No. 18 Michigan to Wrap Regular Season vs. MSU, at Nebraska

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Following a three-match road swing, the No. 18-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team (21-9, 10-8 Big Ten) will return to Ann Arbor on Wednesday (Nov. 23) for the Wolverines' last regular home match of the 2016 season, facing off against in-state rival No. 14 Michigan State in what will serve as Michigan's senior day. Following Wednesday's contest at home, Michigan will hit the road for No. 1-ranked Nebraska (Nov. 26) to cap off the 2016 regular season.

WHEN AT HOME
The highly ranked Wolverines own a 13-2 record when playing at home this season, with their only home losses coming against No. 1 Nebraska and then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Michigan has held opponents to just a .206 hitting percentage when playing inside Cliff Keen Arena, winning 38 sets and dropping just 14. The Wolverines' lone five-set home loss came against then-No. 1 Wisconsin in which Michigan fell by a narrow 15-13 score in set five. Of Michigan's 12 victories inside Keen, five have been sweeps, and two of the 10 have come over AVCA top-25 opponents.

THE BIG TEN AND THE POLL
Despite going 0-2 last weekend with losses to No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 2 Minnesota, Michigan maintained its No. 18 ranking this week in the AVCA Coaches Poll, earning 471 votes. The Wolverines broke into the poll 12 weeks ago at the No. 22 spot, and are one of six Big Ten teams represented in this week's top-25 poll. At this point, Big Ten competitors Nebraska (1), Minnesota (2) and Wisconsin (3) sit inside the top 10, while Michigan State (14), Penn State (15) and Michigan (18) round out the top 18 teams. Finally, Ohio State, Purdue and Illinois all receiving votes and sit just outside the top 25.

SCOUTING REPORT
Michigan State (23-7, 12-6 Big Ten)
2015 Record: 19-14, 10-10 Big Ten
Following a selection to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 season, the Spartans have played well this season and have consistently been ranked in the AVCA top 25. They currently rank fourth in the Big Ten behind Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota, which are the top three Big Ten teams nationally. The difference for the Spartans this year has been success at home, where they have gone 14-2 compared to 8-5 last season.

Nebraska (26-1, 17-1 Big Ten)
2015 Record: 32-4, 17-3 Big Ten
After finishing second in the Big Ten Conference regular season in 2015, the Huskers went on to win the 2015 national championship in convincing fashion, dropping just three sets throughout the NCAA Tournament. To date, Nebraska currently sits atop of the Big Ten and has been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA rankings for the majority of the season. Nebraska ranks first in the Big Ten in hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage at .300 and .138, respectively.

THE RECORD BOOKS
History vs. Michigan State
All-time record: 41-52
Last meeting: Nov. 12, 2016 (U-M lost 3-1)
Since the 1980's, the series between Michigan State and Michigan has been roughly even. However, the Spartans have won three of the last four matchups but have not won at Cliff Keen Arena since 2014. The teams faced off in East Lansing just two weeks ago, with Michigan State besting the Wolverines 3-1. Wednesday's matchup, which serves as Michigan's Senior Day, also marks the Wolverines' last regular-season match at home this season.

History vs. Nebraska
All-time record: 3-12
Last meeting: Sep. 23, 2016 (U-M lost 3-0)
Michigan and Nebraska have met just 15 times since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, with the Huskers winning the majority of the contests. The teams played earlier this season at Cliff Keen Arena, where Nebraska swept Michigan 3-0. The Wolverines have never won at Nebraska, and the Huskers boast a 13-1 home record this season. Michigan faces a huge test in its last regular-season match against the No. 1 team in the country.

LAST TIME OUT
After dropping the first two sets of the day, No. 18-ranked Michigan rallied to take the No. 2-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers to five sets, dropping the last set by a 15-12 score at the Sports Pavilion (Nov. 20). Sophomore Carly Skjodt finished the team with a team-high 25 kills, while junior Claire Kieffer-Wright totaled a career-high 16 kills, and freshman setter MacKenzi Welsh finished the day with a career-high 73 assists.

21-WIN MARK
A victory over Northwestern (Nov. 5) allowed Michigan to reach the 20-win mark with six matches to go in the 2016 regular season, matching their nine-win conference record from last year. With an additional victory over Indiana (Nov. 9), Michigan has now reached 21 wins for the first time since the 2012 campaign, when the Wolverines made their first-ever Final Four appearance.