Volleyball loses pair of weekend matches in Michigan

The IU volleyball team (19-11, 7-11) was outshined on the road this weekend in Michigan.

This was the last weekend on the road for the Hoosiers. They finished their Big Ten road schedule with a 1-9 record, their only win coming Oct. 15 against Wisconsin.

IU lost Friday to Michigan State in four sets. The Spartans won by scores of 28-26, 25-21, 22-25 and 25-11.

Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Haverly led all players with 21 kills, but it wasn’t enough, as the Spartans had three players with double-digit kills.

Senior middle blocker Ashley Benson recorded 16 kills of her own.

“We could get a few points here and there but never really string together a long run,” Benson said.

Michigan State outblocked IU 12-6 in the match.

After Friday’s loss, the Hoosiers traveled south to Ann Arbor, Mich. to endure a three-set sweep Saturday at the hands of No. 20 Michigan. The Wolverines won by scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-21.

IU led 19-18 in the first set, but the Wolverines came back to claim seven of the last 10 points. Michigan finished with a hitting percentage of .276 compared to a .121 clip for the Hoosiers.

IU coach Sherry Dunbar said she was pleased with the team’s effort despite losing in straight sets.

“The intensity and fight we need to win matches in this conference simply wasn’t there Friday night in East Lansing, but it came back at Michigan,” Dunbar said. “They are just a really, really good team that was playing for their seniors on senior night.”

Twenty of the 51 Wolverine kills came from junior outside hitter Alex Hunt.

IU’s last weekend of matches — and its last chances to improve its NCAA Tournament résumé — comes next weekend against No. 9 Illinois on Friday and Wisconsin on Saturday at University Gym.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do this week in practice to prepare for Illinois and Wisconsin,” Dunbar said. “Both those teams are playing really good volleyball right now.”