Michigan volleyball swept the Valpo Popcorn Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, beating Cincinnati 3-0 and Valparaiso 3-1 to improve to 5-1 on the season.

The Wolverines had to adjust before they even took the court Sept. 5. A heat wave in northern Indiana made the intended venue unplayable, and Washington Township High School in Porter County stepped in as a replacement just two hours before first serve against Cincinnati.

"Shoutout Washington Township High School, we wouldn't have played that matchup (with) Cincinnati if they hadn't stepped up," coach Erin Virtue said, according to The Michigan Daily. "And that was super cool because that was pretty last minute for them."

Michigan handled the Bearcats in three sets despite 24 kills from Cincinnati outside hitter Sydney Nolan, a 2025 first-team All-Big 12 selection. The Wolverines took the first and third sets 28-26.

The Sept. 6 match against Valparaiso started poorly. The Beacons grabbed the first set 25-23. Michigan responded by winning the next three 25-14, 25-16 and 25-12.

Ella Demetrician earned tournament MVP honors with 21 kills on 37 swings, 16 digs and five blocks against Valparaiso, according to Michigan Athletics. Junior opposite hitter Cymarah Gordon added 19 kills on 32 swings, hitting .500 with four blocks. Both Gordon and freshman libero Meredith Martin earned All-Tournament Team selections.

Martin's tournament stood out. She recorded 45 digs across the two matches, including a match-high 22 against Valparaiso. The first freshman libero to start a Michigan season opener since 2012, Martin committed just one reception error in 77 attempts over the full week while adding 21 assists, three aces and the first two kills of her career.

The Big Ten named Martin its Freshman of the Week on Monday, Sept. 7, after she averaged 4.63 digs per set across four matches. That figure led all Big Ten players and ranked 50th nationally, according to Michigan Athletics. She became the fourth Wolverine to earn the honor and the first since May Pertofsky on Oct. 7, 2019.

Virtue praised the contributions of players seeing early career action against Valparaiso. Sophomore opposite hitter Leni Stanton-Parker recorded the first kill and block of her career in her first accountable match. Hannah Brady made her collegiate debut and landed an ace on her first serve. Middle blocker Ece Senyapici registered a match-high eight blocks.

Michigan's lone loss this season came Tuesday, Sept. 1, when South Carolina completed a reverse sweep at Crisler Center in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge, winning 3-2.

The Wolverines travel to Tampa for the South Florida Invitational, facing TCU at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.