Michigan
5-1,0-0Big Ten
Valparaiso
4-2,0-0MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Valparaiso | 25 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 1 |
Michigan Wins Valpo Popcorn Classic with Four-Set Victory over Beacons
9/6/2026 7:41:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan dropped the first, but rebounded to take the final three to top Valparaiso.
» Ella Demetrician recorded her second double-double of the season with 21 kills and 16 digs and was named the Valpo Popcorn Classic MVP.
» Cymarah Gordon hit .500 with 19 kills on 32 swings and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
» Ece Senyapici tallied a match-high eight blocks.
VALPARAISO, Ind. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team took down Valparaiso in four sets (23-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-12) on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 6) at the Athletics-Recreation Center to close out the Valpo Popcorn Classic.
Michigan (5-1) was led by Ella Demetrician, who earned Valpo Popcorn Classic MVP honors after recording 21 kills on 37 swings, 16 digs and five blocks. Cymarah Gordon tallied 19 kills on 32 swings and added four blocks, while Meredith Martin recorded a match-high 22 digs. Gordon and Martin both earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. Ece Senyapici registered eight blocks, while Leni Stanton-Parker added the first kill and block of her career. Hannah Brady made her collegiate debut and recorded an ace on her first serve.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the first set behind a kill and an ace from Demetrician. Valparaiso (4-2) chipped away before using an 8-1 run to take a 20-16 advantage. Michigan responded with five of the next six points, led by two kills and two blocks from Gordon, to pull within one at 24-23, but Valpo answered with a kill to take the opener, 25-23.
Valparaiso took three of the first four points in the second set before a Gordon kill and a Beacon attack error pulled Michigan even at three. With the set tied at nine, U-M won seven straight points and nine of 10 to build an 18-10 lead. Gordon paced the run with four kills, Demetrician added two and Senyapici and Stanton-Parker combined for a block. An ace from Camille Edwards later put Michigan ahead 23-12 before a Demetrician kill and Valpo service error closed out the 25-14 set.
Michigan controlled the third set from the start, building a 12-3 advantage behind two kills from Stanton-Parker and an ace and a block from Jenna Hanes. After Valparaiso cut into the deficit, Carly Greskovics led a 5-0 run from the service line that featured back-to-back blocks from Senyapici. The Beacons later used an 8-2 run to trim Michigan's lead, but the Wolverines scored the final three points, capped by a Hanes ace, to take the set 25-16.
U-M carried the momentum into the fourth set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead before extending its advantage to 10-4 and forcing a Valparaiso timeout. The Wolverines continued to pull away after the break, building a 20-7 lead behind aces from Greskovics and Brady. Gordon finished off the 25-12 set and the 3-1 victory with a kill.
Michigan will return to action Friday (Sept. 11) at the South Florida Invitational, facing TCU at 1 p.m. at the Corral in Tampa, Fla.
