Michigan
13-2, 1-2
Wisconsin
11-4, 1-2
Michigan Slips Up at Wisconsin
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Madison, Wis. (UW Field House)
Score: #20 Wisconsin 3, #22 Michigan 2 (27-25, 25-18, 24-26, 24-26, 10-15)
Records: U-M (13-2, 1-2 Big Ten), Wisconsin (11-4, 1-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 5,128
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 4 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 7 p.m. CDT
Boxscore
MADISON, Wis. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team dropped its second straight match on Friday night (Oct. 3), falling in five sets to No. 20 Wisconsin (27-25, 25-18, 24-26, 24-26, 10-15) at the UW Field House. Michigan's bid to end a 16-year winless streak at Wisconsin was thwarted after the Badgers stormed back from a 0-2 hole to win.
Set one saw 14 ties and four lead changes as the teams traded blows before freshman Alex Hunt(Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) finished off the Badgers for a 27-25 win. Neither team led by more than two points the entire opening frame, but it was U-M that used the final push and six kills from junior Juliana Paz(Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) to outlast the home team.
In set two, Michigan seized momentum early, jumping out to a 5-2 lead on a kill by Paz and ball-handling error by the Badgers, and never turned back. Wisconsin forced a 12-12 tie, but the Wolverines pushed back up four points, 17-13, on another termination from Paz and rolled to a 25-18 win.
Set three saw the momentum shift to the side of the home team as Wisconsin rallied from a 13-9 deficit to tie the set 15-15. Michigan jumped back up briefly, 17-16, on a kill by sophomore Lexi Zimmerman(Barrington, Ill./Barrington), but saw Wisconsin regain the lead at 20-19 on a U-M service error. The score flip-flopped down the stretch with Paz forcing a 24-24 tie, but back-to-back Michigan errors gave Wisconsin the 26-24 win.
In set four, Wisconsin raced out to a 7-3 early lead and held that margin until U-M came roaring back to tie the set 19-all on a kill by junior Megan Bower(Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral). U-M pushed its advantage to 21-19 on a Wisconsin attack error and had match point after a kill by senior Beth Karpiak(LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township), but UW reeled off the next three points to ignite the home crowd and take set four 26-24.
In the final frame, Wisconsin again raced out early, taking a 7-3 lead. U-M fought back to within four, 12-8, before Wisconsin took three of the next five points to cap its comeback, 15-10.
The loss marks the second straight for the Wolverines after starting the season 13-0.Paz finished with a team- and career-high 20 kills, while Hunt tallied a career-best 14 terminations. Zimmerman posted 51 assists, while freshman Sloane Donhoff(Louisville, Ky./Assumption) added 15 digs, matching her career high.
Michigan will be back in action on Saturday (Oct. 4) when it travels to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern. First serve vs. the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. CDT at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
