Spikers crush Notre Dame, 3-0

By Richard Haddad

Daily Sports Writer

In the heart of a brutal Big Ten schedule, the Michigan volleyball team caught a break last night, hosting a non-conference opponent for the final time this season.

That opponent came in the form of No. 21 Notre Dame (4-0 Big East, 14-5 overall).

But Michigan (3-5 Big Ten, 13-6 overall) made the most of the rare opportunity to beat up on a national power outside of its own conference, sweeping the Fighting Irish, 15-6, 16-14, 16-14.

"Notre Dame is going to be the Big East champion and they're going to the NCAA tournament," Michigan coach Mark Rosen said, "And beating them is something we needed to do to bring ourselves up to that level."

The Wolverines dominated the match at the outset, storming to an 11-2 lead in the first game en route to a 15-6 victory, recording an amazing .429 attack percentage in the process.

Michigan's next two game wins were much more difficult.

Furious back-and-forth exchanges marked the beginning of game two, but Notre Dame eventually jumped out to a commanding 11-5 lead on a beautiful service ace that grazed the corner of the court.

"It isn't always possible to lead wire-to-wire," Rosen said, "especially against a team as good as Notre Dame. Being able to come back and get the win shows a lot of character."

And on this night, character was plentiful for the Wolverines. Senior captain Alija Pittenger started to rain smash after angry smash upon the helpless Irish, carrying her team and providing a stark contrast to the enthusiasm of the rest of the team with her stoic demeanor. Michigan, bubbling with excitement, was reveling in its comeback, but Pittenger refused to celebrate until a victory had been recorded.

Soon enough, it was, as a net penalty gave the Wolverines a 16-14 win to go up 2-0 in the match.

"When we're ahead, we have something to lose," Katrina Lehman said. "When we're behind, we push much harder, because we can only gain."

Game three played out to a similar script. Michigan consistently overshot its serves and returns to dig itself a 6-0 deficit, tallying sideouts but unable to capitalize.

Freshman Chantel Reedus put the Wolverines on the board with a vicious spike, and that play sparked the squad. Then, senior captain Sarah Behnke - who came off of the bench after recently returning from injury - took over and set the tone for Michigan.

Alternating between powerful kills and strategically placed touches, Behnke sprayed a dizzying array of balls at the Irish, and the vast majority of them found their target - evidenced by her unreal .650 attack percentage. Raising her arms triumphantly and jubilantly screaming, every point was accompanied by unbridled enthusiasm. "We've been working on mental strength in practice these last couple days, and it showed," Rosen said. "We stayed steady, kept siding out, siding out, staying in the match until we won."

Such mental strength was personified in sophomore Katrina Lehman. Tenaciously patrolling the net before every serve, staring across, daring the Irish to hit it to her, Lehman let it be known that she would annihilate any ball that entered her domain. And to record the match's final three points, she did. This time, even Pittenger participated in the ensuing triumphant celebration.

ALYSSA WOOD/Daily

Shannon Melka sets up another spike by Alija Pittenger during Michigan's 3-0 victory over Notre Dame last night.