Michigan
Gophers regain volleyball footing
But Hanson came alive again with three straight kills during a decisive rally in the third set. She swung hard with success for most of the match, but the turning point came with assistance.
In the third set, Michigan pulled within 12-10 after three straight points, but junior Mckenna Wucherer stopped the run. The Wolverines weren’t finished, cutting the margin to 13-12, but Wucherer’s dig kept a play alive that ended with a big block from Lydia Grote and Calissa Minatee. The Gophers kept the momentum and won the set.
“They went on a few runs, but we still continued to be a team and connected throughout the whole match,” Hanson said.
Freshman Alex Acevedo had a career-high seven aces Saturday. Grote made 16 kills, Wucherer 10. Shaffmaster added 47 assists.
In back-to-back losses at Maturi Pavilion last week, the Gophers only managed to win once in six sets. That included being swept by Oregon. There was also the first match against coach Keegan Cook’s former Washington program after taking over at the U. The players were a bit too emotionally charged, he said.