Michigan Leads After Day 1 Border Battle
September 15, 2006
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - A year after a quartet of Michigan volleyball programs lost 14 of 16 matches in the first annual Border Battle at Wittenberg University, the Wolverine state stood tall Friday, taking five of eight matches, including a pair of upsets against nationally ranked Ohio squads.
The biggest surprise of the day came in one of the evening's final two matches as the Calvin Knights remained perfect on the 2006 season with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over host Wittenberg, the No. 8 team in the country. Calvin rallied from a 32-30 Wittenberg win in Game 1 to sweep three straight by scores of 39-37, 30-13, 30-13.
The loss dropped Wittenberg, the preseason No. 2 team in the nation, to 8-4 overall on the season. It was the Tigers' third match of the day, concluding nearly 10 hours after the start of a 3-0 win over North Coast Athletic Conference rival Denison in a match outside of the Border Battle. Wittenberg added a 3-0 win over Alma in the middle of the day.
The day's other upset came courtesy of Hope College, which toppled 18th-ranked Ohio Northern 3-2. The Flying Dutch couldn't keep the momentum, however, falling to Capital, 3-1, later in the day. The Polar Bears rebounded to earn a 3-0 win over Adrian, a squad that earlier had topped Capital.
Rounding things out, Calvin and Alma both defeated Denison by 3-1 margins. The standings after Day 1:
The biggest surprise of the day came in one of the evening's final two matches as the Calvin Knights remained perfect on the 2006 season with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over host Wittenberg, the No. 8 team in the country. Calvin rallied from a 32-30 Wittenberg win in Game 1 to sweep three straight by scores of 39-37, 30-13, 30-13.
The loss dropped Wittenberg, the preseason No. 2 team in the nation, to 8-4 overall on the season. It was the Tigers' third match of the day, concluding nearly 10 hours after the start of a 3-0 win over North Coast Athletic Conference rival Denison in a match outside of the Border Battle. Wittenberg added a 3-0 win over Alma in the middle of the day.
The day's other upset came courtesy of Hope College, which toppled 18th-ranked Ohio Northern 3-2. The Flying Dutch couldn't keep the momentum, however, falling to Capital, 3-1, later in the day. The Polar Bears rebounded to earn a 3-0 win over Adrian, a squad that earlier had topped Capital.
Rounding things out, Calvin and Alma both defeated Denison by 3-1 margins. The standings after Day 1:
Michigan 5, Ohio 3
Calvin: 2-0 (6-2 games)
Ohio Northern: 1-1 (5-3 games)
Wittenberg: 1-1 (4-3 games)
Capital: 1-1 (4-4 games
Hope: 1-1 (4-5 games)
Adrian: 1-1 (3-4 games)
Alma: 1-1 (3-5 games)
Denison: 0-2 (2-6 games)
Calvin: 2-0 (6-2 games)
Ohio Northern: 1-1 (5-3 games)
Wittenberg: 1-1 (4-3 games)
Capital: 1-1 (4-4 games
Hope: 1-1 (4-5 games)
Adrian: 1-1 (3-4 games)
Alma: 1-1 (3-5 games)
Denison: 0-2 (2-6 games)