Oct. 31, 2003
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan volleyball team squeaked out another five-game victory over the Boilermakers, coming back from a two-game deficit to clinch the win 26-30, 23-30, 30-28, 30-15, 15-11.
Kim McConaha led the Purdue effort with 19 kills, 15 digs and a .419 hitting percentage, while Kim Cappa tallied 16 kills in the match. Michigan had five players with double-figure kill efforts, led by Erin Moore's 28 and Jennifer Gandolph's 20.
The Boilermakers turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead to begin the deciding fifth game, but Michigan scored three straight including one via ace to make it 6-4. The Boilermakers tied it at six, but a 3-0 Wolverine run again gave UM lead. A pair of Michigan errors made it a one-point game at 9-8, but the Wolverines bounced back winning five of the next six points to set up their first match point attempt at 14-9. Another pair of UM errors kept Purdue in the game, but an Erin Cobler kill, her 13th of the match gave Michigan the 15-11 win.
Purdue showed no fear entering Cliff Keen Arena Friday night taking a 1-0 lead and never allowing the Wolverines to take control. The game featured five ties and saw the Boilermaker lead swell to as many as five at 23-18 and 25-20. Michigan made a run at that point to pull within one at 25-24. Purdue responded with three points of their own on a pair of McConaha kills and a block by McConaha and Kim Cappa. Another McConaha kill two serves later set up Purdue's first game-point attempt. A Wolverine kill thwarted the effort, but a hitting error on the next play gave the Boilermakers the game 30-26. Purdue hit an outstanding .450 with 18 kills on 40 swings and no errors, while holding Michigan to a .208 effort.
Game two started as a back-and-forth battle as neither team owned more than a one-point advantage until Michigan went ahead 10-8. The lead was short lived however as Purdue scored three straight, including back-to-back kills by McConaha, to turn the deficit into an 11-10 lead. The teams tied at 12 and 13 before the Boilermakers took control, scoring seven of the next eight to make it 20-14 and force the Wolverines to take their second timeout of the game. UM cut the margin to three at 23-20, but couldn't break through. After owning a 25-22 lead, Purdue scored five of the next six including a Katie Dobson ace to take the two-game advantage. A Cappa kill set up game point and another UM hitting error gave Purdue the game at 30-23.
The Boilermakers took an early 5-2 lead in game three, but watched it evaporate with a string of five straight Wolverines points. Purdue pulled to within one a few times, but trailed until putting together a 4-0 run to turn a 15-12 deficit into a 16-15 advantage. The teams then traded points until UM took a 22-20 lead. The Boilermakers responded with a 4-1 run to make it 24-23 Purdue. Michigan regained the lead at 26-24, but Purdue tied it up at 26. The Wolverines tacked on three more to set up game point at 29-26. A McConaha kill and a solo block by Renata Dargan made it 29-28, but an Erin Moore kill sealed the game at 30-28 for Michigan.
The Wolverines maintained the momentum in game four leading from the get-go. The lead was just one point at 6-5, but Michigan put together a 7-2 run to double-up on the Boilermakers at 14-7. The teams traded points leading to Purdue's first timeout at 19-11. Trailing by 10 at 22-12, the Boilermakers capitalized on a pair of UM errors to cut the lead to eight. Michigan then ended the game with an 8-1 run, taking advantage of four straight Purdue miscues to claim the game at 30-15. The Wolverines hit .472 to Purdue's -.062 effort in the game.
The Boilermakers (12-10, 5-6 Big Ten) look to regroup before tomorrow's match with Michigan State (14-7, 6-5 Big Ten). The first serve will take place at 8 p.m.