Nov. 8, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Jessie Theys had 18 kills to lead UW-Green Bay to a 30-25, 26-30, 30-24, 30-20 win over UWM Friday night at the Klotsche Center.

The win snapped an 18-match losing streak by the Phoenix (15-15, 7-5 Horizon) against the Panthers (15-12, 10-2 Horizon).

Tari Boutin had 15 kills, Larissa Cattanach 14 and Sarah Potts 12 for UWM, which dropped a half-game behind Loyola in the race for the Horizon League regular season championship. The Panthers could not overcome a .104 hitting percentage that included 39 hitting errors.

Amanda Timmers added 11 kills for UWGB, which remained in sole possession of third place in the league. The Phoenix also recorded 13 blocks and had 10 service aces.

"Our team just lost all of its confidence," UWM head coach Kathy Litzau said. "We played a step behind all night, whether it was on defense or passing. I felt like we were playing catch-up the whole match."

UWM did limit League Player of the Year candidate Janelle Tomlinson to eight kills and a -.051 hitting percentage, but the Phoenix still hit .184 as a team and saw four players record at least eight kills.

"We did a good job on Janelle, but it was very much a team effort by them," Litzau said. "This is probably the best their whole team has played this year."

After the two teams split the first two games of the match, UWGB seized control of the match in game three. The Phoenix quickly turned a 3-3 tie into a 14-7 advantage before eventually pushing the lead to 19-9 following a kill by Krystle Lange. The Panthers rallied to within 25-20 on a Potts kill and to within 27-23 following a kill by Lindsey Spoden. But UWGB regained control from there, closing out the game on a kill by Tomlinson and two Panther attack errors.

The Phoenix then rolled in game four, bursting out to a 13-3 lead following kills by Amanda Timmers and Kaelyn Zaporski and a Panther attack error. The lead eventually grew to 24-9 following a kill by Theys before UWM rallied slightly, getting the lead under double figures at 27-18 following a Phoenix attack error. But UWGB closed out the game and the match on a kill by Leslie Kuhn to record their first win over UWM since 1994.

"Green Bay really came in focused and ready to fight," Litzau said. "Our team didn't have the fight or the focus we generally have on our home floor."

UWM returns to action Saturday, hosting IPFW in a non-conference contest. The match begins at 2 p.m.