Michigan
1-0
Valparaiso
0-1
Bruzdzinski's Near Double-Double Helps U-M Top Valpo
9/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Valparaiso, Ind. (Athletics-Recreation Center)
Score: Michigan def. Valparaiso 3-0 (30-24, 30-20, 35-33)
Records: U-M (1-0), Valparaiso (0-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 3 -- vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore at Manhattan College Invitational (Riverdale, N.Y.), 5 p.m.
VALPARAISO, Ind. -- University of Michigan volleyball freshman outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./North HS) narrowly missed a double-double in her collegiate debut with 14 kills and nine digs, while sophomores Erin Cobler (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) and Danielle Pflum (Martinsville. Ind./Martinsville HS) added nine kills each as U-M downed Valparaiso 3-0 (30-24, 30-20, 35-33) in its season opener Wednesday night (Sept. 1) at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Bruzdzinski added three blocks and two aces, while senior setter Lisa Gamalski (Milwaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) had 35 assists and seven kills with nine digs.
U-M took the first two games handily until the Crusaders fought back to force game point three times in game three. It took some excellent defensive work and Bruzdzinski and sophomore Megan Bowman (St. John, Ind./Lake Central HS), who combined for the match-winning block, to give U-M the win.
Down 29-27 in game three, Valparaiso rallied with three straight points to lead 30-29 but Gamalski placed a ball perfectly in the back row to tie it once again, 30-30. The teams tied again at 31, 32 and 33 before Pflum drove a ball between two blockers to give U-M a 34-33 lead. On the next play, Bruzdzinski and Bowman elevated to block a Valpo attack, giving Michigan a 35-33 win and the match.
U-M had trailed 27-25 late in the third game when freshman Lyndsay Miller (Ida, Mich./Ida HS) brought Michigan to within one on a big kill in the middle and Valpo committed an attack error on the next point to tie it up, 27-27. Bruzdzinski nailed her 14th kill and Valpo committed another error to bring Michigan to match point leading 29-27.
Michigan extended a 15-12 lead in game one to 20-15 thanks to three Bruzdzinski kills when Valparaiso clawed back within one, trailing 20-19. Three consecutive errors and another kill by Bruzdzinski gave the Wolverines a commanding lead that they would never relinquish.
U-M never fell behind in game two while crusing to a 30-20 win.
Michigan travels to Riverdale, N.Y., to compete in the Manhattan College Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 3-4) against Maryland-Eastern Shore, American University and the host Jaspers.
