Michigan
13-6,4-5Big Ten
Indiana
11-10,4-5Big Ten
Despite First-Set Comeback, Michigan Falls to Indiana in Four
10/21/2022 10:30:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan overcame an early 15-8 deficit to win the first set 25-21.
» Maddie Dowd collected the first double-double of her career with 23 assists and 11 digs.
» Jess Mruzik led Michigan with 13 kills, while Jess Robinson led all players with nine blocks.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team opened its match against Indiana with a comeback effort in the first set, but ultimately fell 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 19-25, 23-25) on Friday night (Oct. 21) at Cliff Keen Arena.
Jess Mruzik led the Wolverines on the offensive front with 13 kills while Jess Robinson starred defensively with nine blocks. Hannah Grant led the Wolverines with 19 digs. Maddie Dowd collected the first double-double of her career with 23 assists and 11 digs.
Indiana got out to a quick start in the first set behind stellar serving, collecting three aces within the first 15 points to lead Michigan 15-8. The Wolverines went on an 8-0 run behind two blocks and kills from May Pertofsky, Robinson and Mruzik to take their first lead of the set 16-15. U-M never took its foot off the gas pedal, going on to take the first set 25-21, led by Robinson who recorded four kills and four blocks and Serena Nyambio, who put up another four blocks.
Set two saw five lead changes and 10 ties. A kill by Kendall Murray put the Wolverines on the board first, but the lead was quickly taken back by the Hoosiers after back-to-back kills. Indiana went on a 4-0 spurt before a Nyambio kill and a block by Robinson and Murray took the lead back for U-M at 10-9. With the score tied up at 17, Indiana took to the service line and pulled ahead by two. Michigan fought hard, but Indiana tied the match after taking set two 25-22.
Set three started off back and forth until the Hoosiers went on a 10-3 run to pull to ahead comfortably at 18-12 behind a balanced offensive front. Michigan never found its footing and Indiana took the third set 25-19.
It was a battle all the way through the fourth set with five lead changes and nine ties. Michigan jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead behind kills from Pertofsky, Mruzik and Jacque Boney, but Indiana came storming back with four quick points of their own to tie it up. Each time Michigan went on a small run, the Hoosiers battled back with one of their own to tie it up. Indiana took eight of the last 11 points to take the final set 25-23 and finish the match.
Nyambio collected three kills and six blocks while Pertofsky went for nine kills and three blocks. Boney and Robinson each chipped in seven kills, with both hitting above .400.
Michigan will return to action on Sunday (Oct. 23) at 1 p.m. when it plays host to No. 5 Wisconsin at Crisler Center. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
