Skip To Main Content

Milwaukee Athletics

Skip Ad
Maggie Dunbar, celebration
1
Valparaiso VALPO 23-7, 9-5 Horizon
3
Winner Milwaukee UWM 9-19, 7-8 Horizon
Valparaiso VALPO
23-7, 9-5 Horizon
1
Final
3
Milwaukee UWM
9-19, 7-8 Horizon
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Valparaiso VALPO 21 19 31 21 (1)
Milwaukee UWM 25 25 29 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Solid Defense Leads Milwaukee To Vital Win Over Valparaiso

Panthers sit in sixth place with one match remaining

MILWAUKEE – Myanna Ruiz had 31 digs in a strong defensive effort by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team in a 3-1 win over Valparaiso University Saturday afternoon from the Klotsche Center.
 
Milwaukee (9-19, 7-8 Horizon) had solid hitting and terrific defensive efforts all around in a balanced win, 25-21, 25-19, 29-31, 25-21.
 
The win is a big one for the Panthers, who remain in sixth place in the league standings with one week left in the regular season.
 
"Our team had really good composure today," head coach Susie Johnson said. "They complete understand the circumstances that we're in; that winning is vital at this point in the season, and they came to play both matches this weekend and really executed when they needed to. I'm really proud of them.
 
"This was a very balanced win. We needed other people to contribute and that's exactly what happened. Sammi had a great weekend, our blocking was solid and our defense was very strong."
 
Ruiz had one of her best performances of the season. The junior – who made the switch to libero this year – had 31 digs to lead all players. That marks the fourth time this season she has reached 30 digs in a match – three of which have come in four-set matches.
 
Kayla Price controlled the Panther attack with 51 assists, while adding 16 digs in a solid effort.
 
Maggie Dunbar tied for a match-high with 19 kills, with senior Sammi Herron adding 14. That marks the fourth time in the last seven matches that both Dunbar and Herron have reached double figures in kills for the Black and Gold.
 
Jess Kalous also chipped in with nine kills, while Celine Jones and Maddie Williams each had eight.
 
The Panthers started things off with an incredibly balanced attack to take the opening frame. UWM had at least three kills from five different players, including a set-high five from Herron, who got hot late to help put things away.
 
Milwaukee continued that solid play right into the second. A kill by Dunbar built the lead to 10-7 before the Panthers went on a tear. UWM rattled off eight of the next 10 points to balloon to 18-9 on a kill by Williams. Valpo tried to claw back in it, but Milwaukee shut the door with another kill by Dunbar to take the 2-0 lead.
 
UWM continued its strong play into the third, only to see Valparaiso take its first lead at 16-15. Down three late, Milwaukee fought back to take a 24-23 edge after a block by Price and Williams. But, the Crusaders were able to force it to extras where they would eventually prevail, 31-29.
 
With momentum on their side, VU jumped out to a 12-5 lead to start the fourth. The Panthers got a big stop on a kill by Kalous as a part of four-straight kills. It wasn't long before Milwaukee took its first lead of the match at 15-14. It was back-and-forth from there until a late surge by the Panthers, scoring five of the final six points to walk away with the big win.
 
"We were winning points off of our serve and then we were defending – that's how we were able to come back in the fourth," Johnson said. "The key is sustainability in these matches and then just finishing. Staying with a team instead of letting them get too far ahead and that's what we're doing a much better job of. We're making good decisions at critical moments."
 
Milwaukee now has just one match left on the schedule this season – a home contest against in-state rival Green Bay next Saturday at 4 p.m. from the Klotsche Center. Saturday's contest will also serve as senior day for the Panthers.
 
 
Print Friendly Version