The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

November 24, 2014 - 3B

Postseason hopes blocked

By EVAN ROSEN
For the Daily
The Michigan volleyball team
got clobbered in Cornhusker
country Saturday night, falling
to No. 11 Nebraska in three sets,
25-23, 25-20, 25-21. Though
any loss in the Big Ten is
significant, this one was more
so, as it definitively eliminated
Michigan from the NCAA
Tournament.
The Wolverines (7-11 Big Ten,
12-16 overall) initially surprised
the Cornhuskers, coming out
strong in the first set and taking
a commanding 20-15 lead. But
Michigan couldn't hold on, as
Nebraska clawed its way back
and tied the set at 23 before
reeling off consecutive points
for the set.
"I think we came out really
aggressive," said Michigan
coach Mark Rosen. "I was really
pleased in how we came out and
how we were keeping steady
and going after them."
The Cornhuskers (14-4, 20-7)
controlled the entire second
set after jumping out to a 9-5
advantage and took the third
set after building a 9-4 lead,
not allowing the Wolverines to
cut the lead to fewer than four
points.
"(Nebraska) did a good job
of raising their level, especially
defensively," Rosen said.
"Their serving got much more
aggressive. But, I thought we did
get a little tentative at the end of
the first set, and that changes
the momentum big time when
they were able to push through
us a little bit."
Sophomore middle blocker
Abby Cole led the Wolverines
with 12 kills, followed closely by
freshman defensive specialist
Caroline Knop's 11. Freshman
outside hitter Adeja Lambert,
while working hard to adjust
in the first two sets, caught fire
in the third set, hitting .800.
Though the individual numbers

Rebounds guide
Michigan to win,
By MINH DOAN on boxing out. Since day one,
Daily Sports Writer coach has been emphasizing
rebounding is key, especially
With 11 minutes left in the since we're undersized, so I try to
second half of the Michigan contribute as much rebounding
women's basketball team's game to the team."
against Western Michigan, The success is unexpected,
senior guard Shannon Smith took because before the season began,
a shot from the right wing. one of the biggest concerns
The ball didn't go in, but senior Michigan coach Kim Barnes
forward Cyesha Goree was right Arico had was rebounding.
under the basket, fighting off The Wolverines are one of the
a Western Michigan player for smallest teams in the Big Ten,
position inside. Goree jumped to featuring just five players taller
grab the ball, then kicked it out to than six feet.
KatelynnFlaherty.The freshman Michigan was also going
guard took two dribbles before through position changes down.
unleashing a shot from outside low with Goree moving to the
the arc. Again, the ball hit the '5' position after the loss of Val
rim, bouncingout. Driscoll and senior guard Nicole
But Goree didn't give up on the Elmblad movingto the '4.
play. She fought for positioning But the transition seems
inside and grabbed another board to have gone smoothly for
before dishing it to sophomore both players, and the two,
guard Siera Thompson, who put along with freshman forward
up another shot. Jillian Dunston, have become
Once again, it missed. But this a rebounding force inside.
time, Goree couldn't fend off the The Wolverines have handily
Bronco defender, and the ball outrebounded their opponent in
went to Western Michigan. three of their first four games.
The Wolverines didn't score But it's not just the bigs inside
on that possession, but despite either. Senior guard Shannon
early-season questions about Smith pulled down nine boards
rebounding, they've proved they Sunday, and Barnes Arico may
can grab boards despite their have found another rebounder in
small size. freshman guard Maria Backman,
And they proved it again who had five rebounds in her first
Sunday, when they collected 48 significant action of the season.
boardsto the Broncos' 21en route "I thought (Backman) did
to a 74-47victory. everything well," Barnes Arico
Goree led the Wolverines with said. "Shehastremendouslength,
14 rebounds and added 14 points she's a (6-foot-1) wing, so she has
for her fourth straight double- something our littles don't have.
double. Not only was the forward She rebounded like heck for us."
a force on the defensive glass, but At the end of the day,
she also pulled in six offensive rebounding comes down not only
rebounds. to good positioning and boxing
"(Rebounding) is one of the out, but also to the intangibles -
things that we kind of strive whether or notplayers are able to
for," Goree said. "I always pride sacrifice their bodies.
myself on rebounding, and it kind And after four games, it
ofwentwell tonight. appears the answer to that
"We were really focused question is a resounding yes.

RITA MOrIS/daiy
The Michigan volleyball team started hot, bat a loss to Nebraska mathematically ended its linterng postseason hopes.

were impressive for Michigan,
the team hitting percentage for
the whole match was only .174.
And to win the match, it was a
team-oriented effort they were

The Wolverines were unable
to stay balanced offensively, due
in part to Nebraska capitalizing
off of their one-dimensional
tendencies, and it resulted in

counting on.
"(Abby Cole
and Caroline
Knop) both
did a great
job," Rosen
said. "But a lot
of the errors
we had were
with them,
and it wasn't
because they
were making
the errors, but
because (Nebrasl
very good at af
One of our goa
balanced offensi
was the hard par
you get off that (I
when you have tr

a great game for the Huskers'
block. They
totaled 15
blocks for
"We did get a the match,
l l e tcompared to
little tentative ... Michigan's
and that changes two, both
A A A C UNOS coming from
the momentum." freshman
middle
blocker Claire
Kieffer-
Wright.
ka's) block was Nebraska's Cecilia Hall set the
ffecting them. Big Ten mark for most blocks in
Is was to be a single game this season, with
vely, and that 13.
t for us. When Teams must have a record
balance), that's of at least .500 to qualify for
ouble." the NCAA Tournament, and

with only Indiana and Illinois
left to play, it's impossible for
the young Wolverine squad
to earn an invite. Even with
this disappointing situation,
Rosen is confident his team will
continue to play like they have
something to gain.
"I don't think I'll need to
(motivate them)," Rosen said.
"This is a very competitive
group, and Indiana and Illinois
are two big matches. My gut is
that they're going to want to
play just for the sake of playing,
and they're going to play to win.
They are very excited to have
those two (final) matches and in
a sense, that's our post-season."
Two more wins could have
a big effect on this youthful
Wolverine squad and set them
up for a promising next season.
With NCAA Tournament hopes
no longer in sight, Michigan is
now playing for its own pride.

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