After slowing Akron’s tempo, Michigan fine-tuned its song

Following a first-set loss to Akron, the Michigan volleyball team found itself in a difficult position against the Zips’ unique offense. Looking to continue jamming along to the tune of their redemption song, the Wolverines were committed to continuing their winning streak. However, they were off-key.     

Akron’s fast-paced ball tempo and formidable block startled Michigan. The Zips committed only one attacking error and recorded four total blocks, whereas the Wolverines struggled to run a successful offense, logging nine attack errors and zero total blocks. Despite trading holds and pushing the set to a tiebreak, Akron took the first set, 28-26.

“They play a really tough system,” Michigan coach Erin Virtue said. “They play great defense and very fast offense, so a big part of that was one trying to get our offense going, but also, through the first two sets, they were hitting well over .400.”

Following that first set performance, Michigan knew it needed to change its tune by slowing the tempo, literally. 

“We just needed to slow them down a lot more,” Virtue said. “It took us longer than I wanted to get adjusted to that, and it’s sometimes difficult to do that from just film, but I was proud of the way that we made some adjustments with our block and defense and our serve to be able to slow their offense down.”

So, the Wolverines got right to it.

By slowing down Akron’s offense, Michigan got back on track in the second set. Despite an early five-point run from the Zips, the newly acclimated Wolverines battled back. Michigan crafted an offensive response by hitting through the block and reacting faster in the back court, allowing itself to take smaller runs of its own. At Akron set point, the Wolverines fought back, and with two kills from senior outside hitter Allison Jacobs, they successfully took their first set, 26-24.

“I think that our goal was just to try to slow them down,” sophomore setter Morgan Burke said. “And then on our side, every chance we got, first touch, play a good high ball, run the offense, get my hands on the ball and give a fastball back.”

In the third set, Michigan continued playing to that new tune and energy. It began with a six-point run powered by blocks and kills from junior middle blocker Serena Nyambio and sophomore outside hitter Lydia Johnson. The Wolverines continued to build on their dominance, never letting the Zips score more than three consecutive points and logging zero attack errors with a .667 hitting percentage. Although Akron worked to extend the set point, its deficit was too large, and the Wolverines took the set, 25-13.

“I think we all came together, and after the second set win, we were like, ‘Let’s keep our foot on the gas, we know we’re a better team than we’ve played the first couple sets,’ ” Jacobs said. “So, I think we just came out with more service pressure, more getting them out of system, slowing them down and just ultimately playing our game.”

As Michigan continued executing its plan, the Zips worked to form their own comeback in the fourth set. Akron traded leads by taking small runs and capitalized on the Wolverines’ few errors— until Michigan remembered its tune. It took a seven-point run powered the Wolverines’ well-adjusted offense, which was enough to give them the strength they needed to finish the set. With two final kills from graduate outside hitter Kendyl Reagh, they took the set and match.

Michigan entered its number out of tune and off-key. But by slowing down the tempo and playing their own game, the Wolverines hit the right note and ended in harmony.

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