Boasting a 3-0 record, the Michigan volleyball team is riding a hot streak to start the season. While victories over Eastern Michigan, Cincinnati and Wake Forest aren’t necessarily eye-popping, the Wolverines’ ability to play within their system is an indication of a team that has a sustainable, winning, brand of volleyball.
“One thing we’ve been working a ton on is staying disciplined within our defense and block system,” Michigan coach Erin Virtue said Wednesday. “That is something we’re constantly tweaking, as each opponent will bring a different kind of offense.”
At the heart of the front line is senior middle blocker Serena Nyambio. After leading the Wolverines in total blocks and blocks-per-set in 2024, she is taking charge up front and continuing to lead the team in both metrics so far this season as well. Anchored by Nyambio, Michigan jumped out to a 25-12 smothering of the Eagles in the first set of its victory Tuesday night.
With a strong defense as their backbone, the Wolverines have begun to pride themselves on their ability to stifle teams. The Wolverines have conceded just nine aces while garnering 20. This means that they are controlling the gameplay early on in points which, in turn, allows them to set up a high-production offense. But before the block is even set up, Michigan has established itself well defending the serve.
“Our offensive production, especially in system, has been really good on first touch,” Virtue said. “So when our first contact is good our offense is showing to be incredibly difficult to defend.”
To create that offensive production, it has stressed aggressiveness when serving as Michigan pinned Eastern Michigan down for much of the night thus allowing its defense to stifle the Eagles’ counterattack.
The focal point of the system’s offense is graduate outside hitter Allison Jacobs. Jacobs is fresh off a 2024 All-Big Ten first team selection, and has picked up exactly where she left off. In addition to notching multiple aces in each game so far, she is a dominant force at the net with the best kills-per-set on the team. She also has — by far — the most points on the team at 64 and is very comfortable being the primary aggressor in the Wolverines’ offense.
From a birds-eye view, Michigan’s system isn’t anything groundbreaking. Virtue emphasizes good defense, an offense that runs through Jacobs and, when they can’t score on first touch, a dominant block up front. But for a team that struggled to execute the little things at times last year, consistency within the system throughout the first four games is a welcome development.
With the unit is playing six games in eight days, the only stretch of that kind on its schedule, its consistency will be tested, and needed, more than ever before.
“It’s about taking things match by match,” Virtue said.
The Wolverines will play three games in three days this weekend. With little turnaround time, prep work for each match will be limited compared to conference matches that have many off days leading up to them. But where preparation is diminished, Michigan has a strong sense of identity to rely on, an identity that it hopes will power them to flourish within its system this weekend.
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