Michigan
24-8, 12-8Big Ten
Penn State
32-0, 20-0Big Ten
Wolverines Drop Regular-Season Finale to No. 1 Penn State
11/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Result: #1 Penn State 3, #20 Michigan (22-25, 18-25, 13-25)
Records: U-M (24-8, 12-8 Big Ten), Penn State (32-0, 20-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,850
Next U-M Event: TBA
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team fell in three sets (22-25, 18-25, 13-25) to No. 1-ranked Penn State in the regular-season finale on Friday night (Nov. 29) at Cliff Keen Arena. Freshman Alex Hunt(Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) managed 10 kills to lead the Wolverine attack, while junior Juliana Paz(Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) tallied six kills and two service aces.
Michigan's usually potent attack was stymied throughout the match, hitting just .144 on the night. Sophomore Lexi Zimmerman(Barrington, Ill./Barrington) dished out 22 assists, her lowest total of the season, while adding a team-best seven digs in the loss.
The first set was a battle until the end as neither team was able to sustain any prolonged run. After Michigan took an early 2-0 lead, the Nittany Lions scored two straight to tie the score. The two squads traded points until Penn State went on a three-point run to take an 8-5 lead. A kill by Paz and blocks by junior Megan Bower(Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and sophomore/freshman Karlee Bruck(Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) along with another termination by Bruck quickly tied the score again at eight-all. With the score tied at 11-all, PSU tried to pull away with a 4-0 run to take a 15-11 advantage. The Wolverines responded with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the score at 15-all. The match remained close down the stretch before Penn State used a 6-2 run to take control of the set 23-19 en route to the 25-22 win. Penn State's net defense held Michigan to just a .119 attack percentage. Hunt led the Maize and Blue attack with six kills in the set.
U-M continued to play Penn State tight in set two and trailed by just one, 8-7, after a service ace by Paz. The Nittany Lions took control of the match with a 6-1 run to take a 14-8 lead. Michigan managed to climb back within four, 22-17, but PSU took three of the last four points to win 25-18. Michigan's attack was again limited as the team managed just seven kills and a .143 attack percentage. Senior Kerry Hance(Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) recorded three digs, while the Michigan offense was aided by service aces from Paz, freshman Sloane Donhoff(Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Hance.
In set three, Penn State managed to take an early 4-1 lead which was all the Nittany Lions needed, never allowing the Wolverines to tie the score. U-M managed to get within one at 8-7 before a 12-3 Nittany Lions run put the score out of reach at 20-10 on the way to a 25-13 victory. Hunt tallied four kills to pace the Wolverine attack in the final frame.
The loss tonight was just the second of the season at home for Michigan and completed a perfect regular-season run for Penn State. The Nittany Lions won all 96 sets and 32 matches they played, becoming the first team in NCAA history to accomplish the feat.
Michigan will learn its NCAA Tournament fate when the selection show airs on ESPNU Sunday night (Nov. 30) at 10 p.m. The Wolverines are looking for their eighth NCAA berth in the last 10 seasons.
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
