Weekly Release #15
12/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Upcoming Schedule
Thu-Sun., Dec. 5-8 -- NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds (Manhattan, Kan.)
Dec. 6 -- No. 11 Washington State vs. Oral Roberts, 5:30 p.m. CST
Dec. 6 -- Michigan at No. 22 Kansas State, 30 minutes after first match
Dec. 7 -- Washington State/Oral Roberts winner vs. Michigan/Kansas State winner, 7 p.m. CST
December 12-15 -- vs. TBD (Campus Sites), Times TBA
Complete Release in PDF (5 pages, 112 KB)
Michigan Meets Kansas State in NCAA First-Round Action
The University of Michigan volleyball team (16-14, 10-10 Big Ten) travels to Manhattan, Kan., to face No. 22 Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday (Dec. 6). Michigan's match is scheduled to start 30 minutes after site's first match, a contest between No. 11 Washington State and Oral Roberts, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. CST in Ahearn Field House. The Wolverines, who are making their fourth trip to the postseason in the last six years, are one of eight Big Ten Conference teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Internet Extras
The official website for Michigan Athletics (MGoBlue.com) will carry live audio of all home Wolverine volleyball games for the 2002 season. MGoBlue.com will also feature live stats for all home matches.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets can be obtained by calling the Kansas State Athletic Ticket Office at 1C800-221-CATS. All-session passes, which cost $10 for adults, $8 for students and senior citizens and $6 for children under 12, will be sold until noon Friday (Dec. 6). Any remaining tickets will be sold as single-match tickets beginning at 4 p.m. at Ahearn Field House. Single-match tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens and $4 for children under 12.
About Kansas State
Michigan and Kansas State are meeting for the second time in series history. Kansas State won the teams' first meeting 3-0 (25-30, 22-30, 21-30) on Sept. 2, 2001, at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The 22nd-ranked Wildcats finished the regular season 20-8 overall and 16-4 in the Big 12 Conference, good for second in the final league standings. KSU has lost two of its last three matches after tearing off a 13-match winning streak. Junior middle blocker Lauren Goehring leads the offense with 3.47 kills per game and a .366 (330-73-703) hitting percentage. She is 28th in the nation in attack percentage (.365) in the latest NCAA rankings (Nov. 24). Junior Laura Downey-Wallance averages 5.40 digs per game and has the nation's third-best digs per game average (5.48) in the latest NCAA rankings. Sophomore Lisa Martin leads the team at the net with 1.14 blocks per game, while sophomore setter Gabby Guerre averages 11.68 assists per game. Head coach Suzie Fritz has a record of 40-16 in two years as a collegiate head coach, both at Kansas State.
Kansas State on the Internet: www.k-statesports.com
The Second Round
The winner of the Michigan/Kansas State match and the winner of the Washington State/Oral Roberts match will meet at 7 p.m. CST Saturday (Dec. 7) at Ahearn Field House in Manhattan, Kan. The winner of the second-round match will advance to the regional semifinals, which begin Dec. 12.
Potential Second-Round Opponents
Should Michigan advance to the second round, they will be facing an unknown. The Wolverines have never played Washington State (21-7, 11-7 Pac-10) or Oral Roberts (22-10, 11-1 Mid-Continent) in volleyball.
Wolverines Split Final Home Weekend
Michigan came up just short in one of the hardest-fought matches of the season Friday (Nov. 29), as the Wolverines fell to 15th-ranked Wisconsin 3-1 (30-26, 24-30, 30-27, 35-33) in front of 1,016 fans at Cliff Keen Arena. Carrie Ritchie (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive HS) led the team with 16 kills, hit .412 (16-2-34) and completed her third double-double of the season with 12 digs. Setter Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) also hit well, posting a .474 attack percentage on 10 kills and one error in 19 attempts. She added 49 assists and eight digs, just missing another triple-double. Michigan closed the regular season with a 3-1 (30-23, 27-30, 30-25, 30-21) victory over Northwestern Saturday (Nov. 30) in front of 1,023 fans. Michigan played one of its best home matches of the season, posting its second-highest block total with 15, tying the season high in services aces with eight and hitting .258 (61-19-163) against the Wildcats. Senior Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield, Hills, Mich./Marian HS), playing in her final home match, posted a team-high eight blocks and added eight kills and one service ace.
