Michigan
Iowa
U-M Returns Home for Iowa, Nebraska Series
10/24/2017 4:26:00 PM | Volleyball
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This Week:
Friday, Oct. 27Â -- vs. Iowa (Cliff Keen Arena), 6Â p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats
Sunday, Oct. 29-- vs. No. 7Â Nebraska (Cliff Keen Arena), 1 p.m.
TV: ESPNUÂ |Â Live Stats
• Complete Notes (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Following a four-match road swing in which the University of Michigan volleyball team (14-7, 4-6 B1G) picked up wins over Rutgers and Ohio State, the Wolverines will kick off a three-game home stand this weekend. Michigan will first play host to Iowa (15-8, 4-6 B1G) on Friday (Oct. 27) before hosting No. 5-ranked Nebraska (16-4, 9-1 B1G) on Sunday (Oct. 29). Fans can watch Friday's match on the Big Ten Network and Sunday's match on ESPNU.Â
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
Following a 1-1 week with a loss to then-No. 18 Michigan State and a rivalry win over Ohio State, Michigan is still receiving votes in the AVCA Poll this week but is not ranked in the Top-25 for the third-consecutive week. 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 third team out of the Top-25 with 17 votes, while Michigan received 6 votes in the coaches' poll. Overall, eight of the 14 Big Ten teams are receiving votes in the poll.
Seven of the First Ten, Seven of the Last Ten
After spending seven of the first 10 Big Ten Conference matches on the road, Michigan will now host seven of its next 10 match at home inside Cliff Keen Arena. While the first half of the Big Ten schedule pitted Michigan against five ranked opponents, the remaining half of the Wolverines' conference slate features four matches against teams ranked in the AVCA Top-25, three of which are at home.
Michigan on the Road
Michigan's senior class has posted a 36-13 record at home over the last three seasons and will look to maintain an impressive home record this year. Prior to a loss against Minnesota (Oct. 7) which spoiled the Wolverines perfect 8-0 home record, Michigan had only lost three sets when playing at home this season. The Maize and Blue ended its 2016 campaign with a 16-2 home record, and both losses came to teams ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll at the time.
Wolverines Ranked 33rd in Latest RPI
The Wolverines are ranked 29th in the latest RPI (released Oct. 23). The Big Ten Conference makes up six of the spots in the top 20, and 10 of the top 40 teams. Penn State sits in the No. 1 spot with a 19-1 record. The first RPI of the season was released on Oct. 2, and Michigan was ranked 27th in that edition.
Scouting the Opposition
Iowa (15-8, 4-6 B1G)
2016 Finish: 9th in Big Ten
The Iowa Hawkeyes will enter the weekend with a 15-8 overall record and a 4-6 record in the Big Ten following a 3-0 sweep of the Northwestern Wildcats this past Saturday. Against Northwestern, junior Taylor Louis had a team-high 11 kills, a career-best .625 attack percentage, and four digs. Louis leads the team with 276 kills and a .275 attack percentage, including 18 double-digit kill matches. The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in assists (1,044), digs (1,217), and kills (1,113), with freshman setter Brie Orr leading the way, ranking No. 34 in assists (887) and No. 32 in assists per set (11.09). Orr is second in the conference in assists (887) and seventh in assists per set (11.09).
No. 7Â Nebraska (16-4, 9-1 B1G)
2016 Finish: NCAA Final Four
Nebraska stands at 16-4 overall and 9-1 in the Big Ten, tying for first in the league standings with Penn State (19-1, 9-1). The Huskers finished the first half of their Big Ten schedule with a 3-1 victory over Illinois this past Saturday, adding to their 23rd-straight home match victory. Junior outside hitter Mikaela Foecke leads the team in attacks (668), kills (236) and serves (.918), posting an impressive 17 kills and eight digs against Illinois. The Huskers are currently ranked No. 5 in the nation, with notable wins against then-No. 2 Penn State (3-0) and then-No. 3 Minnesota (3-0).
All-Time History and Last Time Out
Record vs. Iowa: U-M leads 40-27
Since the first meeting in 1976, Michigan has taken a considerable lead against Iowa, winning nine of the last 10 matches. However, the Wolverines fell to the Hawkeyes earlier this season (Oct. 4), losing 3-1 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It was the Michigan's first loss to a team not receiving votes in the AVCA poll. Junior Carly Skjodt led the Wolverines with a season-high 22 kills in the match, while sophomore setter MacKenzi Welsh notched her fifth double-double with 45 assists and a season-high 13 digs.
Record vs. Nebraska: U-M trails 3-13
Since meeting for the first time in 2002, the Huskers have owned much of the series, and have won the last five matchups against the Wolverines. Michigan has not defeated Nebraska since a 3-0 sweep at home in 2014. During the 2016 season, the Huskers swept the Maize in Blue in straight sets in Ann Arbor, but Michigan took a set against the No. 1-ranked Huskers in a 3-1 loss in Lincoln to end the regular season. Skjodt and Claire Kieffer-Wright each totaled 13 kills in the effort, while Jenna Lerg recorded a match-high 20 digs.
