11/7/81-11/2/90)
Michigan vs. Wisconsin: The Series
The Wolverines look to even up the season series vs. Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Badgers defeated Michigan 3-0 (9-15, 4-15, 14-16) at Madison (Oct. 1) behind a hitting percentage of .250 (58-22-144). Despite its struggles attacking -- Michigan hit just .090 (46-32-155) -- Michigan did out-block Wisconsin 12-8. Wisconsin has won the last six straight vs. Michigan after the Wolverines had dumped the Badgers in six of the nine matches prior to Wisconsin's current streak. Michigan has won five of its last seven at home vs. Wisconsin.
All-Time Series: UW leads, 25-13
In the 1990s: UW leads, 13-6
Current "W" Streak: UW, 5
Longest "W" Streak: UW, 10 (10/2/87-11/16/91)
U-M Gains Split in First Weekend of Conference's Home Stretch
Michigan opened the second half of the Big Ten season with a split on a road trip that took the Maize and Blue to Iowa on Friday (Oct. 29) and Minnesota on Saturday (Oct. 30).
The Wolverines gained a win on their first stop as they swept Iowa in three games (15-8, 15-2, 15-10) for the second time this season. Michigan controlled the match from the outset and registered its best team hitting percentage vs. a Big Ten foe this season. Paced by Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS), who hit .304 (11-4-23), and Joanna Fielder, who hit .333 (11-3-24), the Wolverines hit .276 (44-15-105) for the match while holding Iowa to a team hitting percentage of .096 (35-22-114).
Minnesota, the No. 2 blocking team in the Big Ten, proved too tough on the front line in a 0-3 (3-15, 3-15, 9-15) Michigan loss. Only Behnke, who compiled 10 kills, was in double digits in kills for the Wolverines. The weekend split left Michigan 12-9 overall, 4-8 and ninth place in the Big Ten.
Behnke Likes the Boilers
Sarah Behnke is one Wolverine who is looking forward to seeing Purdue invade Cliff Keen Arena on Friday (Nov. 5). Behnke has registered season highs in kills in each of Michigan's last two matches vs. Purdue. On Nov. 14, 1998, Behnke lit up the Boilermakers for 27 kills in the four-game match and hit at a clip of .345 (27-7-58). In the first meeting with Purdue this season (Oct. 2). Behnke had a breakout match when she nailed a season-best 22 kills in Michigan's tough five-game loss on the road.
Melka Reaches Milestone
Sophomore setter Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS) registered 26 assists vs. Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 30. In the process Melka reached the 1,500th assist of her still young career at Michigan. Melka, who is currently fifth on Michigan's all-time assist list, needs just 29 assists in the weekend homestand vs. Purdue (Nov. 5) and Wisconsin (Nov. 6) to pass Erin McGovern and move up to fourth on the all-time list.
Michigan's All-Time Assist Leaders
| 1. | Linnea Mendoza (1994-97) | 5,072 |
| 2. | Tarnisha Thompson (1989-92) | 2,619 |
| 3. | Lisa Vahi (1984-87) | 2,139 |
| 4. | Erin McGovern (1993-96) | 1,538 |
| 5. | Shannon Melka (1998-current) | 1,510 |
Exceeding Expectations
More than halfway through Big Ten schedule in 1999, the Michigan volleyball squad finds itself exceeding the preseason prognostications. Michigan, which was pegged as the 10th-place team in the Big Ten in a preseason poll of Big Ten coaches, has spent five weeks in the AVCA/USA Today Top 25 in addition to registering three wins over ranked opponents. Michigan is currently ninth in the Big Ten but only one game behind Ohio State, Indiana and Purdue for the sixth spot in the conference. Of those three teams Michigan must climb over to reach the upper division of the Big Ten, Indiana and Purdue must come to Cliff Keen Arena during the final month of the season. Michigan travels to Ohio State after beating the Buckeyes on Sept. 24 in a thrilling five-game match. Sixth place in the Big Ten carries special significance because the Big Ten has had six participants in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments.
Aces High
Junior outside hitter Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) put momentum on Michigan's side from the beginning in its win over Iowa (Oct. 29). After Iowa scored the initial point of the match in game one, Pittenger took over and served seven straight points, which sent Michigan on its way to a 15-8 game-one win. Included in those seven consecutive Michigan points were four service aces from Pittenger, who then connected again in game three for a Michigan season-high and personal career-best five service aces in the match.