Eight Big Ten Schools Make the Postseason
Michigan is one of a record eight Big Ten schools to receive bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten has received at least five NCAA Tournament bids in each of the last 10 seasons (since 1993). In each of the last six seasons, the conference has received at least six tournament bids, including a record eight bids in 1999 and 2002. The Pac-10 also received eight bids, tying the Big Ten for the most bids in 2002.
Michigan Against the NCAA Field
Michigan played 20 of its 30 regular-season matches against 13 teams that made the NCAA Tournament. U-M was 8-12 against NCAA teams, going 2-0 against Michigan State; 1-0 against Cincinnati and South Florida; 1-1 against Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana and Ohio State, 0-1 against Nebraska, Notre Dame, Pepperdine and Santa Clara; and 0-2 against Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Tough Losses
Twelve of U-M's 14 losses this season came against teams which made the NCAA Tournament, including nine losses to seven opponents seeded in the top 16 (No. 3 Nebraska, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 9 Pepperdine, No. 13 Penn State, No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 15 Ohio State and No. 16 Notre Dame).
Not Afraid to Play Ranked Teams
Michigan played 23 of its 30 regular-season matches (77 percent) against 10 teams which have been ranked (Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pepperdine, Santa Clara, Wisconsin) and five teams which have received votes (Alabama, Cincinnati, Indiana, Northwestern, South Florida) in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll at least once this season. The Wolverines were 10-13 in those matches.
Postseason Reputation
With a bid to this year's NCAA Tournament, Michigan head coach Mark Rosen has been to the NCAA Tournament in nine of his 11 seasons as a collegiate head coach. His California State-Bakersfield and Northern Michigan teams participated in the NCAA Division II Championship tournament six times, and he has led to U-M to the NCAA Division I Championship tournament three times (1999, 2000, 2002). The only two years he has not participated in the tournament were 1998 as the head coach at Boise State and 2001 as the head coach at Michigan.
Add Another Award
Junior captain Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio/Columbian HS) was named to the 12-member All-Big Ten team by the league's head coaches. She is the first Wolverine to earn a spot on the All-Big Ten team since Linnea Mendoza (1994-97) was on the All-Big Ten first team in 1997 and is the first non-senior at Michigan to receive the recognition.
Pretty Impressive for Moore
Erin Moore also earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2001 and was on the 2002 preseason all-conference team. It is just the fourth time a Michigan player has earned more than one Big Ten honor in her career and is the first time a U-M player has earned a Big Ten honor in consecutive seasons since Karen Chase (1995-98) earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in 1997 and 1998, the two years before current head coach Mark Rosen took over the program.
Ritchie Steps Up to the Plate
Carrie Ritchie has played front row in five of the last seven matches of the regular season, including the last four. She has made the most of her time, posting a kill-dig double-double in four of those matches.
Outstanding Output
Jennifer Gandolph finished the regular season with 413 kills and is the first Michigan player to post 400 or more kills since Nicole Kacor (1998-2001) tallied 405 kills in 1999. Gandolph's total is the most since Karen Chase (1995-98) had 488 kills in 1998 and stands as the fifth-highest single-season total at U-M since 1983.
Outstanding Output II
Jennifer Gandolph finished the regular season with 1,049 attempts in 30 matches (110 games). She is the first Michigan player to record more than 1,000 attack attempts in a season since Nicole Kacor (1998-2001) posted 1,133 attempts in 31 matches (111 games) during the 1999 season.
Lehman on Offense
Katrina Lehman, draws attention for her blocking skills, but she has also played well on offense this season. She has posted double-digit kills in eight of the last 14 matches. She has recorded 10 or more kills in 13 of 30 matches, tying her career high for double-digit kill matches in a season (13 in 2000).
