Michigan
13-10, 3-9Big Ten
Indiana
13-9, 4-8Big Ten
Wolverine Spikers Drop Four-Game Match at Indiana
10/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Bloomington, Ind. (University Gymnasium)
Result:Â Indiana 3, Michigan 1 (11-15, 17-15, 15-7, 15-10)
Records:Â U-M (13-10, 3-9 Big Ten), IU (13-9, 4-8 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Friday, Nov. 3 -- vs. Purdue (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team was unable to gain a weekend split as the Wolverines dropped their second Big Ten Conference match of the weekend with a 3-1 (11-15, 17-15, 15-7, 15-10) loss to Indiana on Saturday (Oct. 28) at University Gym. Michigan junior setter Shannon Melka (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS), who matched a career best with 16 digs, played a solid all-around match with 52 assists and a hitting percentage of .308 (4-0-13).
Early in game one Michigan appeared ready to break its three-match losing streak as the Wolverines jumped out to a 5-0 lead, aided by three kills from senior Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS). Michigan, which registered 22 kills in game one compared to just 15 for Indiana, maintained its advantage of five at 7-2 before a 6-0 run by Indiana put the Hoosiers in the lead for the first time. With the score knotted at 10 apiece, Michigan scored the next three points, capped off by block assists from sophomore Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) and senior Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS). After Indiana cut the deficit to two (13-11), Michigan scored the final two points of the game, including a kill from Melka for the final point of a 15-11 win.
The two teams battled back and forth in game two, with the lead changing hands six times. With the score tied at six, Indiana seemingly took control of game two with a 6-0 run that prompted a Michigan timeout. Michigan, however, answered with a 7-0 run of its own that included three kills from freshman Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Tiffin HS), who led Michigan with five blocks for the match. After Michigan took a 13-12 lead, the two teams exchanged the next four points, with Michigan earning game point at 15-14 following a kill from Pittenger. Indiana, however, fought off the Michigan game point and ran off the final three points to win game two 17-15 and tie the contest 1-1 heading into intermission.
Game three began like the first two, with Michigan and Indiana going back and forth. Following three straight Wolverine points off the serve of Shawna Olson (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis HS), the score was knotted at three apiece. Another 6-0 run put the Hoosiers in control of game three as well, but this time there would not be a Michigan comeback. The Wolverines cut the lead to three (9-6), but that was as close as Michigan would get as Indiana won game three 15-7 and took a 2-1 lead in games.
With its back against the wall, Michigan came out strong in game four. After splitting the first eight points of game four, Michigan delivered a 5-0 run that included three kills from freshman Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS). Michigan, which out-dug the Hoosiers 77-67 for the match, was unable to keep the Hoosiers at bay. With Michigan leading 10-7, Indiana, which hit .347 (21-4-49) in game four, caught fire and closed out the match with a 8-0 run for a 15-10 game-four win and a 3-1 match victory.
Michigan returns home to face Purdue at Cliff Keen Arena on Friday (Nov. 3, 7 p.m.) in Big Ten Conference action.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 68 (Sarah Behnke 19); IU 74 (Nicole Hill 19)
Assists: U-M 65 (Shannon Melka 52); IU 67 (Laurie Gardner 54)
Service Aces: U-M 1 (Behnke 1); IU 6 (Hill 3)
Digs: U-M 77 (Behnke, Alija Pittenger 18); IU 67 (Hillary Toivonen 15)
Blocks: U-M 11 (Erin Moore 5); IU 11 (Monique Pritz 6)
NOTES
• Erin Moore's 10 kills and five blocks are both career highs.
• Sarah Behnke registered 18 digs, which is a season best for the senior outside hitter.
• Alija Pittenger missed her first career triple-double by one assist in the loss at Indiana. Pittenger finished with 13 kills, 18 digs and nine assists.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match in general ... "This would have been an important win for us in terms of the standings. I thought we were in great shape in game one and for most of game two. I think the key to the match was when we could not close out game two and we let them back in the match."
