Michigan
Michigan State
U-M to Continue Road Swing with Rivalry Match at MSU
10/17/2017 1:55:00 PM | Volleyball
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This Week:
Wednesday, Oct. 18 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.) 7 p.m.
TV: ESPNU | Live Stats
Sunday, Oct. 22-- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m.
TV: ESPNU | Live Stats
• Complete Notes (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team (13-7, 3-5 B1G) will wrap up a four-match road swing this week with a pair of rivalry matches. The Wolverines will first travel to No. 10-ranked Michigan State (13-4, 6-2 B1G) on Wednesday night (Oct. 18) at 7 p.m., before hitting the road on Sunday (Oct. 22) for a match against Ohio State (11-8, 4-4 B1G) at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPNU.
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
After a 1-1 week with a loss to then-No. 2 Penn State and a win over Rutgers, Michigan is still receiving votes in the AVCA Poll this week but is not ranked in the Top-25 for the second week this season. The Wolverines began the season ranked 16th in the preseason poll and appeared in the poll for the first seven editions this season. Michigan finished the 2016 campaign ranked No. 12 and captured multiple victories over ranked opponents, including home wins over Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Oregon.
The Big Ten and the AVCA Poll
The Big Ten Conference has six teams represented in the AVCA Top-25 this week. Penn State (1), Minnesota (5), Nebraska (7), Wisconsin (9), and Michigan State (10) all sit inside the top 10, while Purdue (17) rounds out the group. Illinois is the second team out of the Top-25 with 33 votes, while Michigan received 19 votes in the coaches' poll. Overall, eight of the 14 Big Ten teams are receiving votes in the poll.
Michigan on the Road
Despite three neutral-site victories in the non-conference portion of the season, the Wolverines have picked up just two road victories this year with their only Big Ten road win coming against Rutgers, who has not yet won a Big Ten match this season. Michigan's first and only other road win came at Loyola Marymount in the first non-conference tournament of the season. Besides a loss to Iowa, all of the Wolverines' road losses have come to teams recognized in the AVCA poll at the time.
Wolverines Ranked 33rd in Latest RPI
The Wolverines are ranked 33rd in the latest RPI. The Big Ten Conference makes up seven of the spots in the top 20, and 10 of the top 40 teams. Penn State sits in the No. 1 spot with a 17-1 record. The first RPI of the season was released on Oct. 2, and Michigan was ranked 27th in that edition.
Scouting the Opposition
Michigan State (13-4, 6-2 B1G)
2016 Finish: NCAA Second Round
Michigan State will enter the weekend with a 13-4 overall record and a 6-2 record in Big Ten play so far this season, which ranks tied for second place. The Spartans began Big Ten action with victories over highly ranked Wisconsin and Minnesota and since have dropped matches to then-No. 4 Nebraska and then-No. 2 Penn State. Senior middle blocker Alyssa Garvelink currently leads the Spartans with a .356 hitting percentage and 1.52 blocks per set, which ranks 13th in the country. She ranks 11th in the Big Ten in hitting and second in blocking. As a team, Michigan State ranks third in the Big Ten for opponent hitting percentage and third in digs (15.54 digs/set).
All-Time History and Last Time Out
Record vs. Michigan State: Michigan trails 42-52
Michigan and Michigan State have met nearly 100 times since the first battle in 1973, and since then, the matches have been almost evenly split, which Michigan State owning a slight edge in the overall record. The in-state foes split their two meetings in 2016, with both teams winning at home. The Spartans first hosted the Wolverines last November and picked up a 3-1 victory before Michigan defeated Michigan State in straight sets later the same month inside Cliff Keen Arena.
