Michigan
16-9, 4-9Big 10
Nebraska
19-2, 12-1Big 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 25 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 17 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
U-M's Early Success Stifled in Defeat at No. 2 Nebraska
11/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Lincoln, Neb. (NU Coliseum)
Result: #2 Nebraska 3, #23 Michigan 1 (17-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21)
Records: U-M (16-9, 4-9 Big Ten), Nebraska (19-2, 12-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 5 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 7 p.m. CDT
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team had four players in double-figure kills and won the first set but dropped the next three as No. 2 Nebraska rallied for the 3-1 win (17-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21) on Friday night (Nov. 4) at the NU Coliseum.
Alex Hunt
Senior Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) led a quartet of Wolverines in double-figure kills with a season-high 22 to go with 15 digs. Senior Courtney Fletcher (Johns Creek, Ga./Northview) tied her career high with 17 kills while tallying five total blocks. Sophomore Lexi Erwin (Spring, Texas/Woodlands College Park) put down 11 kills and collected 13 digs, with senior/junior Claire McElheny (Westfield, Ind./Brebeuf) going for 10 terminations. Senior libero Sloane Donhoff (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) recorded 21 digs and freshman setter Lexi Dannemiller (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 56 assists and 15 digs.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, never allowing the Huskers to get closer than three points the rest of the way in a 25-17 win. U-M hit .316 in the frame with just five errors, while Nebraska hit just .119. Fletcher led the way with 10 kills and McElheny chipped in four.
With the Huskers holding a 23-21 lead in the second set, Fletcher put down a kill in the middle before teaming with McElheny for a block to knot the set at 23-23. U-M took set point on the ensuing point when Fletcher once again found the floor, this time off a Husker overpass. However, Nebraska scored the next three points, using a kill and two consecutive Michigan errors to clinch a 26-24 win.
The Maize and Blue fell behind 4-0 in the third frame, as Nebraska grabbed an early 10-2 lead. Michigan closed the gap to two points at 13-11 off a McElheny termination, but Nebraska scored the ensuing point and kept at least a three-point lead the rest of the way in a 25-20 win.
Knotted at 12-12 in the fourth set, Nebraska went on a four-point spurt following its own timeout for a 16-12 lead. The Maize and Blue responded with a 6-2 run, capped by a Hunt termination to tie the frame at 18-18. Nebraska then took the next point when Donhoff's serve sailed long, regaining the lead for the final time. Back-to-back kills from Fletcher and Erwin got the Wolverines to within two at 23-21, but the Huskers scored the next two points for the 25-21 triumph.
Michigan wraps up its weekend at Iowa tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 5) at 7 p.m. CDT.
NOTES
• Sloane Donhoff recorded her fourth match of the season with at least 20 digs.
• Ally Sabol played for the first time since a 3-1 loss at Michigan State on Oct. 19.
• Karlee Bruck played for the first time since Aug. 27 against Morehead State.
• Courtney Fletcher recorded her 12th match this season with at least 10 kills.
• It is the seventh time this season U-M has put four in double-figure kills. Michigan is 4-3 in those matches.
• Alex Hunt's previous season high was 21 kills, coming against Minnesota on Oct. 7 and Pepperdine on Sept. 10.
• Courtney Fletcher tied her career high with 17 kills. She put down 17 against Dayton on Sept. 10.
• Michigan falls to 2-7 versus ranked opponents in 2011.
• U-M is 0-9 when recording a lower attack percentage than its opponents.
• Nebraska has won 33 consecutive home matches.
