Wolverines Outfinal No. 19 Penn State in 5-Set Battle

» Michigan rallied from a 2-1 deficit to prime No. 19 Penn State in 5 units, taking the second, fourth and fifth units.

» Ella Demetrician and Allison Jacobs each recorded kill-dig double-doubles with 18 kills every.

» Cymarah Gordon tallied a career-high 13 kills and recorded the ultimate kill in every set Michigan received.

» Morgan Burke tallied 32 assists and 13 digs for a double-double of her personal.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In a back-and-forth five-set thriller, the University of Michigan volleyball staff defeated reigning nationwide champion and No. 19-ranked Penn State (21-25, 25-21, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12) on Friday night time (Oct. 31) inside Crisler Center.

After forcing a fifth set with a 25-22 win within the fourth, the Wolverines opened deciding body with a kill from Allison Jacobs. Following an early tie from Penn State (13-8, 7-4 Big Ten), a Cymarah Gordon kill and a Nittany Lion error gave Michigan a two-point cushion it by no means relinquished. The Wolverines prolonged their result in 8-4 on the media timeout following a block from Jenna Hanes and Sydney Schnichels. Out of the break, Ella Demetrician added two kills and the Wolverines acquired key blocks from Schnichels and Serena Nyambio to make it 10-5. Demetrician and Allison Jacobs ran the benefit to 13-8. Penn State later fought off three match factors, however Cymarah Gordon closed it out along with her thirteenth kill to safe the 15-12 fifth-set win.

Michigan (15-7, 5-6 Big Ten) was led by Demetrician and Jacobs, who every tallied 18 kills and double-doubles. Demetrician hit .273 and added 11 digs, whereas Jacobs hit .212 with 12 digs. Morgan Burke additionally posted a double-double with 32 assists and 13 digs, together with one ace. Nyambio totaled 10 kills on 19 swings, and Gordon set a brand new profession excessive with 13 kills — together with the ultimate level in all three of Michigan’s set wins. Maddi Cuchran paced the backcourt with 22 digs and added seven assists.

The match opened with a Penn State ace, however a service error evened it at one. The groups traded factors till a 3-0 Nittany Lion run made it 9-6, earlier than Michigan answered with considered one of its personal, capped by an ace from Burke. PSU regained management at 12-9 and led 15-12 on the media timeout. Michigan got here inside one at 16-15 on a Hanes kill, however Penn State closed out the primary set 25-21.

Penn State opened the second set on a 2-0 run and constructed an 11-6 lead, forcing a Michigan timeout. Out of the break, Nyambio and Gordon recorded back-to-back kills, and a solo block from Nyambio lower the deficit to 2. A kill and ace from Jacobs later tied the set at 16, and after a quick Penn State lead, Demetrician evened it once more at 17. A block from Gordon and Nyambio gave Michigan its first lead and compelled a Penn State timeout. Demetrician added one other kill out of the break, and Nyambio stored U-M in entrance earlier than Gordon sealed the set with the ultimate kill in a 25-21 win.

The third set was the closest of the match, that includes 12 ties and 5 lead modifications as neither staff led by greater than three factors early on. A Penn State error at 11-10 gave Michigan the sting, and back-to-back kills from Nyambio prolonged the lead. Jacobs added two extra across the media timeout to make it 16-13, and Demetrician pushed it to 20-15. Penn State rallied to tie it at 21 and 22 earlier than taking a 23-22 lead. Michigan fought off 4 set factors, however the Nittany Lions transformed on their fifth to assert the set, 28-26.

The fourth set stayed shut early, with 4 ties earlier than a Michigan service error made it 6-6. Jacobs put Michigan again in entrance at 7-6, and the Wolverines by no means trailed once more. A block from Demetrician and Nyambio made it 10-7, and Michigan led 15-12 on the media timeout. Penn State closed to inside one at 16-15, however one other surge, capped by a Nyambio kill made it 21-18. PSU acquired back-to-back kills and lower the deficit to 2 at 24-22, however Michigan responded with kills from Jacobs, Nyambio, and Gordon to succeed in set level. Gordon then completed it off for a 25-22 win to power the deciding fifth set.

The Wolverines return to motion Sunday (Nov. 2) towards No. 10-ranked Purdue at 2 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. The match will stream dwell on B1G+.