Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan
Just Four Points Separate Hoosiers and No. 14 Michigan
11/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 14, 2009
Final Stats
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Indiana University volleyball team split a pair five-set matches this weekend, dropping their five-setter Saturday night on the road at No. 14 Michigan. The Hoosiers dug themselves out of a two-sets-to-none hole to force a fifth set. The scoreboard read 25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 16-25, 15-11, in favor of the Wolverines.
Indiana's contributors were aplenty inside Cliff Keen Arena as four players recorded 10 or more kills and five Hoosiers compiled double-digit digs.
For the second night in a row, Ashley Benson was on the top of her game. In addition to a team-high 15 kills and .406 hitting efficiency, she also ran her weekend total to 20 blocks with nine against Michigan. Jordan Haverly and Kelsey Hall each recorded their second double-double in as many nights. Haverly did so with 14 kills and 11 digs while Hall gathered 10 put-aways and dug 12 balls.
The Hoosiers showed a high level of resiliency in the third set, scratching and clawing their way to a 25-23 set victory after dropping the first two. Indiana then stepped it up a notch in set number four, rolling to a 25-16 lopsided win.
In the truncated 15-point final set, there were four lead changes and five tie scores. Indiana's latest lead came at 10-9 following a Wolverine attack error. Michigan's Alex Hunt then went on an impressive run at service line, earning the next five points and earning a 14-10 lead. Haverly's subsequent kill kept the Cream and Crimson alive for a moment before UM's Michigan Bower clinched the victory on the next point.
Set 1
This one was about as close as it gets with the score tied on 11 separate occasions. A kill by Whitney Granado that clipped the corner, catching a piece of both the baseline and service line, forced a Michigan timeout and put IU ahead 20-18. Moments later with a 23-23 stalemate, the Wolverines tallied consecutive kills for a 25-23 winning tally.
Set 2
The second stanza was all Wolverines as they hit .483 en route to a 25-14 win.
Set 3
Rather than bury their heads in the sand and go away easily trailing by two sets, Indiana came out ready for a fight in the third round. Despite a couple of haymakers thrown by Michigan and their .433 attack percentage, the Hoosiers were able to dodge enough blows and snag a 25-23 triumph. Haverly was IU's heaviest hitter, pounding down six kills on 10 errorless swings. Kelci Marschall was also stellar in the set, hitting .750 (3-0-4).
Set 4
It was Indiana's turn to swing at a pace above the .400 mark, blasting kills at a .406 pace (14-1-32). Benson and Marschall each finished off four kills with Haverly provided three of her own. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers' defense was just as key to the 25-16 IU winner. The Cream and Crimson recorded four blocks and 19 digs in limiting UM to a dismal .027 hitting efficiency.
Set 5
As mentioned above: In the truncated 15-point final set, there were four lead changes and five tie scores. Indiana's latest lead came at 10-9 following a Wolverine attack error. Michigan's Alex Hunt then went on an impressive run at service line, earning the next five points and earning a 14-10 lead. Haverly's subsequent kill kept the Cream and Crimson alive for a moment before UM's Michigan Bower clinched the victory on the next point.
Indiana returns to Bloomington next weekend for the final two home contests of the 2009 season. Friday night's match versus Ohio State is Senior Night as Indiana says good-bye to Kelsey Hall and Whitney Thomas. Two-time defending national champion Penn State visits University Gym Saturday evening.
