The trouble all started three years ago.
The struggles endured by the Michigan women's volleyball team this season can be traced back to 1993, when this year's schedule was created.
The Wolverines faced a challenging non-conference slate, to say the least.
They compiled a 4-6 record against non-league opponents, with five of the losses to top-25 teams, and the sixth to George Mason, a team that was invited to the NCAA tournament.
In addition to losing six times, Michigan only had one non-conference victory over a quality team, beating Georgia.
"Our record against top-25 teams was 1-13, and in a 17-loss season, that is significant," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "To get to the postseason, you don't necessarily have to beat the top-25 teams, but you have to have 20 wins."
Michigan didn't have enough matches where it was evenly matched with its opponent and could get into a rhythm. They were either being swept or doing the sweeping.
Consequently, when the Wolverines opened Big Ten play on the road at Iowa and Illinois - two solid but beatable opponents - Michigan was unprepared.
Despite holding 2-1 leads in each match, the Wolverines lost both.
"I think the most crucial part of our season was losing two five-game matches after being up 2-1 the first weekend of the Big Ten season," Giovanazzi said.
After that weekend, Michigan seemed to tread water for most of the season.
With the exception of an upset of Wisconsin, Michigan only beat the teams it was supposed to, finishing 9-11 in the Big Ten (sixth place) and 14-17 overall.
"The record is disappointing," Giovanazzi said. "It's such a vacuum to look at things that way, but that's how things are judged in athletics.
"It concerns me because I think there are a lot of great things that happened this year, and we are such a young team. I don't want it to be used for anything else but motivation for next year."
Michigan has already given itself momentum for next season with its play over the past three weeks.
Michigan played well in 3-1 loss to No. 11 Ohio State, in a match that was broadcast to the nation on ESPN2, before closing the season with four straight wins
Giovanazzi admits that, in retrospect, the non-conference schedule was too tough, and that part of the problem is that the schedule is made years in advance.
"Three years ago I never would have dreamed that Louisville or George Mason would be such solid top-25 teams," Giovanazzi said.
But he adds that he will not start scheduling all cupcakes.
"I have always been a believer that playing the best competition is how you get to be the best," Giovanazzi said. "I have had some really good talks with coaches Urbanchek, Berenson and Hutchins, and I think they agree with me, but they also say we have to do a better job of balancing."
Michigan junior Sarah Jackson, who led the team with a .288 hitting percentage, received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
Senior Shareen Luze was named to the All-District Academic team and is one of eight Wolverines to be selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
"Her work ethic for four years has been tremendous," Giovanazzi said. "She has been an example to the underclassman, and to her peers in the same class."
Three other seniors also played their last match at Michigan.
"It's worth all the hard work you put in," Erin McGovern said. "The friendships, the competition, seeing the country, and graduating from Michigan all say something."
Kristen Ruschiensky was statistically among the top-20 attackers in the nation last year before she was sidelined with an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament.
The doctors didn't decide to perform surgery until March, and Ruschiensky didn't get back in the groove until halfway through the season.
"With Kristen, more than anybody else, I wish she had another year," Giovanazzi said. "Because she deserves it."
Michigan's fourth senior, walk-on Meg Akehi, is also an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
"She is the perfect embodiment of why you participate in intercollegiate athletics." Giovanazzi said. "She comes out on her own time, without getting a cent from the Athletic Department or me, and she is there everyday busting her ass.
"That kind of passion is something you are not going to replace. I don't know that I can respect someone more than I can respect Meg."
Luze sees good things ahead for the Wolverines.
"I really think this program is going somewhere," she said. "It's really stepped up the last four years - the new players keep getting better."
Despite losing four seniors, Michigan will have five starters - Karen Chase, Jackson, Linnea Mendoza, Jeanine Szczesniak and Chereena Tennis - returning next season.
"The answer I keep coming up with is next year is going to be better," Giovanazzi said. "I worked for a guy who was the U.S. coach for 12 years, and the thing he always said was, 'The best is yet to come,' and I really believe that.
"We started three sophomores and two juniors all year long - I think we are going to be real good."