Volleyball downgrades Floyd, foes

Not even Hurricane Floyd could stop the Michigan volleyball team from winning the Carolina Classic this weekend. The Wolverines overcame host South Carolina, Virginia and the ominous Floyd, which prevented Connecticut from playing, to win their second tournament championship in three tries this season.

"None us of actually thought we were going to make the tournament," said middle hitter Annie Maxwell. "We pretty much thought we were going to be stuck in Atlanta for a couple of hours and sent home.

"When we got to South Carolina there wasn't a cloud in the sky and we thought, 'OK, so much for the hurricane.'"

Floyd was the least of Michigan's worries early in the tournament as the Wolverines dropped the first two games of the first match to host South Carolina, 15-11 and 15-10. Michigan trailed early in the first game, 7-1, and the Wolverines couldn't compose themselves to make a comeback.

And even though they were able to keep the second game close, they couldn't pull it out. Ahead 12-10, the Gamecocks rattled off the next three points to take a commanding two game to nothing lead.

Surrounded by an unfriendly crowd, two games down and on the verge of elimination, the Wolverines blocked everything else out and looked to themselves.

"It was our first game in a hostile environment," Michigan volleyball coach Mark Rosen said. "It was really tight. The bleachers were eight feet from the sideline. They had guys with megaphones on the sidelines just screaming at you."

With nowhere else to go, the Wolverines decided to rally and comeback in the third game. Michigan charged back after the intermission taking a commanding 10-3 lead. Middle hitter Anne Poglits provided great service during the run with two aces.

Outside hitter Nicole Kacor hit a .438 attack percentage for the third game, despite South Carolina's blockers and their fans.

"When I was taking my approach outside I was an inch from the bleachers," Kacor said. "There were five guys who were screaming mean stuff at us, and we had to block that stuff out."

But on the strength of its fans, South Carolina mounted its own comeback to take a 15-14 lead over the Wolverines. After denying two Gamecock game points, Michigan narrowly won the third match, 17-15.

The slow starts that plagued the Wolverines earlier in the match reemerged as Michigan found itself down 14-9 in the fourth game. Maxwell took control, hitting a key kill to end South Carolina's last chance at game point of the match.

Maxwell served the rest of game four to win, 16-14, thanks to impressive kills by middle blocker Joanna Fielder, Kacor and herself. Maxwell and Poglits also led an impressive showing at the net, registering seven and six blocks apiece, respectively.

The Wolverines didn't allow themselves to comeback again winning "the best game they played all year," Rosen said. Setter Shannon Melka orchestrated the offense that never let South Carolina in front, providing excellent passing. The fluid teamwork allowed Michigan to side out at an outstanding 82 percent. The Wolverines closed out the deciding fifth game, 15-11.

"This weekend was a little bit of a struggle," Rosen said. "It was the first time where we had everything to lose and nothing to gain, but we competed really well. We didn't execute very well. But if I had a choice between the two, I'd take the competitor."

The Wolverines didn't have any problems sweeping Virginia the next day despite having only a half day's rest after the draining five game win. Fielder hit six kills to bring Michigan back from a 6-4 early game one deficit to win 15-9.

Fielder again stepped up in the second game breaking a 13-13 tie by serving the final game two points to win, 15-13. Melka again ran Michigan's offense to easily win the third game, 15-5. Outside hitter Alija Pittenger provided great defense again, notching her 300th career dig against the Cavaliers.

The two wins allowed Michigan to head into the Big Ten season riding the momentum from a four-game winning streak and a 4-1 record against teams that made the NCAA tournament last year. Michigan opens the Big Ten season against Ohio State this Friday at Cliff Keen Arena.

09-20-99