Wolverines Attack Hawkeyes
Michigan's three-game win over Iowa (Oct. 29) was paced by its best team hitting percentage in Big Ten play in 1999. The Wolverines hit .333 (19-6-39) in game one as well as game two (.333, 10-1-27) on their way to a Big Ten season-best hitting percentage of .276 (44-15-105) for the match. In addition, it was only the second time in Big Ten play more than one Wolverine hit over .300 for the match. Joanna Fielder led the way with a percentage of .333 (11-3-24), while fellow junior Sarah Behnke hit .304 (11-4-23) for the match. The only other time Michigan had two players hit better than .300 was in its win over Northwestern (Oct. 16) when Fielder hit .333 (20-5-45) and Alija Pittenger hit .387 (16-4-31).
Wolverines Attack Hawkeyes II
At Iowa, Michigan recorded its second fewest attack errors of the season, with just 15. The match Michigan registered fewer attack errors was in its three-game sweep of Toledo (Sept. 3), when the Wolverines amassed just nine attack errors.
Michigan "D"
Michigan's improving defense got even better in its win over Iowa (Oct. 29) as Michigan, which leads the Big Ten in digs, registered just one reception error in the three-game victory. The only match Michigan had fewer reception errors was when it was perfect in its first win over Iowa (Oct. 9).
Strong Service Game
One of the strong points of this Michigan volleyball team has been its service game. The Wolverines recorded seven service aces to just two service errors in their win over Iowa (Oct. 29), which was their second best ratio for a match this season. For the season Michigan has out-aced its opponents 102-100, while the Wolverines have recorded 49 fewer service errors (120-169) than their opponents. Michigan's seven service aces against Iowa was a team season high for a three-game match.
Milestone
Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Kacor (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) reached the 300-kill mark for her career vs. Minnesota (Oct. 30). Kacor, who registered just 27 kills in 52 games played as a freshman, has delivered 276 kills in 73 games played two-thirds of the way through her sophomore campaign. Kacor is currently ninth in the Big Ten in kills (3.78 kpg).
Michigan Battles 1998 Tournament Field to a Draw
With over two-thirds of the 1999 Michigan volleyball season completed, the Wolverines have faced 12 teams from the 1998 NCAA Tournament field. Michigan currently has a record of 6-6 against 1998 NCAA Tournament teams and will face six of those teams one more time on the Big Ten slate. The following is a breakdown of Michigan vs. 1998 NCAA Tournament teams:
| 9/3 | vs. Brigham Young | W | 3-0 (15-13, 15-10, 15-13) |
| 9/10 | Pepperdine | L | 0-3 (4-15, 11-15, 10-15) |
| 9/11 | Arkansas | W | 3-1 (15-8, 15-8, 9-15, 15-10) |
| 9/17 | at South Carolina | W | 3-2 (11-15, 10-15, 17-15, 16-14, 15-11) |
| 9/18 | vs. Virginia | W | 3-0 (15-9, 15-13, 15-5) |
| 9/24 | Ohio State | W | 3-2 (15-7, 13-15, 15-10, 13-15, 20-18) |
| 9/25 | Penn State | L | 0-3 (2-15, 5-15, 3-15) |
| 10/1 | at Wisconsina | L | 0-3 (9-15, 4-15, 14-16) |
| 10/5 | at Notre Dame | W | 3-1 (15-11, 8-15, 15-10, 15-10) |
| 10/13 | at Michigan State | L | 3-0 (9-15, 6-15, 5-15) |
| 10/22 | at Indiana | L | 0-3 (8-15, 11-15, 10-15) |
| 10/23 | at Illinois | L | 1-3 (7-15, 15-7, 5-15, 4-15) |
| 11/6 | vs. Wisconsin | | |
| 11/12 | at Penn State | | |
| 11/14 | at Ohio State | | |
| 11/19 | vs. Illinois | | |
| 11/20 | vs. Indiana | | |
| 11/24 | vs. Michigan State | | |
Home Cooking
Michigan's win over Northwestern (Oct. 16) gave the Wolverines their fifth win in eight home matches in 1999. Of those five wins, two have come against 1998 NCAA Tournament teams Ohio State and Arkansas. Michigan's three home losses have been to teams currently ranked the USA Today/AVCA Top 25: No. 1 Penn State, No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 19 Minnesota. Michigan's all-time record at Cliff Keen Arena now stands at 68-69, which gives Michigan an opportunity to go over the .500 mark at home this weekend vs. Purdue on Friday (Nov. 5) and against Wisconsin on Saturday (Nov. 6).
