Michigan
10-1
Eastern Michigan
4-7
Michigan Rolls Past Eastern Michigan in Saturday Matinee
9/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2016
» Junior Katherine Mahlke recorded double-digit kills for the first time this season, while teammate Claire Kieffer-Wright picked up her third double-digit kill outing this year.
» Every Michigan hitter tallied a kill in the effort as Michigan hit at a .347 clip.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan/EMU Challenge
Score: #23 Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-21)
Records: U-M (10-1), EMU (4-7)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 17 -- vs. Colgate (Cliff Keen Arena) 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Led by 11-kill outings from juniors Claire Kieffer-Wright and Katherine Mahlke, the No. 23-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team swept Eastern Michigan (25-15, 25-18, 25-21) in the Michigan/EMU Challenge on Saturday (Sept. 17) at Cliff Keen Arena.
The Wolverines improved to 10-1 on the year with the victory, tallying their fourth sweep in the last five matches and eighth sweep overall this season.
Kieffer-Wright and Mahlke finished the match with new career-high attack percentages. Hitting at a .667 clip, Kieffer-Wright made just one error on the day and added a block assist, while Mahlke's .500 kill percentage came on 20 swings, and she had two blocks to tie her season high.
Seniors Ally Davis and Kelly Murphy were also solid offensively in the sweep, as Davis finished the match with eight kills and Murphy added seven. Murphy also finished the day with a .312 kill percentage, while Davis tallied a season-high .412 attack average.
Despite not starting for the first time this season, freshman Cori Crocker led Michigan defensively at the net with four blocks. From the back row, sophomore libero Jenna Lerg again tallied double-digit digs with 12 to lead the Wolverines for the 11th straight match.
Michigan jumped out to an early lead in the first set on a kill from Murphy and two consecutive Eagle errors. Up 3-0, Michigan rattled off a 6-3 run to go up 9-3 and force an Eastern Michigan timeout, but the Wolverine offense refused to slow. A .394 team attack percentage and five kills from Murphy as well as four from Kieffer-Wright and Davis propelled the Maize and Blue to a quick 25-15 first-set victory.
Eastern Michigan took the first point of game two, and the teams played point-for-point until a kill from Kieffer-Wright on a Murphy serve put the Wolverines up at 7-6. Despite a scrappy Eagle offense, Michigan never lost the lead from there, as five kills on a .714 clip from Mahlke propelled the Wolverines to a 25-18 win in the second set.
A 2-0 lead gave Michigan an easy confidence in set three, and the Wolverines jumped out to an 11-5 lead to force an EMU timeout. A 9-6 run by the Eagles then closed the gap a 17-14, which encouraged the Wolverines to take their first timeout of the entire match. The stoppage in play was enough for Michigan to regroup and quickly surge ahead to a 25-21 set victory.
The victory marks Michigan's second straight and signals the Wolverines' 10th of the season.
Another day, another sweep, as the Wolverines pick up their 8th sweep of the season! Next up: Colgate 7 PM #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/E1GYwzg8Zl
-- Michigan Volleyball (@umichvball) September 17, 2016
The No. 23-ranked Wolverines will wrap up the Michigan/EMU Challenge on Saturday night (Sept. 17) when they host Colgate in the tournament finale. First serve for the match is slated for 7 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena.
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt
