Michigan
3-1
Butler
3-2
Wolverines Sweep Butler to Start Michigan Invitational
9/1/2017 10:33:00 PM | Volleyball
» Senior middle blocker Claire Kieffer-Wright led the Wolverines with 14 kills and finished the match hitting at a .632 mark.
» Junior libero Jenna Lerg led Michigan defensively with a season-high 23 digs.
» The Wolverines recorded a .309 team attack average while holding Butler to just a .103 clip.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan Invitational (Match 1)
Score: #19 Michigan 3, Butler 0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-19)
Records: U-M (3-1), Butler (3-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 2 -- vs. New Hampshire (Cliff Keen Arena), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With two players totaling kills in double figures, the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team kicked off the Michigan Invitational with a 3-0 victory (25-13, 25-22, 25-19) over the Butler Bulldogs on Friday night (Sept. 1) at Cliff Keen Arena.
The Wolverines got off to a strong start by taking the lead early and maintaining it throughout the first set. Backed by a set-high seven kills from junior outside hitter Carly Skjodt, Michigan jumped out to a 15-9 lead before Butler took its first timeout. From there, Michigan surged ahead to go up 21-10 and force the Bulldogs to burn their second timeout of the day in an attempt to stop Michigan's momentum. With a final kill by senior outside hitter Adeja Lambert, the Maize and Blue used a .417 team attack average to take the first set, 25-13.
The Bulldogs came out of the gates strong in the second set and jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Butler was up by six before a kill from Lambert helped Michigan gain some traction and narrow Butler's lead, 12-10. A powerful kill from Cori Crocker finally tied up the set at 17-17, and Lambert's kill on the next play gave Michigan its first lead of the set. The two teams battled from there, but ultimately a kill by Crocker at 21-20 gave Michigan the momentum to take the set by a 25-22 score.
The Wolverines went into the third set leading the match 2-0, but it was Butler that surged ahead for a 4-1 lead that included two service aces. After the Bulldogs forced a 14-11 edge, sophomore setter MacKenzi Welsh connected with Skjodt for a kill to fuel a Michigan run and tie up the set at 14-14. The set remained close, but after back-to-back Butler attack errors put the Wolverines up, 21-18, Michigan rallied with a 4-1 run to clinch the third set, 25-19.
Senior middle blocker Claire Kieffer-Wright led all players with a season-high 14 kills and ended the match with just two errors for a .632 attack average. Skjodt also finished the night with kills in double figures, totaling 10.
Led by Welsh, Michigan concluded the match with a .309 team hitting percentage.
Defensively, junior libero Jenna Lerg was a force in the back row with a season-high 23 digs. Lambert totaled a season-high 13 digs including nine in the first set. From the front row, Kieffer-Wright recorded three block assists.
No. 19 Michigan will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 2) for the final day of the Michigan Invitational. The Wolverines will first face New Hampshire (1 p.m.) before capping off the weekend with a night match against Green Bay (7:30 p.m.). All matches will be played inside Cliff Keen Arena.
