Golden Eagles Drop 3-0 Decision to No. 6 Michigan

Sept. 18, 2009

Ann Arbor, Mich.- Playing its first top-10 opponent in three years, the Marquette University women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 6 Michigan at the Michigan Invitational Friday afternoon.

Sophomore Ashley Beyer led Marquette with seven kills and a .412 attack percentage (7-0-17) to go along with two service aces. Michigan recorded the most service aces against MU this season (11) and Wolverine sophomore Alex Hunt set a Michigan record with with nine in the contest.

The Golden Eagles (9-3) had trouble with the Wolverines' (11-0) serves in the first frame, allowing U of M five service aces. A block by Rabbecka Gonyo and Nikki Klingsporn tied the set at 5-5 and would remain close until a 7-0 Wolverine run put Michigan ahead 16-8. The Golden Eagles were then able to muster a 4-0 spurt of their own behind a pair of service aces by Beyer, but were unable to keep pace with Michigan, falling 25-16.

In the second the Golden Eagles were able to grab their second lead of the match at 2-1 on a block by Holly Mertens and Kelsey Mattai and held their last lead of the set at 7-6 on a thunderous kill by Ciara Jones. Late in the set, MU was able to string together two separate three-point rallies to pull the deficit to 22-19 before the Wolverines closed the set, 25-19.

Marquette stuck with Michigan early in the third on the strength of three kills from Beyer and a service ace from Hailey Viola. With the score 9-8 in favor of the Wolverines, they tore off a 9-0 run to go up 18-8 and pulled the match out of reach, winning 25-15 in the third frame.

It was MU's first match against a top-10 team since since it dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 7 Florida on Nov. 24, 2006.

Jones' brother Michael is a freshman linebacker on the University of Michigan football team.

The Golden Eagles return to action in the Michigan Invitational later today against Oregon State (7-3) at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT.