Michigan
9-0
Auburn
5-6
Wolverines Outlast Tigers to Remain Unbeaten
9/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Event: Michigan/Pepsi Invitational
Score: Michigan 3, Auburn 1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 25-11)
Records: U-M (9-0), Auburn (5-6)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 19 -- vs. Western Kentucky (Cliff Keen Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Lexi Zimmerman(Barrington, Ill./Barrington) recorded 12 kills and 45 assists to lead the University of Michigan volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 25-11) win over Auburn Saturday night (Sept. 13) on the second day of the Michigan/Pepsi Invitational at Cliff Keen Arena. U-M completes the weekend 3-0 to win its third invite in three tries this season and improves to 9-0 for the third straight season.
Senior Beth Karpiak(LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) added a team-leading 15 kills to help propel Michigan to first place in the two-day competition.
In the opening set, the Maize and Blue quickly posted a 7-1 lead thanks to back-back kills and a block by Karpiak. Auburn mounted a small comeback pulling the score to within two at 10-8, but the Tigers could not keep up with an aggressive Wolverine attack as Michigan claimed the 25-17 set victory. Zimmerman led Michigan with her four kills and three digs to go along with 11 assists. Karpiak, junior Veronica Rood(Temperance, Mich./Bedford) and sophomore/freshman Karlee Bruck(Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) all contributed to the attack with three kills apiece.
Auburn managed to gain a small 7-4 lead in the second set and held on through a back-and-forth battle to win 25-22. Zimmerman had 10 assists and three kills for the Maize and Blue.
In the third set, Michigan opened up an early 8-3 lead, causing Auburn to call an early timeout. The Wolverines continued to control the tempo out of the break, taking a 23-14 lead. The Tigers refused to go away quietly though as they rolled off seven straight points to pull within two. With Auburn threatening to tie the score at 24, Rood closed the door with a kill to win the third set for the Maize and Blue. Junior Juliana Paz(Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) led the offense for Michigan with four kills while Zimmerman notched 12 assists.
Following the tight finish in the third set, the Wolverines left little doubt in the fourth and final set, winning 25-11. Michigan opened up an early 5-1 lead behind two kills and a block from Bower and never looked back. Karpiak controlled the net throughout the set, notching six kills with a .857 hitting percentage. Zimmerman continued to add to her impressive assist numbers with 12 more in the final set.
Four Wolverines had double-digit kills with Bower and Rood notching ten apiece to go along with Karpiak and Zimmerman. Defensively, senior Kerry Hance(Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) led the way with 11 digs while Zimmerman was close behind with nine. Bruck posted six blocks to lead the team.
With a 3-0 record, Michigan took first place in the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge. Zimmerman was named to the all-tournament team and Karpiak won the MVP award.
The Wolverines return to Cliff Keen on Friday (Sept. 19) when they host the Michigan/adidas Invitational. Western Kentucky, Albany and Arizona State will all be in attendance as Michigan attempts to continue its undefeated season.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Leah Dupuie, Oakland
Kelly Fidero, Auburn
Jessica Glover, Auburn
Kassie Kadera, Toledo
Beth Karpiak, Michigan
Shannon Strachan, Toledo
Lexi Zimmerman, Michigan
Tournament MVP:Beth Karpiak, Michigan
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