Multiple Record Book Entries for Lehman
Katrina Lehman, Michigan's all-time leader in total blocks and block assists, has a long list of additional places in the U-M record book where one can find her name. On offense, Lehman is ninth all-time at Michigan with 933 kills in her career. On defense, she set the single-season records for total blocks (142) and block assists (122) in the second-to-last weekend (Nov. 22-23) of the season. In her final home match against Northwestern (Nov. 30), she posted eight blocks to set the record for total blocks in a conference season (104). She finished the regular season with 89 block assists in conference play, second all-time in block assists in a conference season (93; Lehman, 2001). She is also fifth all-time at U-M with 52 career block solos.
Coming Up for Lehman
Career Kills 1 Karen Chase 1,261 8 Fiona Davidson 992 9 Katrina Lehman 933 10 Jeanine Szczesniak 909 Block Assists / Season 1 Katrina Lehman (2002) 133 2 Katrina Lehman (2001) 119 3 Katrina Lehman (2000) 115 Linsey Ebert (1997) 115 Block Assists / Conf. Season 1 Katrina Lehman (2001) 93 2 Katrina Lehman (2002) 89 3 Katrina Lehman (2000) 76 4 Fiona Davidson (1992) 75 Total Blocks / Season 1 Katrina Lehman (2002) 153 2 Linsey Ebert (1997) 132 3 Katrina Lehman (2000) 131 4 Katrina Lehman (2001) 130 Total Blocks / Conf. Season 1 Katrina Lehman (2002) 104 2 Katrina Lehman (2001) 100 3 Katrina Lehman (2000) 85 Carla Hunter (1988) 85
Talk About Balance
Michigan has had at least three players reach double digits in kills in 20 of 30 matches this season. At Purdue (Nov. 22), all six starters -- Jennifer Gandolph, Lisa Gamalski, Katrina Lehman, Erin Moore, Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) and Carrie Ritchie -- posted double-digit kills and accounted for all 83 of the team's kills. Twice -- Alabama (Sept. 13) and then-No. 11 Penn State (Nov. 2) -- Michigan has had five of its six starters reach double-digit kills. In each of those matches, setter Lisa Gamalski, the only one not to reach double digits, chipped in with four kills.
Six Times Ten
At Purdue (Nov. 22), all six starters -- Jennifer Gandolph, Lisa Gamalski, Katrina Lehman, Erin Moore, Nicole Poquette and Carrie Ritchie -- posted double-digit kills. The last time Michigan had six players record 10 or more kills was against Iowa on Sept. 27, 1997, in Iowa City, Iowa. Jane Stevens (1995-98) led the way with 23 kills, Sarah Behnke (1997-2000) had 15 kills, Sarah Jackson (1994-97) had 14 kills and Linsey Ebert had 13 kills. Jane Szczesniak (1995-98) and Anne Poglits (1996-99) each contributed 10 kills to give Michigan six players with double-digit kills.
Gamalski in National Rankings
Lisa Gamalski continues to rank among the nation's best setters. She fell one spot to 24th in the nation in assists per game with an average of 12.99 in the latest NCAA rankings (Nov. 24). Santa Clara's Kelli Sousa leads the country with 14.46 assists per game.
Michigan in the National Rankings
Michigan is nationally ranked in two categories -- kills per game and assists per game -- in the latest NCAA rankings (Nov. 24). U-M returned to the rankings with the 29th-best kills per game average (16.23) after missing out for one week. The Wolverines fell four spots to 29th in assists per game (14.81). Hawaii leads both categories, with 18.15 kills per game and 16.65 assists per game.
Kills per game 1 Hawaii 18.15 29 Michigan 16.23 Assists per game 1 Hawaii 16.65 25 Michigan 14.81
Blocking Bonanza
Michigan is having one of its best blocking years ever. The Wolverines set the school record for block assists in a season with 502 during the final weekend of the regular season. U-M currently has 301 total blocks, the second-highest total in program history. The team needs just three and one-half team blocks to tie the record of 304.5 team blocks set in 1988.
