Up two sets to one at Cliff Keen Arena Friday night, the Michigan volleyball team was just three points away from upsetting the No. 12 team in the nation. But the Wolverines failed to deliver the knockout blow, giving the Irish consecutive victory No. 51 against unranked opponents.
Michigan lost to Notre Dame, 15-10, 8-15, 5-15, 15-12, 15-10, because it could not put the Irish away.
"We were really taking care of the match," Michigan coach Greg Giovanazzi said. "The end of game four and the start of game five is what cost us the match."
The Wolverines' poor play at that juncture spoiled what was otherwise a flawless match. They stunned the Irish with their defense, and confused them with their tremendous outside hitting. Sophomores Karen Chase and Linsey Ebert and junior Sarah Jackson piled up kills, but it was the play of outside hitter Colleen Miniuk that was especially impressive.
Coming off the bench, Miniuk registered team highs of 24 kills and 23 digs as Michigan took sets two and three.
After racing out to an early 8-3 lead in set four, the Michigan attack seemed to let up, allowing the Irish to crawl back into the match.
This flat period ultimately turned out to be the deciding factor in the game. Tied at 12 in the fourth set, the Wolverines would not score another point as the Irish came from behind to take the set. Michigan was tentative at the start of game five and quickly fell behind 7-2. It was a deficit they could not be overcome.
Despite the loss, the Wolverines showed continued improvement.
"It's there," junior Linnea Mendoza said. "We dominated this game if you look at all the numbers. On paper we won."
And win is exactly what Michigan did the following night. Playing an Eastern Michigan squad that was 6-4 but largely untested, the Wolverines simply pummeled the Eagles. They allowed no side outs in the first set as outside hitter Jeanine Szczesniak served all 15 points, including two aces, in their 15-0 victory. The Wolverines would go on to clobber Eastern in the next two matches, 15-3 and 15-9.
"Last night's finish (against Notre Dame) dictated how we played tonight. We allowed no let-up," Giovanazzi said. "Our serving game was exceptional and we showed a lot of character and intensity."
The Wolverines emerged from their last non-conference weekend with a split and find themselves a game under the .500 mark at 5-6 overall. But the mediocre record does not have the team down.
"I think we're good enough to go and win the conference. It's just a matter of whether we will."
The Wolverines' road to a Big Ten title starts away from home next weekend, when they take on Iowa and Illinois. If the Wolverines are to win the Big Ten, they will have to keep up the level of play that characterized this weekend's play, and they must learn how to knock off a top-ranked team.
"We really need a win in (a game against a top-ranked team)," Giovanazzi said. "If this team gets that win, they'll realize how good they really are."
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Junior Sarah Jackson and the Michigan volleyball team lost a close match to No. 12 Notre Dame on Friday but rebounded to destroy Eastern Michigan on Saturday.