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Posted on Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 10:41 p.m.

Michigan volleyball team advances to second round of NCAA Tournament

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Three Michigan volleyball players had double-digit kills -- including a career-high by sophomore Molly Toon -- to help the Wolverines win a first-round NCAA Tournament win Friday in Palo Alto, Calif.

No. 22-ranked Michigan lost the first set to Baylor, 25-22, before rallying to win the next three by scores of 25-11, 29-27 and 25-17.

"I thought we looked really nervous in that first set," Michigan coach Mark Rosen told MGoBlue.com. "We have a young setter and a few young players in important positions. I thought we looked tentative at first. I thought we did a good job in set two of jumping on them pretty quick.

"I was most proud about set three, though, being down I think seven points and we fought our way back into it. That showed a lot of guts on our part."

Senior Alex Hunt led the Wolverines (22-12) with 17 kills. Toon added 15 and senior Claire McElheny 13. Freshman setter Lexi Dannemiller had 53 assists and 10 digs.

The Wolverines (22-12) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years and the eighth time in coach Mark Rosen’s 13 years at Michigan.

They’ll play at No. 6-ranked Stanford at 10 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinal (22-7) beat Sacred Heart 3-1 in Friday’s other first-round game, played at their own Maples Pavilion.

Stanford has won more NCAA championships (6), made more Final Four appearances (18), competed in more national championship matches (14) and won more NCAA Tournament matches (98) than any program in the nation.

WRESTLING

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational: No. 9-ranked Michigan has three semifinalists and five other wrestlers alive in the consolation bracket after the first of a two-day event at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Zac Stevens (133 pounds), Eric Grajales (149) and Justin Zeerip (174) will wrestle in semifinals on Saturday. The Wolverines trail Ohio State atop the 10-team overall standings. (Details)