<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0mFZiS_0wF9NUDJ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0mFZiS_0wF9NUDJ00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Jenna Hickey/Daily. Buy this photo.</figcaption></figure>In case of emergencies like natural disasters or outages, generators are wound up to provide power and critical support. During the Michigan volleyball team’s match against Washington on Friday, sophomore opposite Valentina Vaulet was that power generator, providing the renewable energy the Wolverines needed to resurge and sweep the Huskies.That first case of emergency came in the first set, as Michigan fell into an early hole. It struggled with out-of-system balls and blocking errors while trading holds with the Huskies for the majority of the set. At Washington’s serve and set point, the Wolverines knew they needed to power up. So, after an on-target pass from senior libero Madi Cuchran, sophomore setter Morgan Burke enlisted Vaulet to execute their offense, feeding her the set on the pin. Vaulet then swiftly soared up and slammed the ball down, giving the Wolverines the energy and point they needed to stay in the game. “We had her in a different position last year” Michigan coach Erin Virtue said. “I think (in) this position as an opposite is where she’s most comfortable.” The Wolverines continued to rally and extended the game to take a set point of their own. Vaulet approached the service line, rewinding up her arm to harvest her energy. At release, her powerful topspin serve forced the Huskies out of system, allowing Michigan to perfectly execute its offense. And with a kill from senior middle blocker Jacque Boney, the Wolverines took the first set. “(Vaulet) just continues to be just a more and more well-rounded player, and of course her serve is certainly a big weapon for her and our team,” Virtue said. “And this rotation we started, we got to see a lot of her serve, so that was a nice tactical choice, as our coaching staff kind of planned out where we wanted to attack. Washington’s a really good passing team, so we wanted to put our best server against them as much as possible.”Although they took the first lead in the second set, the Wolverines quickly found themselves in a six-point deficit, waning in energy and strength. In dire need of a boost, they once again called upon Vaulet for support. She wound up her cannon-like arm to generate power and strength, releasing consecutive kills to support Michigan in its comeback to take the lead once more. In addition to those four kills and two service aces for the Wolverines, she logged six of her 14 total digs during the second set. And in that final rotation, Vaulet stepped again to the service line, successfully serving Michigan to a victorious second set.Vaulet herself recognizes the power her swing generates, likening it to her natural propensity for serving. “I had to lift when I got older, but I just practiced the serve,” Vaulet said. “I really like serving. I think that helps.”Not only does her power come from her own discipline, Vaulet’s resume includes time well spent training and representing the Argentinian National U-21 team this summer.“I think she spent a lot of time this summer with Team Argentina, and that helps, I think a lot of playing really high-level volleyball, but just also getting stronger,” Virtue said. “She lifted a lot in the summer with them, and what she told me they worked on in Argentina was really crucial for her coming in and being strong right from August.”In the final set, Vaulet continued to smash unreturnable balls that Washington shanked into the void. She finished the match with a double-double and led the team’s hitting and kill percentages, recording .414 and .517, respectively.Despite the Wolverines’ recurring emergencies throughout the match, they were able to call on Vaulet to be their generator. Her power, strength and versatility provided the critical support the Wolverines needed to resurge and maintain its energy throughout the match. </div></body>

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Versatile Valentina Vaulet critical in Michigan win over Washington

In case of emergencies like natural disasters or outages, generators are wound up to provide power and critical support. During the Michigan volleyball team’s match against Washington on Friday, sophomore opposite Valentina Vaulet was that power generator, providing the renewable energy the Wolverines needed to resurge and sweep the Huskies.