Oct. 3, 2003

Final Stats

MILWAUKEE - The Klotsche Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was the site of a coming out party Friday (Oct. 3) as UWM freshmen Cheryl Hegemann and Melissa David led the home team to a 30-25, 26-30, 30-18, 30-23, Horizon League victory over rival University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Hegemann tied a school-record with 11 blocks to go with a career-high tying 10 kills while David, playing for injured senior Sarah Potts, collected a match, and career-high 14 kills. With the victory, UWM improves to 14-3 overall while moving alone into first place in the league with a 3-0 mark. Meanwhile, with the loss, UWGB falls to 12-5 overall and 2-1 in the league.

"I am so proud of both Cheryl and Melissa," UWM head coach Kathy Litzau said. "Cheryl was great on the block and Melissa really stepped up. I think UWGB probably prepared for Sarah Potts, Lindsey Spoden, and Larissa Cattanach, but I don't think they were prepared for the two freshmen to play the way they did. That was a huge for them and a huge win for the team."

Milwaukee controlled the game throughout, with only a minor hiccup late in game two as the only blemish on the match. The Panthers jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the first game and never trailed in the 30-25 victory. David jumpstarted the UWM offense in game one, posting four kills and a .429 attack percentage.

The Panthers appeared to be on their way to a two games to none lead midway through the second game as they grabbed an 18-10 lead on an attack error by UWGB's Amanda Timmers. However, poor execution and improved play by the Phoenix helped push the visitors back into the game. A Timmers kill made it 19-13 before four UWM attack errors in the next seven points helped close the gap to 20-18. The Phoenix closed to within 21-20 on a Hegemenn service error before taking the lead for good on back-to-back attack errors by the Panthers. UWGB posted a .116 attack percentage in game two while forcing UWM to hit at a .049 clip.

Milwaukee got off to another quick start in game three, this time grabbing a 9-4 cushion, thanks in large part to four UWGB hitting errors. The Panthers extended the lead to ten, 23-13, with three Hegemann kills leading the way. UWM cruised the remainder of the game as the Panthers sandwiched two kills in between four more Phoenix errors to close out the set.

Game four went back-and-forth numerous times early on, with neither team holding larger than a two-point lead. However, with the game tied at 10, the Panthers were able to score four consecutive points, thanks in large part to the blocking of Hegemenn, Lindsey Spoden, and Larissa Cattanach. UWM extended the lead to 19-12 before the Phoenix made one last push. UWGB senior Janelle Tomlinson, who struggled mightly all match, found a rhythm late in game four as her three kills helped the Phoenix cut the Panther lead to one, 19-18. The visitors could get no closer, however, as two David kills and a Spoden and Hegemann block finished off the game and the match for UWM.

"We talk about making good choices, and, with the exception of the second game, I think we did that," added Litzau. "We blocked really well and played great defense. I am impressed how well we bounced back after struggling late in game two. It was just a very good night for us overall."

UWM outhit the Phoenix .168 to .085 on the match while posting 14 blocks to the visitors five. Karen Fruit added 12 kills and six blocks for the Panthers while Spoden added 43 assists, three kills, and five blocks. Jessie Theys paced UWGB with 13 kills while Timmers and Krystle Lange added 11 kills apiece. Tomlinson finished the night with 10 kills and 13 errors in 42 attempts for a -.095 attack percentage.

Milwaukee will enjoy a week off before heading to Chicago next weekend for a pair of Horizon League matches. UWM will take on UIC on Friday (Oct. 10) at 7 p.m. before facing Loyola on Saturday (Oct. 11) at 4 p.m.