Michigan
18-13, 8-12Big Ten
Northwestern
5-25, 2-18Big Ten
Michigan Prevails Against Northwestern on Senior Night
11/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Result:Â Michigan 3, Northwestern 1 (15-11, 13-15, 15-3, 15-5)
Records:Â U-M (18-13, 8-12 Big Ten), NU (5-25, 2-18 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event:Â Sunday, Nov. 26 -- NCAA Selection Show (UMTV), 8 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team seniors went out in style as they took four games to defeat the Northwestern Wildcats (15-11, 13-15, 15-3, 15-5) on Saturday (Nov. 25) at Cliff Keen Arena. In her last regular-season contest, senior Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Lakeshore HS) led the Maize and Blue with 22 kills, raising her career total to 1,124 and a tie for second with Michelle Horrigan (1989-93) on U-M's career list.
Michigan seemed out of sync starting the match and fell behind 6-1. The Wolverines regrouped and ran off seven straight points to go ahead 8-6. Northwestern battled back, but Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who had seven kills and a .545 hitting percentage in the first game, took control and claimed the first game for the Wolverines at 15-11.
Northwestern came out firing in the second game, taking a 13-5 lead. After a sideout, Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) and Behnke put Michigan close, cutting the Wildcat advantage to 13-11, but Northwestern retaliated and took the game 15-13.
A combination of Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS), Pittenger, Behnke and Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) -- who each had three or more kills in the third game -- was too much for the Wildcats as Michigan breezed 15-3 in game three.
With Michigan having the upper hand, Behnke went for the jugular and recorded eight kills in the fourth game for a 15-5 Wolverine victory to secure the 3-1 victory.
The Wolverines finished the regular season 18-13 overall and 8-12 in the Big Ten. Michigan will find out tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 26) if it will make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament when the 64-team field is announced at 8 p.m. The selection show will air on UMTV (channel 22 on Ann Arbor MediaOne).
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 67 (Sarah Behnke 22); NU 52 (Carmen Burbank 19)
Assists: 62 (Shanon Melka 44); NU 48 (Kelli Meyer 37)
Service Aces: U-M 3 (Three players with 1), NU 2 (Meyer, Adriana Ruhl 1)
Digs: U-M 64 (Alija Pittenger 17); NU 57 (Molly Kamp 12)
Blocks: U-M 21 (Joanna Fielder 9); NU 10 (Ericka Lange 7)
NOTES
• Alija Pittenger's 17 digs elevated her to 1,013 in her career to became the fifth Wolverine to register 1,000 digs.
• Sarah Benhke is now tied with Michelle Horrigan (1989-93) for second place on U-M's career kills list with 1,124.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On his senior performers ... "They all played outstanding today; every senior played a positive role in our victory. (Sarah) Benhke really took over the game towards the end and dominated."
On the possibility of being selected to the NCAA Tournament ... "I think we have a good chance. We are definitely on the bubble, but the strength of the Big Ten will be an important factor in us being chosen."
