Michigan
Michigan State
Wolverines to Maize Out Crisler for Regular-Season Finale vs. Spartans
11/22/2018 11:53:00 AM | Volleyball
NEXT MATCH
Saturday, Nov. 24 -- vs. Michigan State (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team (21-9, 10-9 B1G) will wrap the 2018 regular season on Saturday (Nov. 24) with a Maize Out match against Michigan State inside Crisler Center. The contest, which will serve as Michigan's Senior Night, is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Last Time Out
Michigan was firing on all cylinders to celebrate its last regular-season match inside Cliff Keen Arena, as the Wolverines defeated Northwestern in straight sets (25-11, 25-15, 25-19) on Wednesday night (Nov. 21).
Senior Night Celebration
Saturday's match represents the final regular-season contest that Michigan seniors Maddy Abbott, Jenna Lerg and Carly Skjodt will play donning the maize and blue. Fans will be asked to remain seated for a post-match ceremony on the court.
Wolverines at Home
Michigan's senior class has posted a 52-15 record at home since the trio stepped foot on campus in the fall of 2015. The Wolverines are currently 12-5 when playing in Ann Arbor this season, including four losses to Top-25 ranked teams and one to unranked Maryland (Nov. 7).
Postseason Outlook
With more than 20 wins and a top-20 RPI (No. 18), Michigan is a strong candidate for an NCAA berth this season. The Wolverines have advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of the last three years and 16 times under head coach Mark Rosen. The 2018 NCAA Selection Show is slated for Sunday (Nov. 25) at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Scouting the Opposition
All-time series against Michigan State: U-M trails 53-44
After dropping their first contest of the year at Tennessee, the Spartans rallied for a 12-match win streak to close out the non-conference portion of the season. However, Michigan State got off to a slow start in Big Ten action and comes into the weekend with a 5-14 record in conference play. Michigan State ranks third in the conference in service aces (1.48 per set) and fourth in blocks (2.62 per set). Michigan and Michigan State met last Saturday (Nov. 17), with the Wolverines taking the match in four sets at the Spartans' home court in East Lansing.
U-M Captures 20th Win of the Season
With a 3-1 victory at Michigan State on Saturday (Nov. 17), the Wolverines have now reached the 20-win mark 13 times under head coach Mark Rosen, including each of the last four seasons.
Big Ten Standings
With a 10-9 record in conference action, Michigan sits in seventh place in the Big Ten standings. Following a perfect 11-0 run through non-conference play to kick off the season, all of Michigan's losses have come in Big Ten action. Minnesota, which boasts an 18-0 conference record, is the only unbeaten team remaining and recently clinched the 2018 Big Ten championship.
Michigan and the AVCA Coaches Poll
Following a 1-1 week that included a loss at then-No. 7 Penn State (Nov. 14) and a road win at Michigan State (Nov. 17), the Wolverines rose one spot in the AVCA Top 25 this week to check in at No. 18 with 497 points. Michigan began the year as the second team outside of the preseason Top 25 with 153 votes but has been ranked in every poll since a 2-0 showing at the War Eagle Invitational to kick off the season.
U-M Ranked 18th in Latest RPI
The Wolverines moved up two spots to No. 18 in the latest RPI ranking, which was released by the NCAA on Monday (Nov. 19). Michigan is ranked the seventh-highest of the Big Ten schools, behind Minnesota (No. 2), Illinois (4), Wisconsin (6), Nebraska (11), Penn State (13) and Purdue (16). Nine Big Ten schools rank in the top 64, while six are in the top 16. The NCAA announced the first edition of the RPI on Oct. 1, with the Wolverines coming in at No. 11.
Michigan Inks Two During Signing Period
Head coach Mark Rosen announced last week (Nov. 16) that high school senior outside hitters May Pertofsky (Los Angeles, California) and Jess Robinson (Troy, Michigan) signed National Letters of Intent for the 2019-20 academic year.