Upcoming Promotions
Following a weekend road trip to Penn State (Nov. 12) and Ohio State (Nov. 14), the Wolverines return to Cliff Keen Arena on Friday, Nov. 19, vs. Illinois and Saturday, Nov. 20, against Indiana. Michigan will continue its Friday night two-for-one promotion, in which everyone purchasing a ticket to Michigan's match vs. Illinois gets the second one free. Michigan's match against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 20, is "Girl Scout Night." Any young lady wearing something that identifies herself as a girl scout (i.e., uniform, t-shirt, membership card, badge, etc.) will gain free admission to see the Wolverines battle the Hoosiers.
1999 Season Match Bests
Team
Kills 83, at Purdue (10/2) Attempts 250, at Purdue (10/2) Hit Pct. .449 (44-9-78), vs. Toledo (9/3) Assists 74, vs. Northwestern (10/16) Service Aces 13, vs. South Carolina (9/17) Digs 90, at Purdue (10/2) Block Solo 3, vs. Northwestern (10/16) Block Assist 26, vs. Ohio State (9/24) Total Blocks 15, vs. Ohio State (9/24)
Individual
Kills 25, Nicole Kacor vs. South Carolina (9/17) 25, Joanna Fielder at Purdue (10/2) Attempts 71, Nicole Kacor at Purdue (10/2) Hit Pct. .733 (11-0-15), A. Maxwell vs. Syracuse (9/10) Assists 67, Shannon Melka at Purdue (10/2) Service Aces 5, Alija Pittenger at Iowa (10/29) Digs 26, Nicole Kacor at Purdue (10/2) Block Solo 1, by numerous players Block Assist 10, Joanna Fielder vs. Ohio State (9/24) Total Blocks 10, Joanna Fielder vs. Ohio State (9/24)
Big Ten Conference Team Records (through Oct. 31)
BIG TEN OVERALL 1. Penn State 12-0 1.000 22-1 .957 2. Minnesota 10-2 .833 19-5 .792 3. Illinois 8-4 .667 12-6 .667 Wisconsin 8-4 .667 15-7 .682 5. Michigan State 6-6 .500 16-8 .667 6. Indiana 5-7 .417 14-7 .667 Purdue 5-7 .417 13-8 .619 Ohio State 5-7 .417 11-8 .579 9. MICHIGAN 4-8 .333 12-9 .571 10. Iowa 3-9 .250 4-15 .211 11. Northwestern 0-12 .000 2-20 .090
This Week in the Big Ten
Wednesday, Nov. 3
Iowa at Minnesota
Friday, Nov. 5
Ohio State at Illinois
Penn State at Indiana
Purdue at Michigan
Wisconsin at Michigan State
Minnesota at Northwestern
Saturday, Nov. 6
Penn State at Illinois
Ohio State at Indiana
Iowa at Northwestern
Wisconsin at Michigan
Purdue at Michigan State
Michigan 1999 Record ...
vs. ranked opponents 3-5 vs. unranked opponents 9-4 ALL three-game matches 7-7 ALL four-game matches 3-1 ALL five-game matches 2-1 BIG TEN three-game matches 2-6 BIG TEN four-game matches 1-1 BIG TEN five-game matches 1-1 in game one (ALL) 12-9 in game two (ALL) 8-11 in game three (ALL) 10-9 in game four (ALL) 5-2 in game five (ALL) 2-1 total games won-lost (ALL) 37-31 total games won-lost (BIG TEN) 12-24 points in total games (ALL) 809-805 points in total games (BIG TEN) 382-469 at Cliff Keen Arena (home) 5-3 on the road (away/neutral) 6-5
Big Ten Statistical Rankings
ALL GAMES TEAM INDIVIDUAL Hit Pct. 9th (.197) Annie Maxwell, 8th (.314) Assists 8th (13.63) Shannon Melka, 5th (12.51) Blocks 7th (2.26) Joanna Fielder, 9th (1.10) Kills 9th (15.11) Nicole Kacor, 9th (3.89) Aces 8th (1.38) Alija Pittenger, 9th (0.33) Digs 1st (15.60) Nicole Kacor, 1st (3.83) Alija Pittenger, 2nd (3.39) BIG TEN TEAM INDIVIDUAL Hit Pct. 10th (.150) Assists 9th (13.24) Shannon Melka, 6th (12.43) Blocks 8th (2.24) Joanna Fielder, 8th (1.25) Kills 9th (14.52) Aces 9th (1.17) Alija Pittenger, 3rd (0.41) Digs 1st (15.76) Nicole Kacor, 1st (4.10) Alija Pittenger, 4th (3.33)
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
