Michigan
2-0
Oregon State
1-1
Michigan Still Undefeated With Win Over Oregon State
8/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- With another balanced showing of offensive power, the University of Michigan volleyball team had six or more kills from five players, including 13 from senior Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North), to push its record to 2-0 with a 3-0 (30-22, 30-26, 30-27) win over Oregon State Saturday (August 25) at the ASICS Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Stan Sheriff Center.
Freshman Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) spread the Wolverine attack around once again, setting up junior Beth Karpiak (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) for 11 kills, sophomore Veronica Rood (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) for 10 terminations and senior Lyndsay Miller (Ida, Mich./Ida) for eight kills, while slamming six finishers of her own. Senior Sarah Draves (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) also got into the act with five kills, including three in game one.
Michigan also showcased its skills on defense, recoding a season-best 11.0 team blocks, led by six roofs from Miller and four from Karpiak, including a pair of block solos. Senior Stesha Selsky (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) cracked the 20-dig mark for the second match in a row, recording 20 digs in the three-game match. Zimmerman added 10 digs to the cause, recording her second double-double in as many matches with 40 assists as well.
Much like the previous night against Hawaii, the Wolverines took control of game one early, building an imposing 10-point, 20-10 lead to cruise to a 30-22 victory. U-M continued a balanced attack as six Wolverines recorded kills, led by four apiece from Bruzdzinski and Karpiak and three from Draves. Miller and Rood chipped in with two apiece and Zimmerman had one termination. Selsky kept the back line safe with seven digs, while Zimmerman added four to the cause.
Oregon State made a fight of it in game two, building a lead through the early goings until Michigan tied it 9-9 -- never to look back again. The Wolverines held several comfortable leads but the dogged Beavers fought back each time, chipping into six point leads on two occasions. Zimmerman turned offensive in the second frame, recording three kills, including two momentum swingers down the stretch to help Michigan enter the break up 2-0. Miller was also a wall at the net, recording three blocks, while Zimmerman chipped in with a pair of stops.
The Wolverines repelled a tough Beaver squad that refused to go down without a fight in game three. Michigan built a number of leads, only to have Oregon State gnaw itself back into contention. With the score 23-23, Bruzdzinski exploded for a pair of kills to put U-M up 25-23. Rood was also stellar down the stretch, recording two of the Wolverines' final three points, including the match-clinching kill, to keep U-M undefeated.
Michigan wraps up play at the ASICS Rainbow Wahine Invitational Sunday (August 26) against Colorado State at 3 p.m. HST (8 p.m. EDT). Live audio coverage will be available via MGoBlue.com.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
