Michigan
Duke
Michigan to Open Home Schedule with ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Dollar Day
9/8/2021 4:57:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan welcomes Duke and North Carolina to Crisler Center on Friday and Sunday for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
» Michigan holds a 4-1 all-time advantage over the Blue Devils, but trails the Tar Heels 4-2 in the all-time series.
» Both matches will be streamed on Big Ten Network+.
THIS WEEK
Friday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Duke (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network+ | Live Stats | Live Video
Sunday, Sept. 12 -- vs. North Carolina (Crisler Center), 1 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network+ | Live Stats | Live Video
• Complete Game Notes (PDF) | Rosen Report
PROMOTIONS
• Sept. 10: Student Promotion -- "The Zone" T-shirt (250), Pizza Giveaway
• Sept. 12: Dollar Day, Military Appreciation Game
• Full Promotions Schedule
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan lifts the lid on the home schedule with a pair of matches at Crisler Center as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolverines (3-1) play host to Duke (6-0) on Friday (Sept. 10) at 7 p.m., and then will welcome North Carolina (6-0) for a 1 p.m. matinee Sunday (Sept. 12). Both matches will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.
Friday's match will feature a student promotion, with a "The Zone" T-shirt to the first 250 students and a pizza giveaway. Sunday's match is Dollar Day at Crisler with $1 general admission tickets and select $1 concession stand items (hot dogs, 16 oz. fountain drinks and chips). It is also the Military Appreciation game.
Wolverine Bites
• The four teams included in this edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Michigan, Michigan State, Duke, North Carolina) have a scheduling agreement in place that will make this matchup an annual weekend for the next three seasons. Michigan and Michigan State will head to North Carolina in 2022.
• Friday's showdown with unbeaten Duke is the first of five matches in Crisler Center for the 2021 campaign, as the Wolverines will also host North Carolina (Sept. 12), Michigan State (Sept 26), Minnesota (Oct. 8) and Wisconsin (Oct. 16) in the friendly confines of Crisler.
• Last Friday (Sept. 3), Michigan went 1-1 at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational, falling to West Virginia in straight sets and defeating host Navy 3-1.
• Michigan set a modern-era (2001-present) blocking record against Navy, finishing with 19 total blocks, falling just two shy of the all-time record set in 1987.
• Junior Jess Robinson led the way with a career-best 10 blocks. It marked the first time a Wolverine had 10 blocks or more since All-American Abby Cole had 10 against Indiana in 2015.
• Joining Robinson (two solo blocks, eight block assists) with career-high blocking numbers against Navy was freshman Jacque Boney (1 BS, 7 BA), junior May Pertofsky (7 BA) and senior Paige Jones (1 BS, 4 BA).
• The Wolverines also registered nine service aces against Navy last weekend, including a career-best four from redshirt sophomore libero Hannah Grant.
• Jones continued her steady offensive play in Michigan's matches over the weekend, finishing with 15 kills in both matches with a .297 attack percentage against WVU and .289 against Navy.
• Pertofsky fell one kill shy of her career best against Navy on Friday (Sept. 3), finishing the match with 17 kills on 26 attempts for a .538 attack percentage.
Opponent Preview
Duke
Michigan leads the all-time series 4-1
The Wolverines open their Tobacco Road weekend with 6-0 Duke. The Blue Devils' perfect start to the season comes thanks to a 2-0 opening weekend at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, defeating the host Chanticleers as well as Iowa. After sweeping Elon in its home opener, Duke went 3-0 at their own invitational against Howard, Miami (Ohio) and the College of Charleston.
Junior middle blocker Lizzie Fleming is the player to watch for the Blue Devils, leading the team with 58 kills and a robust .440 attack percentage. The San Francisco native does it on the defensive side of the net as well, leading Duke with 16 blocks.
The Wolverines have won the last four matched in the all-time series after the Blue Devils took the first meeting 1993. The Maize and Blue has held the advantage since, winning in 1997, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
North Carolina
Michigan trails the series 4-2
North Carolina also has started the 2021 campaign with an unblemished 6-0 record. The Tar Heels traveled to the Lone Star State to start their season at the SMU Tournament, defeating Stephen F. Austin (3-0), Pacific (3-1) and host SMU (3-1) in easy fashion.
UNC then hosted its own event in the second weekend of the season, welcoming Colorado State, Wofford and East Carolina to Chapel Hill. After winning a tough match with Colorado State 3-2, the Tar Heels went on to sweep both Wofford and ECU.
Freshman pin hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster has looked more like a veteran through her first two weekends as a college student-athlete, leading the team in kills with 73 and hitting an impressive .280. Junior Karenna Wurl leads UNC defensively, averaging 4.09 digs per set and having a perfect reception percentage in 113 attempts.
U-M and UNC are playing for the first time since the 2015 season, with the Tar Heels holding the all-time edge, 4-2.
Up Next
• Friday, Sept 17 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Cliff Keen Arena), Noon