Lehman Blocks Her Way to the Top of the Record Book
Katrina Lehman became Michigan's all-time blocks leader with a block assist in the fourth game of the match against Indiana (Oct. 4). She entered the season sixth on the list and now stands first with 469 career blocks. Lehman passed Julia Sturm (375, 1987-90) for the all-time record. Lehman also holds the block assists career record with 417, having passed Linsey Ebert (305, 1995-98) for the school record.
Not Just a Setter
Lisa Gamalski was not a setter when she started playing volleyball, and it shows. She leads the team in attack percentage and is third in digs per game. She has recorded 145 kills with just 40 errors in 360 attempts for a .292 attack percentage. On defense, Gamalski has 284 digs for an average of 2.56 per game, third to Carrie Ritchie (2.70 digs per game) and Jennifer Gandolph (3.23 digs per game).
Haven't I Seen This Before
Five of Michigan's regular six starters this season -- Katrina Lehman, Jennifer Gandolph, Erin Moore, Chantel Reedus and Nicole Poquette -- were regular starters during the 2001 season. The sixth regular starter, sophomore setter Lisa Gamalski, played in 16 of the team's 27 matches last season and started seven times.
Uncharted Territory
Head coach Mark Rosen has helped Michigan increase its number of conference wins each of the four years he has been in charge of the program. The Wolverines won seven Big Ten matches in 1999, eight in 2000, nine in 2001 and 10 this season.
Ten Big Ten Wins Brings Another Milestone
Michigan finished the regular season with 10 Big Ten victories for just the fifth time in 21 years of conference play. U-M won 10 conference matches in 1991 under the guidance of Peggy Bradley-Doppes, while Greg Giovanazzi led the Wolverines to 11 Big Ten wins in 1992 and 1995 and a school-record 13 conference wins in 1997.
There's No Place Like Home
Michigan was the last team in the Big Ten to lose at home this season. The Wolverines suffered just two home losses this season, against then-No. 6 Minnesota (Nov. 15) and Wisconsin (Nov. 29), for an 11-2 record at Cliff Keen Arena. In the last two years, U-M is 22-5 at home. In that span, Michigan has upset five ranked opponents, including three ranked foes this year (No. 16 Ohio State, Oct. 5; No. 18 Michigan State, Oct. 9; No. 11 Penn State, Nov. 2).
Serving Up Europe!
Michigan volleyball is planning a trip to Europe for the spring of 2003. The trip will be a chance for the athletes to compete against some of the best volleyball players in the world and experience the unique cultures in the countries they will visit. In an effort to help pay their own way, the team organized the Serving Up Europe! fund-raising program. Friends, family and fans of the program can sponsor an amount to donate for every Michigan service ace this season. Based on last season's 136 aces, a commitment of 25 cents per ace would equal a $34 donation. The team is also planning a winter volleyball camp for adults to help raise money. To sponsor the team, call coach Mark Rosen at 734-647-3035 or speak with him following a match.
Preseason Award
Erin Moore was selected to the 2002 preseason All-Big Ten volleyball team. She is the first Wolverine to be selected for the preseason all-conference squad since Sarah Jackson (1994-97) earned the honor prior to the 1997 season.
Moore Takes on Role of Captain
Erin Moore will serve as the captain of the 2002 Michigan volleyball team.
Big Ten Standings (Final Regular-Season Standings)
Big Ten Overall 1. Minnesota 17-3 .850 30-5 .857 2. Penn State 14-6 .700 24-7 .774 Wisconsin 14-6 .700 23-8 .742 4. Ohio State 13-7 .650 19-10 .655 5. Michigan State 11-9 .550 19-11 .633 6. Indiana 10-10 .500 20-12 .625 Michigan 10-10 .500 16-14 .533 Northwestern 10-10 .500 17-15 .531 9. Illinois 7-13 .350 13-16 .448 10. Purdue 2-18 .100 12-21 .364 Iowa 2-18 .100 8-22 .267
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
