Michigan
19-8, 8-8B1G
Nebraska
20-6, 11-5B1G
Michigan Upended by Sixth-Ranked Nebraska in Four Sets
11/10/2018 11:17:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan won the first set but dropped the next three.
» Four U-M players finished with double-figure digs in and three posted double-doubles.
» The Wolverines are now 8-8 in Big Ten action this season.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #6 Nebraska 3, #15 Michigan 1 (15-25, 25-20, 28-26, 26-24)
Records: U-M (19-8, 8-8 B1G), NEB (20-6, 11-5 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Nov. 14 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team rallied for a first-set victory but ultimately fell by a 3-1 score (15-25, 25-20, 28-26, 26-24) to the No. 6-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday night (Nov. 10) at Cliff Keen Arena.
The loss is Michigan's second four-set loss to Nebraska this season and brings the Wolverines' Big Ten record to an even 8-8.
The Wolverines got off to a fast start in the first set, taking a 3-1 lead thanks to two kills by senior outside hitter Carly Skjodt. After back-and-forth play that saw neither team lead by more than two points, Michigan went up 16-12 and forced Nebraska to call timeout. A 5-0 run that included three aces from junior MacKenzi Welsh helped Michigan take a 22-14 lead en route to a 25-15 first-set win. The Maize and Blue hit .379 as a team in the set.
Nebraska won the first point of the second set to take a lead that they refused to relinquish, though a serving run from junior Katerina Rocafort allowed Michigan to tie the score at 10 before the Huskers surged ahead, 16-12. The Wolverines fought to cut the Husker lead to one, 18-17, before Nebraska recaptured the momentum and went ahead, 21-17, coercing Michigan's second and final timeout. The Huskers answered the stoppage in play with a 4-3 run to close out the frame, 25-20, and even the match. Skjodt had six kills in the set, while freshman Paige Jones added five.
The third set featured 11 tie scores and seven lead changes as both squads used multiple scoring runs but neither could keep the momentum. Despite a .167 team hitting percentage, Michigan took advantage of eight Nebraska attacking errors and three service errors in the frame. With Michigan down 22-21, back-to-back kills from Jones and a double block from Cori Crocker and Kiara Shannon put the Wolverines ahead, 24-22, but the Huskers answered with consecutive points to tie the score at 24. A Nebraska error gave Michigan set point, 25-24, but the Huskers tied the score once more, 25-25, before a kill from Skjodt gave Michigan its third set point, 26-25. After fighting off three set points, Nebraska used a 3-0 scoring run to take a come-from-behind lead and clinch the third set, 28-26.
Michigan started slowly in the fourth set, falling behind 9-4 before calling a timeout. Freshman Erin O'Leary sparked Michigan from the service line, helping bring Michigan within three, 10-7, which prompted a Nebraska timeout. Another long serving run from Rocafort allowed the Wolverines to come from behind and tie the score at 12, 13, and 14, but Nebraska pulled away to a 17-14 lead and forced Michigan to call its final timeout. The momentum shifted again in Michigan's favor, however, as a serving run from O'Leary tied the score at 21 before a kill from Shannon gave the Wolverines a one-point edge, 22-21. Nebraska answered with a kill and an ace to regain the lead, 23-22, and Michigan fought off two match points before the Huskers rallied for the 26-24 fourth-set victory.
Skjodt led Michigan with 18 kills and 16 digs to earn her ninth double-double, while Jones finished with 17 kills and tied her career high with 14 digs for her fifth double-double. Shannon posted a match-high .533 hitting percentage, which marked a career best, and led Michigan blockers with four block assists.
The Wolverines had four players finish with digs in double figures, including Skjodt and Jones. Senior libero Jenna Lerg led the charge with 19, while Welsh totaled 17 and added 45 assists for her 11th assist-dig double-double this season.
Michigan (19-8, 8-8 B1G) will be back in action on Wednesday (Nov. 14) with a match at Penn State. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. inside Rec Hall.
