Michigan
Maryland
Michigan to Entertain Maryland in Midweek Matchup
11/6/2018 10:54:00 AM | Volleyball
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, Nov. 7 -- vs. Maryland (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team (19-6, 8-6 B1G) will return home to Cliff Keen Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 7) for a Big Ten Conference midweek matchup against Maryland. First serve is slated for 7 p.m., and the match will streamed live on BTN Plus.
Last Time Out
The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team dropped the first set of a Sunday (Nov. 4) matinee match, but rallied to win the next three as the Wolverines defeated the No. 5-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22) inside historic UW Fieldhouse. The win marked Michigan's second over a team ranked in the AVCA Top-25 this season, and was the first over a top-five team since 2015.
Big Ten Schedule
With an 8-6 record in conference action, Michigan sits alone in seventh place in the Big Ten Conference. All six of Michigan's losses to date have come in Big Ten action. Minnesota, which boasts a 14-0 conference record, is the only remaining unbeaten conference team.
Wolverines at Home
Michigan's senior class has posted a 51-13 record at home since the trio stepped foot on campus in the fall of 2015, and has maintained an edge at home once again this season. With Michigan's only home losses coming against No. 9-ranked Penn State (Sept. 30), No. 7-ranked Wisconsin (Oct. 26) and No. 3-ranked Minnesota, the Wolverines are 11-3 when playing in Ann Arbor this year.
Midweek Matches
Last week's match at Indiana (Oct. 31) served as Michigan's first midweek match in Big Ten action this season. The Wolverines played just one midweek non-conference contest earlier this year, which ended in a 3-0 victory over Valparaiso (Sept. 4). Starting with the Indiana meeting, the Maize and Blue will play one midweek match every week for the last four weeks of the regular season, including Maryland (Nov. 7), Penn State (Nov. 14), and Northwestern (Nov. 21).
Skjodt Solid All Around
Senior outside hitter and team co-captain Carly Skjodt has been the Wolverines' go-to hitter this season with a team-leading 4.24 kills per set, which ranks second in the Big Ten. As a six-rotation player, Skjodt has posted eight kill-dig double-doubles this year and ranks third on the team with 2.52 digs per set.
Crocker Returns
After missing more than a month of Big Ten action due to injury, redshirt junior Cori Crocker returned to the court for Sunday's match at Wisconsin (Nov. 4). The middle blocker appeared in all four sets for the Wolverines, posting four kills on seven swings and picking up two block assists.
Freshman Jones Steps Up
Freshman outside hitter Paige Jones has been a force in the lineup for Michigan this season, leading Wolverine hitters in kills nine times and posting 15 double-figure kill efforts. The newcomer from New Bremen, Ohio, ranks second on the team with 3.33 kills per set.
Michigan and the AVCA Coaches Poll
Following a 1-1 week that included a loss to unranked Indiana (Oct. 31) and a road victory over then-No. 5 Wisconsin (Nov. 4), the Wolverines dropped one spot in the AVCA Top-25 ranking this week to check in at No. 15 (696 points). Michigan began the year as the second team outside of the top-25 preseason poll 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 13th in Latest RPI
Despite a 1-1 showing last week, the Wolverines remained at No. 13 in the latest RPI ranking, which was released by the NCAA on Monday (Nov. 5). Michigan is ranked fifth of the Big Ten schools, behind Illinois (No. 2), Minnesota (4), Wisconsin (7), and Purdue (12). To date, six Big Ten schools rank in the top-16. The NCAA announced the first edition of the RPI on Oct. 1, with the Wolverines coming in at No. 11.
Scouting the Opposition
All-time series against: U-M leads 8-0
Maryland boasts a 15-11 overall record and a 6-8 Big Ten record after going 1-1 last week with a four-set win over Northwestern on Friday (Nov. 3). Redshirt sophomore Katie Myers leads the Big Ten and ranks 17th in the nation with 0.47 aces per set, while freshman libero Allerga Rivas ranks sixth in the conference with an impressive 4.54 digs per set. Michigan and Maryland faced off earlier this season in College Park, Maryland, with the Wolverines taking the match in four sets (19-25, 25-18 25-22, 25-15) on the Terps' home court.
