Nov. 18, 2001

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Finally, it all came together for the UWM volleyball team.

The Panthers completed a near-perfect weekend Sunday afternoon, beating Loyola 30-27, 30-15, 31-29 to claim the Horizon League Volleyball Championship and their fourth-straight berth in the NCAA Tournament.

UWM (20-7) did not lose a game in its three tournament matches, earning its second league tournament championship and claiming its fifth-straight 20-win season.

Laura Dallenbach led the Panthers with 13 kills, 10 digs and eight blocks and was named the tournament MVP. Tari Boutin also made the all-tournament team after adding 11 kills. The Panther defense slowed the Rambler attack, as UWM collected 12 blocks and the Ramblers hit just .081.

"This team was on a mission," UWM head coach Kathy Litzau said. "This team was going to do whatever it took this weekend to get it done. When I went into the locker room before the match, the focus was on everyone's face. There wasn't a hint of nervousness or tension. They were ready to go after it for the title. And to do this in Milwaukee, in front of our home fans, means a lot to me and to the rest of the team."

The last two seasons, UWM lost in the conference tournament yet earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. This season, Litzau said finishing with a league tournament title - especially in Milwaukee - was important.

"The last two years, losing in the tournament, it was very disappointing," Litzau said. "From the start of the season we said 'focus on the finish' and this team definitely did that. There were some bumps along the way, but how we've finished is what counts."

The win also gives UWM's senior class a bid to the NCAA Tournament in each of their four seasons at UWM and, with 93 wins, they are the winningest class in UWM's Division I volleyball history.

In the title match, UWM had to battle for tight wins in games one and three while the Panthers dominated game two.

In game one, UWM bolted to a 10-5 advantage, but Loyola (20-8) recovered to grab a 16-15 lead. The game was tied at 16, 17, 18 and 20 until the Panthers regained control, grabbing a 25-22 advantage on a kill by Dallenbach. A Boutin kill made it 26-23, and after the Ramblers pulled to within 27-26, UWM scored three of the final four points on kills by Chrissy Schurla and Dallenbach and a service ace by Lindsey Spoden.

In game two, Loyola hit -.043 as UWM turned a 10-9 deficit into a 20-15 lead. From there, the Panthers scored the final 10 points of the game - including three points on kills by Dallenbach - to claim the win.

The Ramblers appeared as though they might extend the match in game three, pulling ahead 28-24 on a kill by Kristen Daly. But UWM rallied with four straight points thanks to two Rambler errors and kills by Schurla and Sarah Potts. Loyola claimed a game point on a Lauren Holbrook kill, but UWM responded with the final three points of the match on a kill by Potts and two kills by Dallenbach, sending the team into a celebration in front of a noisy Klotsche Center crowd.

UWM will find out its first-round NCAA opponent and site of the game Monday, Nov. 26, when the pairings are announced at 2 p.m. CST. The first-round match will be played either Friday, Nov. 30 or Sat. Dec. 1.

All-Tournament Team

Andrea King, Butler

Angela Sobocinski, UW-Green Bay

Jenelle Hart, Loyola

Lauren Mikos, Loyola

Tari Boutin, UWM

Laura Dallenbach, UWM

Tournament MVP

Laura Dallenbach, UWM