Michigan
9-2
UW Milwaukee
7-6
Skjodt Powers Wolverines Past Panthers in Straight Sets
9/16/2017 1:32:00 PM | Volleyball
» Carly Skjodt totaled a season-high 16 kills in the win, and senior Claire Kieffer-Wright finished with a season-high seven blocks.
» Adeja Lambert recorded a career-high five blocks, and Katerina Rocafort posted a career-high six digs.
» Michigan is now 2-0 in the Michigan Challenge and will face Cincinnati tonight (7:30 p.m.) in the final non-conference match of the year.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich (Cliff Keen Arena)
Event: Michigan Challenge (Match 2)
Score: #21 Michigan 3, Milwaukee 0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-17)
Records: U-M (9-2), Milwaukee (7-6)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 16 -- vs. Cincinnati (Cliff Keen Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A season-high 16 kills by junior Carly Skjodt along with a season-high seven blocks by senior Claire Kieffer-Wright allowed the No. 21-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team to defeat the Milwaukee Panthers in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-17) Saturday morning (Sept. 16) in the Wolverines' second match of the Michigan Challenge inside Cliff Keen Arena.
The Wolverines posted a .318 team attack average in the win and finished with 10 team blocks, good for the second most this season. Skjodt led all players with 16 kills, while sophomore Sydney Wetterstrom and Kieffer-Wright contributed seven kills apiece.
The Wolverines are now 2-0 on the weekend and have not yet lost a set in the tournament.
Michigan jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set, forcing Milwaukee to call a timeout. Though the Wolverines dominated the majority of set one thanks to four block assists by Kieffer-Wright and four kills by Skjodt, the Panthers surged late with a 4-0 run to cut their deficit to just two points at 24-22. However, Lambert picked up the kill to give Michigan the 25-22 first-set victory.
The Wolverines again forced an early lead in the second set, but it was not long before Milwaukee used a 5-0 run to get back within two points at 9-7. From there, a kill by Skjodt and a service ace by junior Maddy Abbott extended Michigan's lead back to four and gave the Wolverines the momentum needed to surge on and clinch the set, 25-19.
A big double-block by Wetterstrom and sophomore Cori Crocker gave Michigan the first point of set three, but the Panthers went on to force two lead changes and six tie scores before a 7-0 serving run by sophomore MacKenzi Welsh gave Michigan the defining lead. From that point on, Michigan's offense was more than impressive, committing just two attack errors and hitting .407 in the 25-17 third-set win.
Kieffer-Wright led the defensive charge with seven block assists, and senior Adeja Lambert tied her career high with five total blocks. From the back row, junior libero Jenna Lerg and Lambert had a team-best eight digs apiece, while sophomore Katerina Rocafort came off the bench and earned a career-high six digs.
The Wolverines will return to action later today (Sept. 16) when they face the Cincinnati Bearcats in the final match of the 2017 Michigan Challenge as well as Michigan's non-conference finale. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Cliff Keen Arena, and fans can gain free admission with a Michigan-Air Force football ticket.
Join the 2017 Michigan Volleyball team for its Big Ten Conference home opener on Friday, Sept. 29 against Ohio State inside Crisler Center! » Information
