Duke Defeats Michigan, Goes Undefeated at ACC/B1G Challenge

Saturday, September 9

Ann Arbor, MI

7 p.m.

Duke University

6-2,0-0ACC

Michigan

2-5,0-0Big Ten

Duke

Michigan

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Defeats Michigan, Goes Undefeated at ACC/B1G Challenge

9/9/2023 9:28:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Postgame Interview

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Duke volleyball team secured its sixth consecutive win with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 28-26, 18-25, 25-23) against Michigan Saturday evening at the ACC/B1G Challenge.

Offensively, the Gracie Johnson, Kerry Keefe and Jess Robinson combined for 37 of Duke's 48 kills — Johnson tallied 17 to hit .220 percent for the match, while Robinson posted a .318 percent.

Setter Emma Worthington dished 35 assists and led the team with three aces. Libero Madison Bryant tallied 20 digs while Robinson paced the defensive charge with 10 total blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Much like last night against Michigan State, the Blue Devils came out firing on all cylinders with a .343 hitting percentage in the first set. Duke tallied 14 kills and just two errors on 35 swings and was led by Johnson with six kills and no errors.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair that featured 15 ties — just when Duke would pull ahead, Michigan always had an answer.
The Wolverines held off four set points but ultimately couldn't find the answer to Duke's high-powered offense as Fleming knocked down her third kill of the evening.
Leading two sets to none, Duke struggled offensively in the third set and hit a negative percentage to open the door for Michigan.
Duke found a way to bounce back in the fourth set and captured the match, 3-1. As a team, the Blue Devils hit .235 percent in the final set and limited the Wolverines to a .119 clip.

NOTABLES

Duke improves to 6-2 overall with its sixth-straight win.
Duke is now 4-2 in the ACC/B1G Challenge.
The Blue Devils lead the all-time series against Michigan, 6-2.
The win was head coach Jolene Nagel's 688th of her career and the 485th at the helm of the Blue Devils.
Keefe tallied her 15th-career game with double-digit kills.
With her ace this evening, Gracie Johnson owns 135 for her career to rank eighth in program history.
Robinson's 10 total blocks ties her career high.
Bryant tallied her 10th career game with 20 or more digs.
Fleming tallied seven kills and no errors to hit .438 percent. She has committed just four hitting errors this season.
Michigan was led by Kendall Murray with 16 kills.

QUOTE

"I am thrilled for this team to have gone on the road in the Big Ten and return to Durham with two wins. The team grinded through some rough patches and just kept working. They played with great energy and hustle as they fought their way through the match. It was a great team effort and they showed great resilience." - head coach Jolene Nagel

NEXT MATCH

Duke returns to the court against NC Central on the road Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. This will be the first time a Duke team has played on NC Central's campus since the 1970s.

For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".

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