Graduate outside hitter Allison Jacobs is leading the Michigan volleyball team this season so far in kills overall and kills per set. She has been its most crucial offensive asset.
With opposite hitter Valentina Vaulet’s transfer, the previous kills and kills-per-set leader, Michigan needs another player to step up on the offensive front.
Tuesday night, Jacobs once again shouldered the load, delivering a consistent and powerful performance that propelled Michigan to a sweep over Eastern Michigan. Whether getting open to make a kill or being a vocal leader, her presence at the net gave the Wolverines a clear edge — one they carried through all three sets with confidence.
“Allison as an outside hitter, there’s so much weight, so many ways to impact the game,” Michigan coach Erin Virtue said. “So for her, (redshirt junior outside hitter Amalia Simmons), (sophomore outside hitter Ella Demterician) and the outside hitter position, you can impact with your serve and passing and attack and block and just a lot of different avenues.”
Jacobs’ presence was known early as she got a kill and a service ace to give the Wolverines two of their first eight points in the first set. But that was her setting the tone for the match. Shortly after an Eagles timeout, Jacobs tallied another kill, giving the Wolverines their 14th point. At the end of the set, Jacobs scored many of Michigan’s final points with six kills and a service ace in the first set.
Though Jacobs faltered in the second set, she still ended it with a strong showing ending the set with five kills. Early on, Jacobs had two kills resulting in two consecutive points for Michigan. But after that, her next offensive opportunity didn’t come until the middle of the set as Eastern Michigan scored 13 points off kills of their own in the set. Jacobs struggled as well, with three errors.
“Obviously I can’t see everybody,” sophomore setter Ellie White said. “I can with my peripheral vision, but Allison releases her voice. So when in chaos or when we need urgency, she’s always there, and I can always hear her, and that’s a way I find her, and she does a great job executing.”
After those errors, Jacobs went on to tally three more kills. While not back-to-back, Jacobs’ fifth kill was the last point the Wolverines’ offense scored, pressuring the Eagles to finish the second set with errors.
After a reception error to start the third set, Jacobs got back in an offensive groove with a kill followed by a service ace to tie the set at eight. Jacobs gave Michigan a boost, with two more kills to give the Wolverines their 16th and 19th points. She even ended the set with another kill to give Michigan the match.
By the end of the match, Jacobs led the team with 15 kills and was second in hitting percentage at .464. Once again, she was a key piece of the Wolverines’ offense.
“Allison being someone that we lean on to, she’s been really solid for this program since she came back from her injury a couple years ago,” Virtue said. “And so for her, it’s a really steady presence, presence for us.”
Playing a significant role in Michigan’s offense, Jacobs racked up the offensive stats throughout the match. As the Wolverines continue to build momentum this season, Jacobs’ consistent presence at the net — both as a finisher and a leader — is shaping up to be one of Michigan’s most reliable weapons like she was against the Eagles.
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