Michigan
10-12, 4-9Big Ten
Minnesota
19-5, 9-4Big Ten
Michigan Falls to No. 17 Gophers Despite Superior Stats
11/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite recording more kills and digs and posting a better hitting percentage and fewer hitting errors, the University of Michigan volleyball team fell to the No. 17-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers in four games (30-32, 30-23, 22-30, 24-30) Friday night (Nov. 4) at Cliff Keen Arena.
Sophomore Lyndsay Miller (Ida, Mich./Ida) led all players and tied a career high with 19 kills and added six blocks, while sophomore Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) and junior Danielle Pflum (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) each finished with 11 kills. Sophomore Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) tallied 27 digs on defense.
The Wolverines fought hard in game one through 16 ties and nine lead changes until Minnesota scored two points in a row with the score deadlocked at 30-30 to win, 32-30. Miller kept U-M within win's reach, collecting six blocks in the first period alone while adding three kills. Despite Miller's efforts and a Wolverine attack that outhit Minnesota, .190 to 123, it was the Wolverines who had to survive game point, down 29-28, and forced a Gopher attack error to even it at 29-29. Michigan led 24-21 late in the period when Minnesota began its comeback, knotting the score at 27-27 and taking a 29-28 lead late. An attack error and a block by Miller and Pflum put the Gophers against the wall, down 30-29, but three points in a row gave the visitors the game.
The tide turned in the second game as Michigan rebounded from a three-point deficit to lead from 11-10 on and take a 30-23 victory to knot the match at one game apiece. Miller exploded for six kills, while senior/junior Erin Cobler (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) added four terminations.
Minnesota rebounded in game three, taking a 13-12 lead and holding the advantage for the duration to win 30-22 despite finishing with a lower hitting percentage (.200 to U-M's .250), fewer kills (13 to U-M's 16) and fewer digs (14 to U-M's 21).
In game four, the Wolverines came back from a six-point deficit to tie the game at 16-16, but the Gophers regained the lead and battled to a 30-24 victory and the match. U-M fell behind as many as six points, 16-10, when Miller hit two kills, Plfum added one and Bruzdzinski had a kill and an ace to knot it up, 16-16. Minnesota rebounded on a 12-4 run to lead 28-20 and seal the victory.
Michigan returns to action Saturday night (Nov. 5) when it takes on Iowa at 6 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On tonight's match... "We won most of the statistical categories -- kills, digs and errors -- but they were able to win some of those tight games. We worked more on process and execution, and tonight was a step in the right direction. We changed our philosophy a little bit and were more willing to miss on serves. We took steps tonight and we need to build on this match and get stronger for the stretch run."
U-M Junior Danielle Pflum
On tonight's match ... "We played well at times and were pretty steady throughout the match. Coach (Lloyd) Carr came over and talked to us today, which was very inspiring. He told us to take it point by point and not keep looking at the big picture, and that's what they did."
On the difference between this game and last weekend's matches ... "We are still not statistically where we want to be but we continue to improve, which is the important thing. This match gives us some momentum and we're excited to play Iowa. I know if we play like we did tonight -- not overblocking or forcing too many errors -- we should beat Iowa."
N O T E S
Sophomore Lyndsay Miller tied a career high with 19 kills while also setting a career best with 49 attempts -- 10 more than her previous high.
Senior/junior Erin Cobler played in her 80th career match, while junior Danielle Pflum competed in the 70th match of her career.
Sophomore Stehsa Selsky needs just nine digs to set a new Michigan single-season record for most digs.
Freshman Mara Martin is 46 assists shy of tallying 1,000 career assists. Only nine Wolverines have tallied 1,000 assists or more in Michigan volleyball history.
Fifth-year senior Candace Gay's next start will be the 10th of her career.
Sophomore Stesha Selsky had a career high with two kills -- both coming on acrobatic digs that carried over the net for the point.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
