» Michigan fell in a five-set battle to Northwestern, winning the second and third sets.
» Serena Nyambio recorded 14 kills and 11 blocks for a double-double.
» Nyambio’s double-double was the first kill-block double-double for Michigan since 2015.
» Allison Jacobs led the match with 18 kills and added 13 digs.
EVANSTON, Ill. — The University of Michigan volleyball team fell in a tight five-set battle (23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 13-15) to Northwestern on Thursday night (Oct. 16) at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Michigan (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten) was led by Serena Nyambio, who recorded the program’s first kill-block double-double since 2015. The senior tallied 14 kills and 11 blocks. Allison Jacobs and Ella Demetrician also recorded double-doubles, with Jacobs registering 18 kills and 13 digs, while Demetrician added 15 kills and 12 digs. Morgan Burke paced the offense with 50 assists and added 10 digs. Jenna Hanes was errorless on the night with nine kills on 14 swings.
A kill from Jacobs and an ace from Cuchran gave U-M an early 2-0 lead, but Northwestern (12-6, 2-4 Big Ten) quickly drew even. The Wolverines held a slim edge at 9-6 before the Wildcats tied it at 10, then again at 13. Northwestern took its first lead at 15-14 heading into the media timeout and pulled ahead 19-16 after a brief run. Michigan rallied to tie it at 19 and again at 21 on a Nyambio block, but the Wildcats claimed four of the final six points to take the opening set, 25-23.
Northwestern took three of the first four points to open the second set before kills from Demetrician and Nyambio tied it at three. After trading short runs, Michigan grabbed a 6-5 lead on an Jacobs ace and stayed slightly ahead until Northwestern evened the score at 14. The Wildcats moved in front 17-16, but the teams traded points to 19-all. A block by Nyambio and Lydia Johnson put U-M ahead 20-19, and after a service error tied it again, a Johnson kill and Burke solo block forced a Northwestern timeout at 22-20. The Wolverines held off a late push, and Demetrician sealed the 25-23 set win with a kill.
Michigan opened the third set on a 4-0 run behind back-to-back aces from Demetrician, but Northwestern answered with a 5-0 run to take the lead. A kill from Jacobs and a block by Nyambio and Jacobs put U-M back in front before NU tied it at six. After a timeout, Michigan responded with an 8-1 surge led by Jacobs, who tallied three kills and two aces during the stretch. Northwestern countered with a 7-0 run to even the score at 15, but Demetrician’s kill and a Wildcat error gave U-M an 18-16 edge. Michigan then closed the set on a 7-0 run, highlighted by an ace from Cuchran and two kills and a block assist from Johnson, before Jacobs finished it off with a kill off an overpass for a 25-17 win.
The teams split the first four points of the fourth set before a 3-0 Michigan run made it 5-2. Northwestern tied it at five, then moved ahead 8-7 before kills from Nyambio and Demetrician put the Wolverines back on top. NU evened the score again at nine, but kills from Hanes and Demetrician restored a two-point lead. Michigan stayed in front until a 3-0 Wildcat run out of the media timeout gave Northwestern a 16-15 edge. Demetrician and Jacobs answered with kills to regain the lead, but Northwestern rallied again to go up 18-17. Jacobs tied it at 18, yet a Wildcat block kept U-M from retaking the lead. Two NU errors pushed Michigan back ahead and forced a timeout, but Northwestern closed strong, winning six of the final eight points to take the set 25-22 and force a fifth.
Hanes opened the fifth set with a kill, but a service error quickly tied it. The teams traded points before a block by Nyambio and Johnson put U-M ahead. Northwestern grabbed its first lead after consecutive points, but Michigan responded with a 3-0 run highlighted by two Nyambio blocks. The Wolverines stretched their lead to 10-6, forcing a Northwestern timeout. Out of the break, the Wildcats surged, winning nine of the final 12 points to take the set 15-13 and the match.
Michigan returns home to face No. 1-ranked Nebraska on Sunday (Oct. 19) at 2 p.m. inside Crisler Center. The match will stream live on B1G+.
