Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan
Indiana Plays Final Home Match of Season
11/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University volleyball team wrapped up their home schedule Saturday night with a match versus Michigan. The Wolverines arose victorious in the 3-0 sweep.
It was "Senior Night" at University Gym, and seniors Gabrielle Allison, Lauren Ditteon and Annie Moddrell were honored before the match. Juli Pierce had been listed as a senior all season due to her graduation in May, however, it was also announced prior to the contest that Pierce has decided to return for her fourth and final year of eligibility next season while attending graduate school. She broke the single season dig record on Wednesday and is likely to hold the career dig record by the time she leaves Bloomington next season.
Freshman Ashley Benson hit .294 (8-3-17) on the night, also leading the Hoosiers with six blocks. Freshman Taylor Wittmer did not enter the match until the third and final game, but capitalized on her opportunity with six kills. Pierce dug a team-high 10 balls.
Michigan was able to take an early lead and never looked back, never trailing in the first game. Allison got the starting nod on Saturday, rejecting three Wolverine attacks in the opening act.
Game two was tight up until the midway point when Michigan put together a long run in which they seized eight of 10 points. Benson did all she could in the second stanza to stymie the UM offense, posting four blocks in the game. In the end, Michigan won 30-23, however.
A kill by Wittmer gave IU an 18-17 edge in game three. After Michigan earned the next two points, another Wittmer put-away evened the score at 19-19. The next three points then went in the favor of the Wolverines, forcing a Hoosier timeout at 22-19. Indiana cut the lead to two points a few times down the stretch, but fell in a 30-24 defeat.
The Cream and Crimson complete the regular season next weekend with a road trip to Northwestern and Michigan State.
Players Mentioned
