Oct. 10, 2012
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| Highlights 
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: Michigan 3, #22 Illinois 0 (25-16, 25-19, 26-24)
Records: U-M (15-6, 3-4 Big Ten), Illinois (8-9, 2-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 13 -- vs. Northwestern (Cliff Keen Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior Jennifer Cross (Scarborough, Ontario/Birchmount Park Collegiate) led three players in double figures in kills with 14 and the University of Michigan volleyball team hit .304 in a straight-set win over No. 22 Illinois Wednesday night (Oct. 10) at Cliff Keen Arena. Set scores were 25-16, 25-19 and 26-24 in a game televised on the Big Ten Network.
Cross added seven digs and seven blocks to go along with her 14 kills. Junior Lexi Erwin (Spring, Texas/Woodlands College Park) and fifth-year senior Claire McElheny (Westfield, Ind./Brebeuf Prep) had 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Junior Ally Sabol (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) had a team-high 17 digs, while sophomore Lexi Dannemiller (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) had a double-double with 39 assists and 10 digs. Freshman Krystalyn Goode (River Hills, Wis./Nicolet) added five block assists.
Michigan hit .393 and held the Fighting Illini to a .029 hitting percentage in the first-set win. The Wolverines jumped out to an 8-5 lead on a McElheny kill, then went up 11-6 on a termination from Cross. Illinois fought back to make it a 12-11 deficit on a Liz McMahon kill, but a Michigan mini 5-2 run was capped by a McElheny kill. At 17-14, U-M scored the next five points as an assisted block from Goode and Erwin put the Wolverines up 22-14. Goode then teamed up with Cross for a block on set point, giving the Maize and Blue the 25-16 win.
Michigan took a 6-5 lead in the second set on an Erwin kill and never trailed the rest of the way. The Maize and Blue went up 12-9 on a kill from McElheny and 15-11 on a termination from freshman Ally Davis (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central). A 5-0 run from the Wolverines put Michigan up 19-14 on a McElheny kill. Michigan scored the final four points of the set, as an Erwin kill from freshman Tiffany Morales (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) gave U-M the 25-19 win.
There were 10 ties and five lead changes in the third set. Illinois went up 10-6 on a McMahon kill, but the Wolverines eventually tied the set at 13 on a Davis kill. The set was tied again at 19 after consecutive blocks from the Wolverines. Michigan went up 22-20 and 23-21 on Cross kills, but Illinois eventually took a 24-23 lead on a Fighting Illini block. After a U-M timeout, McElheny's kill tied the set at 24, then a Davis termination gave Michigan match point. Goode and McElheny combined on a block to give the Maize and Blue the straight-set win.
U-M had 10 blocks on the night and held Illinois to a .188 hitting percentage. The Wolverines also enjoyed a 52-49 advantage on digs.
Michigan hosts Northwestern this Saturday (Oct. 13) at 7:30 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. The start time is a change from the original schedule. [ Tickets ]
N O T E S
• Michigan snaps a three-game losing streak on the season and a three-game losing streak to Illinois. The last win over the Fighting Illini occurred on Oct. 9, 2010, in Cliff Keen in a four-set win.
• Jennifer Cross led the team in kills for the fifth time this season and the 10th time in her career. Cross had 14 kills in the match.
• Cross recorded seven-plus blocks for the sixth time this season. She now has 110 blocks this year.
• Lexi Dannemiller earned her seventh double-double of the year and 22nd in her career with her 39-assist, 10-dig performance in the win.
• Ally Sabol led Michigan in digs for the third time this season (17) and the sixth time in her career. Sabol registered double-digit digs for the seventh time this year.
• Mark Rosen earns a win over a nationally ranked opponent for the second time this season and the 36th time at Michigan. U-M defeated No. 25 Northern Iowa in four sets on Sept. 8, 2012.
Contact: Kent Reichert (734) 763-4423
