Michigan
NC State
U-M to Wrap Non-Conference Schedule with Michigan Challenge
9/12/2017 3:48:00 PM | Volleyball
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This Week:
Michigan Challenge Tournament (Cliff Keen Arena)
• vs. N.C. State (Sept. 15th, 7:30 p.m.): Live Stats
• vs. UW-Milwaukee (Sept. 16th, 11 a.m.): Live Stats
• vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 16th, 7:30 p.m.): Live Stats
• Complete Notes (PDF)
• Tournament Central | Ticket Information
• Make it a Wolverine Weekend!
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 21-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team will wrap up non-conference play this weekend (Sept. 15-16) as the Wolverines host the Michigan Challenge Tournament. The Maize and Blue will open the tournament with a match against N.C. State on Friday (Sept. 15), before facing UW-Milwaukee (11 a.m.) and Cincinnati (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday (Sept. 16). Tickets for the tournament can be found at MGoBlue.com, and Michigan's Saturday morning match against UW-Milwaukee will have free admission.
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
After dropping a match last weekend to then-No. 25-ranked Colorado State, Michigan dropped six spots in the AVCA Poll this weekend and is now ranked 21st. The Wolverines began the season ranked 16th in the preseason poll. 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.
Wolverines and the Big Ten
Michigan enters the week ranked third in the prestigious Big Ten and ninth in the country with an average of 14.87 kills per set. The Wolverines' .289 team hitting percentage also ranks 17th in the country, and Michigan ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 13.7 assists per set.
Wetterstrom Impresses in Home State
In the return to her home state of Colorado last weekend, sophomore Sydney Wetterstrom hit her stride. The outside hitter appeared in every set for Michigan and boasted a .436 hitting percentage for the weekend with 2.10 kills per set off the bench. Wetterstrom also recorded a career-high 13 kills in the Wolverines' 3-1 win over Ball State.
Lambert, Lerg Named to CSU All-Tournament Team
Michigan garnered two CSU Invitational All-Tournament selections in week three after going 2-1 on the weekend. Senior outside hitter Adeja Lambert finished the weekend with a .328 hitting percentage at 3.00 kills per set and also notched her first kill-dig double-double. Junior libero Jenna Lerg was also selected to the All-Tournament team after posting double-figure digs in all three contests and averaging 4.40 digs per set.
Up Next
Following the Michigan Challenge Tournament to wrap up non-conference action, the Wolverines will jump into Big Ten Conference play with a road swing at Minnesota (Sept. 22) and Wisconsin (Sept. 24). Following that, Michigan will return home for its Big Ten home opener with a Friday night (Sept. 29) match against rival Ohio State. [Tickets]
Scouting the Opposition
N.C. State
The Wolfpack will enter the weekend with a 3-5 record, with three of its five losses coming against teams ranked in the Top-25. Following a 0-5 stretch to begin the year, N.C. State picked up two wins at the High Point Tournament last weekend before returning home on Sunday (Sept. 10) to defeat LIU Brooklyn in straight sets. The Pack is led by senior outside hitter Julia Brown, who owns a .220 hitting percentage and is averaging 3.74 kills/set. Defensively, senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Kearney leads the blocking effort with .1.24 blocks/set.
U-W Milwaukee
The Panthers will enter the week with a 7-3 record but will host Marquette on Tuesday night before heading to Ann Arbor. Milwaukee's three losses have come at the hands of South Dakota State, Virginia Tech and Northwestern, but the Panthers are currently on a two-match win streak after beating DePaul and Army. Individually, sophomore middle blocker Bridget Wallenberger leads Milwaukee with 3.93 kills/set and 1.08 blocks/set. The Panthers were picked to finished 4th in the Horizon League this season but currently sit atop the conference.
Cincinnati
With a 1-8 record, the Bearcats will enter the weekend looking to pick up more wins before jump-starting conference play. Cincinnati's lone win this season came in five sets against cross-town foe Xavier earlier this month. Junior outside hitter Carly Nolan is currently leading the Bearcat offense, with a team-leading 147 kills at 4.08 kills/set, which currently ranks 46th in the nation. The junior currently boasts 905 career kills in just her third season with the Bearcats. Defensively, middle blocker Jasmine Jones is leading the charge with 1.11 blocks/set.
