Michigan
24-10
Texas
23-4
Michigan Falls to Texas in NCAA Tournament Round of 16
12/7/2018 8:35:00 PM | Volleyball
» Carly Skjodt led the Wolverine offense with 16 kills.
» Cori Crocker tied her career high with seven blocks.
» Michigan finished the season with a 24-10 overall record after making its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and seventh appearance in the Round of 16.
Site: Provo, Utah (Smith Fieldhouse)
Event: NCAA Tournament (Round of 16)
Score: #5 Texas 3, #18 Michigan 1 (25-10, 27-29, 29-27, 25-19)
Records: U-M (24-10), Texas (23-4)
Next U-M Event: Season Complete
PROVO, Utah -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team had four set points in the third frame with a chance to go up two sets to one, but No. 5-ranked Texas withstood the challenge and prevailed in four sets Friday (Dec. 7) in an NCAA Regional semifinal at Smith Fieldhouse.
The loss signals the end of Michigan's 2018 season and marks the final career performances for seniors Maddy Abbott, Jenna Lerg and Carly Skjodt.
Texas used a 5-0 scoring run to start the match before Michigan called a timeout, and the Longhorns rallied for a 10-point edge before a double-block from redshirt junior Cori Crocker and junior Katarina Glavinic put the Wolverines on the board. Michigan was unable to get any rhythm going through the remainder of the frame, and totaled just six kills at a minus-.111 team hitting percentage. With 12 kills and two errors at a .450 clip, the Longhorns took the first set, 25-10.
The teams traded points to begin the second set, but a three-point run put Texas up, 12-9, and Michigan called a timeout. The Longhorns then extended their lead to four before a 3-0 Wolverine scoring run brought Michigan back within one, 16-15, and Texas took its first timeout of the match. From there, however, the Longhorns regained a four-point lead, 23-19, but a kill from junior setter MacKenzi Welsh and a service ace from Skjodt coupled with a Texas error allowed the Wolverines to tie the score at 23. Using three kills from freshman Paige Jones and two Michigan blocks, the Maize and Blue fought off two set points before gaining the edge and rallying for a 29-27 second-set win.
The back-and-forth play continued after the intermission, as neither team could gain more than a one-point lead at the start of the third set. With Michigan down, 9-8, a kill from Crocker and back-to-back service aces from Jones put the Wolverines ahead, 11-9, and Texas called for a timeout. Michigan used the momentum to extend its lead to five, 20-15, but the Longhorns worked from behind and tied things up at 23. The Wolverines held set point three times, but it was Texas that strung together back-to-back points at 27-all to force a 29-27 third-set win.
Trailing, 2-1, in the match, the Wolverines took an early 9-6 lead in the fourth set. Behind kills from Skjodt, Jones and Glavinic, Michigan maintained the lead until a 3-0 Texas run tied the score at 16, and forced a Wolverine timeout. Following the stoppage in play, the Longhorns extended their scoring run to six points and took a 19-16 lead before a second Michigan timeout was called. Michigan cut the deficit to two, 21-19, before the Longhorns rattled off four straight points for a 25-19 fourth-set win.
Skjodt led the Wolverine offense with 16 kills at a .250 hitting percentage, while Jones added 12 kills. Welsh guided the effort with 40 assists.
Michigan's defense totaled eight blocks, including seven from Crocker, which tied a career high. Glavinic added a season-high six blocks. From the back row, senior libero Jenna Lerg posted a team-leading 17 digs and freshman defensive specialist Natalie Smith totaled 13.
Michigan finishes the season with a 24-10 overall record, which marks the 13th 20-win season under head coach Mark Rosen. The NCAA Tournament appearance is the 18th in Michigan history and 17th under Rosen, while the Sweet 16 appearance is Michigan's seventh overall.
Coach Rosen Post-match Interview
