The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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think any of us were surprised by the success we had. "We had reached this level where everyone was accountable, and we were so honest with each other about what it would take to win on this night, who maybe needed to step up this game or that game. And if you were struggling, how you could still help the team. "It was inspiring because in some way or another everyone contributed." Michigan would fall 3-2 to No. 3-ranked and eventual national champion Texas in the semifinals, surrendering a 2-1 lead, but even amid their tears, there were smiles. "The kids were devastated, but as we were walking back to our locker room, the Penn State team was coming out onto the court and they were applauding our team. In that moment, I think the girls realized just what an incredible match they had just played," Rosen said. "I couldn't have been prouder of this group for the run and for the entire season, and really for the way they banded together to be one." An Ominous Start Turns Into A Positive Rosen would have never predicted Michigan would finish its season one victory shy of playing for the national title, especially after injuries plagued the Wolverines before preseason camp broke. Cross had been enjoying an outstanding summer with the Canadian National Team, but she suffered a severe ankle injury before school started. Outside hitter Molly Toon was battling an assortment of ailments, and then Claire McElheny, the lone senior on the team and a captain, tumbled to the ground with a debilitating Achilles injury. Cross sped through her recovery even though a greater rest and rehab period was the preferred method. McElheny missed the first nine contests with her bad leg, and Toon fought through her own ups and downs, needing weeks to say she was close to 100 percent. U-M went 12-2 in the non-conference portion of the schedule, but the Wolverines were playing pedestrian volleyball, in Rosen's opinion, and when the Maize and Blue dropped four of their first six and seven of their first 11 in league play, including a 3-0 home loss to Michigan State, the season threatened to spiral out of control. However, even in the face of despair, the Wolverines were exuding attributes of a rising force. "We were awful against our big rival, and then we followed that up with another bad loss to Purdue. In hindsight both matches became situations where our team had to persevere, and in those moments they didn't get down on themselves," Rosen said. "This team still believed in each other and was actually figuring out that we had to trust each other more if we wanted to win. Then we started getting healthy, too. That's when we started rolling." After its 3-0 loss to Purdue Oct. 26, Michigan rebounded with a 3-0 blanking of Indiana the following