Oct. 8, 1999
CHICAGO - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team handed University of Illinois at Chicago its first conference loss of the season, defeating the Flames tonight in Chicago, 3-0. The Panthers up their record to 14-1 and 3-0 in the MCC, while the Flames drop to 11-8 overall and 3-1 in the MCC.
The Panthers took an early lead in the first game, leading early in the game by eight points. The Flames battled back, whittling the Panther lead to four, but were not able to score any more, dropping the first game to the Panthers, 15-6. The Panthers continued to pour it on in game two, shutting out the Flames, 15-0. In game three, the Flames weren?t going to make it easy for the Panthers, taking an early lead in the third game. But the Panthers proved to be too much for the Flames, taking the final game 15-9.
Sophomore Laura Dallenbach led the Panthers with 12 kills and a .375 hitting percentage (12-3/24), along with 17 digs. Sophomore Chrissy Schurla followed with 10 kills and a .375 hitting percentage (10-1/24). As a team, the Panthers hit .314, compared to .099 for the Flames.
UWM returns to Chicago tomorrow, Oct. 9, to take on conference rival Loyola (9-4, 3-0 in the MCC) at 3 p.m. in their first match-up of the season. Loyola?s home court has proven to be a difficult venue for the Panthers over the years, with the Ramblers leading the series at home, 6-3, as well as the overall series, 20-11. Since head coach Kathy Litzau took over in the Panther program in 1993, the record stands even at 5-5.
UWM Ranked No. 1 in District 6
UWM was ranked No. 1 in District 6 in the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) official district rankings released today. District 6 includes the MCC, Conference USA, Ohio Valley, and the SWAC conference schools. The rankings fall as follows: 1. UW-Milwaukee, 2. Houston, 3. Cincinnati, 4. St. Louis, 5. Austin Peay, 6. Marquette, 7. Southeast Missouri State, 8. Loyola, 9. UIC, 10. Eastern Illinois.
A Look at the Loyola Ramblers (9-4 overall, 3-0 in the MCC)
Loyola stayed perfect in conference play after posting a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Cleveland State at Woodling Gymnasium last Friday night, Oct. 1. With the victory, the Ramblers improved to 3-0 in conference play, their best start in the MCC since the 1992 squad ran off six straight to start league play.
Loyola has now won four straight. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Poglits posted a career-high 29 kills against the Vikings on Friday night.
Statistically as a team, the Ramblers only top the Panthers in blocks per game with a league-leading 2.49 bpg. They trail the Panthers in all other categories, averaging a .238 team hitting percentage, 14.36 kpg, 13.42 apg, 1.88 sapg, and 13.76 dpg.
Individually for Loyola, Sarah Poglits leads the team on offense, averaging 3.96 kpg with a .299 hitting percentage. Renee Nash leads the team with 12.18 apg and leads the conference in aces, averaging 0.49 sapg. Julie Wiejak leads the team in blocks, averaging 1.27 bpg.
The Ramblers returned home this weekend to open a four-match homestand, starting tonight with a match-up against UW-Green Bay, before hosting UW-Milwaukee on tomorrow afternoon.
