ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Sept. 28, 2018) – Rutgers volleyball fought into extra points in the third set at No. 17 Michigan, but dropped Friday night's Big Ten match, 3-0, at Cliff Keen Arena.
 
THE LINE
Michigan (13-1, 2-1) 3, Rutgers (6-10, 0-3) 0 – 25-11, 25-16, 26-24
 
KNIGHT NOTES

• The Scarlet Knights put up 11 blocks, the most in a Big Ten match since totaling 14 against Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2016. Rutgers has outblocked opponents in 13 of 16 matches this season.
• Freshman middle Merle Weidt posted a breakout game with career-high marks of four blocks and six digs. The rookie addedfour kills on a .300 swing percentage.
• Junior libero Karysa Swackenberg led Rutgers in digging for the eighth time in the last nine matches, posting 17 on Friday for her highest mark in a Big Ten match. It marks her 35^th career match with double-digit digs.

STANDOUT STATS

• Freshman setter Inna Balyko bounced four kills on an .800 clip to go with her 21 assists, eight digs and three blocks.
• Freshman outside hitter Tali Marmen and senior outside Sahbria McLetchie each pitched in six kills, with McLetchie adding four digs, three assists and two blocks.
• Junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse paced the blocking effort with six.

THE MOMENTS

• Set 2 | Freshman setter Inna Balyko did it all during a 3-0 run to hand Rutgers an early 8-6 lead. She cleverly attacked a pass for a kill before helping on a block and dishing out an assist to Weidt.
• Set 3 | Sophomore right side Beka Kojadinovic and junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse each had two block assists, and Weidt served up an ace during an early 4-0 rally and the 6-3 advantage.
• Set 3 | Stackhouse heated up with two kills during a 5-1 spurt putting the Scarlet Knights up 18-16, with freshman outside hitter Tali Marmen and McLetchie adding offense.
• Set 3 | Rutgers saved set-point with McLetchie's kill for a 24-24 tie before Michigan closed it out with a kill and a block.

UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights remain in the Great Lakes State for a Big Ten match at Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
 
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