Michigan
Idaho State
Michigan to Hit the Road for CSU Tournament
9/5/2017 3:51:00 PM | Volleyball
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This Week:
CSU Tournament (Fort Collins, Colo.)
• vs. Idaho State (Sept. 8, 10 a.m. MDT): Live Stats
• at No. 25 Colorado State (Sept. 8, 6 p.m. MDT): Live Stats | Watch Live
• vs. Ball State (Sept. 10, 10 a.m. MDT): Live Stats
• Complete Notes (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team will return to road play this weekend (Sept. 8-10) as the Wolverines head west for the CSU Tournament, hosted by Colorado State. The Wolverines will play Idaho State (10 a.m. MDT) on Friday (Sept. 8) before facing off against host No. 25 Colorado State (6 p.m. MDT) later that evening. Following a practice day, Michigan will wrap up the tournament on Sunday (Sept. 10) with a match against Ball State (10 a.m. MDT).
Michigan and the AVCA Poll
After sweeping the Michigan Invitational Tournament and dropping just one set on the weekend, Michigan rose three spots in the AVCA Poll this weekend and is now ranked 16th. The Wolverines also began the season ranked 16th in the preseason poll. Rankings aside, Michigan is set to face 10 opponents that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2016. Michigan finished the 2016 campaign with multiple victories over ranked opponents, including home wins over Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Oregon.
Michigan Invitational All-Tournament Selections
With three wins over the weekend to sweep its first home tournament of the year, Michigan saw three players named to the Michigan Invitational All-Tournament Team. Junior libero Jenna Lerg was named the tournament's MVP after averaging 4.7 digs per set and totaling double-digit digs in every contest. Additionally, Claire Kieffer-Wright and Cori Crocker were named to the team, earning their second all-tournament selections of the season.
Wolverines and the Big Ten
Michigan enters the week ranked second in the prestigious Big Ten with an average of 15.15 kills per set. The Wolverines' .308 team hitting percentage also ranks in the top six teams, and its 13.95 assists per set average is tied for third.
Michigan under Mark Rosen
The 2017 volleyball campaign marks the program's 45th season and 19th under head coach Mark Rosen. In his time with the Maize and Blue, Rosen has compiled a 363-232 record and has guided Michigan to 15 of its 16 NCAA postseason appearances. Rosen is the winningest coach in program history.
"Mac" is Back
After missing the first match of the season due to illness and playing just half the rotations against USC, sophomore setter MacKenzi Welsh returned to full capacity for Michigan's final match of the opening weekend in which the Wolverines swept Loyola Marymount. In Welsh's absence, junior setter Maddy Abbott led the Wolverines to a 3-0 sweep of Albany while recording a career-high 38 assists.
Last Time Out
The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team used a season-high .415 team attack average to defeat Green Bay in four sets (25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-16) and sweep the Michigan Invitational from the Wolverines' home court inside Cliff Keen Arena. Five Wolverines totaled kills in double figures in the effort, with Carly Skjodt leading all players with 15.
Scouting the Opposition
Idaho State
The Bengals will enter the weekend with a 3-4 record and on a two-match losing streak. Despite a slow start, the Bengals are hitting at a .236 clip as a team while averaging 11.7 kills per set. Individually, Idaho State is led by outside hitter Chloe Hirst, who is averaging 3.34 kills/set, while libero Haylie Keck is averaging 3.21 digs per set. From the front row, middle blocker Taylor Meeks is leading the team's defense with an impressive 0.93 blocks per set. Michigan will represent the first ranked opponent that Idaho State will face this season.
Colorado State
Armed with a 5-1 record and coming off a three-set sweep of No. 15 Florida State, the CSU Rams jumped into the top-25 poll this week at No. 25. The Rams are looking to make their 29th NCAA Tournament appearance this season, and have earned a post-season selection every year since 1995. As a team, CSU will enter the weekend hitting at a .310 average and holding opponents to just a .154 clip. Individually, middle blocker Kirstie Hillyer leads the Rams with 3.18 kills/set at a .475 hitting percentage, which ranks 13th in the country.
Ball State
Ball State will enter the week with a 5-1 record with its only loss coming to Big Ten opponent Indiana to begin the season. Overall, the Cardinals are hitting at a .244 clip and are led individually by outside hitter Brooklyn Goodsel, who is averaging 3.80 kills per set. Defensively, libero Kate Avila leads Ball State with 3.90 digs per set. Prior to the start of the season, the Cardinals were picked to finished second overall in the Mid-American Conference, as well as first in the West Division.
