Michigan
19-14
Arizona
27-4
Michigan Swept by No. 5 Arizona in NCAA Second Round
12/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Tucson, Ariz. (McKale Center)
Event: NCAA Tournament (Second Round)
Result: #5 Arizona 3, Michigan 0 (15-1, 15-1, 15-8)
Records: U-M (19-14), Arizona (27-4)
Next U-M Match: Season complete
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team ended its season with a 3-0 defeat (15-1, 15-1, 15-8) to Arizona, the No. 2 seed in the Central Region, in the NCAA Tournament second round Friday (Dec. 1) at the McKale Center. Arizona, which finished the regular season ranked fifth in the nation, proved to be too much for the injury-ridden Wolverines with a .443 hitting percentage (44-5-88) for the match.
For the third match in a row, U-M was without starting outside hitter Chantel Reedus (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South HS), and middle blocker Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) was limited to partial action, both due to injuries. Despite her few minutes, Lehman had one block assist, to tie her with Lindsey Ebert (1995-98) for the Michigan single-season record (115), and she finished one short of Ebert's record for total blocks for a season (132).
Arizona (27-4) came out firing in the first game, scoring the first six points at the start. Sarah Behnke (Baroda, Mich./Stevensville Lakeshore HS) got Michigan (19-14) on the scoreboard with the first service ace of the match. After swapping sideouts, the Wildcats scored the next nine points to win game one. The Wolverines had a -.065 hitting percentage (9-11-31), while Arizona hit .423 (13-2-26) for the game.
The Wolverines did not fare any better in game two as they received their only point on a kill by Joanna Fielder (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) to tie the game at 1-1. The Wildcats strung together the next 14 points for a two-game lead. Arizona maintained its constant offensive pressure with a .571 hitting percentage (17-1-28) in the game.
Down two games to none, U-M didn't give up, putting forth its best game in the third. The Wolverines tied the score at 2-2 on a kill from Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS). The teams traded points and found themselves deadlocked at 5-5 following an Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) kill. After a Wildcat run, Michigan went on a 3-1 run of its own, sparked by kills from Poquette, Alija Pittenger (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS) and Moore. But Arizona came back, and eventually took the game (15-8) and match.
The Wolverines end the season with a 19-14 overall record.
MATCH BESTS
Kills: U-M 36 (Nicole Poquette, Erin Moore 7), Arizona 44 (Marissa Dalee 13)
Assists: U-M 33 (Shannon Melka 29), Arizona 39 (Dana Burkholder 33)
Service Aces: U-M 4 (Sarah Behnke 2), Arizona 4 (Four players with 1)
Digs: U-M 34 (Alija Pittenger 9), Arizona 33 (Jill Talbot 10)
Blocks: U-M 4 (Moore 3), Arizona 13 (Dalee 9)
NOTES
• Michigan's all-time record in the NCAA Tournament is now 3-3. The Wolverines have won their first-round match and lost in the second round in each of their three NCAA appearances.
• Sarah Behnke finished her career second on the U-M all-time kills list with 1,142.
• Erin Moore's three solo blocks was a career high, and a Michigan season high for one individual.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match ... "First, Arizona is a very good team, and they played well. Tonight, we didn't play well in the first and second games. We helped to power them, and we didn't have control of the ball. Game three we played better, but Arizona is a good blocking team. Dana (Burkholder) did a great job setting. They were always pressuring us."
On Michigan's execution ... "[Arizona] served well enough and tough enough, and we didn't execute. They passed extremely well, and Dana (Burkholder) set where she wanted to. We served better in the third game and passed a little better too."
U-M Senior Outside Hitter Sarah Behnke
On her career ... "I had a great experience at Michigan. I just wish my last game would have ended in a championship game. Things happen for a reason, and I will take away a lot of things and learn from them."
On Arizona ... "It all started from the passing, and they are a great blocking team. We were hitting into their forehands every time."
