Match Stats
- Creighton def. No. 12 Michigan 3-2, (24-26, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20, 15-7)
- Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament
- Creighton advances to play No. 4 seeded Texas December 10 at 8 PM ET
- Attendance: 3,478
The Creighton Bluejays are a force to be reckoned with, holding the longest winning streak in the nation at 23 matches and becoming the first team in NCAA history to win three five-set matches to open up the tournament. The Bluejays are the sixth unranked team in the past seven years to reach the Elite Eight.
The first set, which featured 15 ties and four lead changes, was taken by Michigan in a late rally to steal the first set 26-24. Creighton seemed to have the set in the bag at 21-18, when Michigan kicked in, taking the Bluejays out of system. The Wolverines tied the set up at 22 a piece before battling to take the first.
Creighton quickly obtained a 7-3 lead in the second, then went on another 5-1 run to lead 12-8 later in the set. The Bluejays took the set 25-21 heading into the break.
Michigan took the third in a strong showing 25-17. The Bluejays led the set at 15-13, but a 12-2 run in the Wolverines favor ended the third at 25-17, giving Michigan a 2-1 lead in the match.
Never trailing in the fourth, Creighton took the set 25-20.
The fifth and deciding set went all Creighton’s way, as they started the set on a 7-1 run, eventually leading at 13-5. Michigan fought to come back scoring two, when the Bluejays called a timeout at 13-7. From there kills from Taryn Kloth and Jaali Winters ended the match, upsetting the No. 12 seed.
Leading Creighton in the tournament is Jaali Winters, who added another 21 kills to her tally and a career-best 25 digs for a 20-20 match. Marysa Wilkinson and Taryn Kloth each contributed 16 kills and Lauren Smith added 15 on a .522 hitting percentage. Recording a double-double was setter Lydia Dimke with 57 assists and 14 digs.
Three players for Michigan recorded double-doubles. Kelly Murphy put down 17 kills and 13 digs, Carly Skjodt added 10 kills and 21 digs while setter MacKenzi Welsh dished out 54 assists and 12 digs.
In the back row for the Wolverines, Jenna Lerg picked up a match-best 30 digs, while Tiffany Clark added 13.
Heading to the Elite Eight, Creighton will face No. 4 seeded Texas, who is coming off a late five set win against No. 13 BYU. The match will be played December 10 at 8 PM ET.
.@CreightonVB will carry its 23-match winning streak into its first Regional Final! #NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/wrg4R6vbvB
— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 10, 2016
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