Hoosiers battle Michigan, MSU, fall in both matches

The women's volleyball team returned to Bloomington from Michigan after losing both matches this weekend to Michigan and Michigan State. \nFriday the Hoosiers took on Michigan at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor. IU (11-5, 1-3), got off to a 3-0 lead in game one on back-to-back kills by sophomore Katie Pollom and junior Melissa Brewer. Michigan would eventually come back and tie the game at 10 and later at 12. Michigan took the next four points forcing IU coach Katie Weismiller to call a timeout. The game began to slip away from the Hoosiers afterwards, as the Wolverines took a 19-14 lead. A chance for a comeback came late in the game, but the Hoosiers fell short, as Michigan held on to beat IU 30-26.\nIn game two, IU jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead, only to see Michigan come back and tie the game at seven. Michigan jumped out to a 14-11 lead and never looked back. The Hoosiers cut the deficit to one point late, but at 20-19, Michigan scored five of the next six and cruised to a 30-26 victory in game two.\nFacing match elimination, IU grabbed an early 9-3 lead capped by a kill from Brewer. The Hoosiers then held off a Michigan rally to maintain a 24-21 lead. Junior Nikki Hill scored three of the next four points to grab a late 28-25 lead and held to win in game three by the final of 30-28.\nIn game four, it was Michigan this time grabbing the early 7-3 lead. After tying the game at eight, IU gave up the next four forcing Weismiller to burn a timeout. Michigan took a 20-15 lead on a kill by junior Erin Moore. The Wolverines scored six of the next seven and took a late 29-26 lead and eventual match victory. \nSophomore Lisa Gamalski led the Wolverines and the match with a .692 hitting percentage. Michigan (8-5, 2-1) had a team hitting percentage of .347.\nOn Saturday night, the Hoosiers headed to East Lansing to face the 21st ranked Michigan State Spartans. MSU owned a 6-0 home record at Jenison Field House. The Hoosiers played intense volleyball throughout, but the Spartans were too much, as IU was shutout 3-0.\nIn game one, IU took an early 4-1 lead on a block by sophomore Christina Archibald. A kill by Junior Monique Pritz extended the Hoosier lead to 10-7 causing MSU coach Chuck Erbe to call a timeout to try and stop the Hoosier momentum. Returning from timeout the Spartans won the next two points to win game one. \nGame two saw IU jump out to another big lead, this time at 8-3. A kill by Pritz had IU ahead 10-7, but MSU grabbed a late 25-21 lead and was able to hold on to a 30-25 game two victory.\nTwo tough losses in game one and two took the life out of the Hoosiers. IU struggled the rest of the match as MSU cruised easily to a 30-18 game three victory. MSU remained undefeated at home by extending their home winning streak to seven.