Michigan
16-13,7-12Big Ten
Iowa
9-21,3-16Big Ten
Michigan Unable to Hold Off Iowa Comeback in Five-Set Road Loss
11/23/2022 10:15:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan was led by Jess Mruzik's 17 kills and 10 digs, her ninth double-double of the season.
» Michigan had three players in double-digit kills in Murzik (17), Pertofsky (14) and Robinson (10).
» The Wolverines out blocked Iowa 13-9.
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan volleyball team took the first two sets against Iowa, but the Hawkeyes rallied to defeat the Wolverines 3-2 (9-25, 19-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-13) on Wednesday night (Nov. 23) at Xtream Arena.
Michigan (16-13, 7-12 Big Ten) was led by Jess Mruzik with 17 kills and 10 digs, collecting her ninth double-double of the season. Defensively, Hannah Grant recorded 24 digs and Jess Robinson had six blocks.
Michigan was hot out of the gate behind Mruzik, pulling to a 6-1 lead in the opening set before the Hawkeyes called their first timeout. The Wolverine continued its command once Grant stepped to the service line, earning an ace and aiding in a kill from Serena Nyambio and Robinson before Iowa (9-21, 3-16 Big Ten) called its final timeout of the set at 15-6. U-M never took its foot off the gas winning 10 of the final 13 points, the last one coming from a May Pertofsky quick in the middle to take the set 25-9.
The Wolverines jumped out to another quick lead behind a Robinson kill and a Robinson and Pertofsky block, but the Hawkeyes pulled even at 3. The Wolverines went on a 5-1 run before Iowa called timeout at 8-4 after three blocks in the first eight points. Michigan kept rolling, pulling to a 21-13 lead before Iowa called its last timeout of the set after a Nyambio and Jacque Boney block. The Hawkeyes tried to string together a couple of runs, but the Wolverines took the second set 25-19 with the last point coming from a Robinson slam down the middle.
The third set was back and forth until the Hawkeyes went on a 4-0 run and combined for a block to pull ahead 10-6. Michigan tried piecing together some runs, but the Hawkeyes were too hot going on a run of their own to pull to a 19-12 lead before Michigan called a timeout. U-M could not mount a comeback and fell 25-18 in the third set.
The fourth set started off with both teams trading runs. The Wolverines then went on a 4-0 run to force Iowa to take its first timeout at 12-9. The Wolverines kept the runs going, pulling to a 20-14 lead. However, the Hawkeyes recorded a block to ignite a rally that pulled them within three points, 22-19, before a Michigan timeout. The Hawkeyes completed a 10-2 run to take the fourth set 26-24.
In the fifth set, Iowa jumped out to an early four-point lead and hit the eight-point mark first and the teams change slides. Haley Hallgren broke the Hawkeyes' run with a slam down a line, and an ace from Amber Beals pulled Michigan within one at 8-7. Iowa then called timeout and when play resumed, the Hawkeyes went on a small run to pull ahead 12-9 to force Michigan's final timeout of the set. A kill from Mruzik and a block from Robinson and Pertofsky caused Iowa to take a timeout, clinging to a 13-11 advantage. After the timeout, an Iowa error and a Hallgren block pulled U-M even at 13, but the Hawkeyes took the last two points to win the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Michigan will wrap up the regulkar season slate on Friday (Nov. 25) at 7 p.m. when it plays host to Rutgers on Senior Night at Cliff Keen Arena. The match will be streamed live in B1G+.
