Sept. 5, 2003

Box Score

TOLEDO, Ohio - Karen Fruit had 15 kills to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to a 30-25, 30-21, 30-22 win over Niagara Friday afternoon in the opening match of the Clarion Westgate Rocket Classic.

The Panthers (4-0) have yet to lose a game this season, sweeping past the Purple Eagles (0-5) by hitting .263 while limiting Niagara to a .057 hitting percentage.

Sarah Potts added nine kills while Larissa Cattanach had eight. Lindsey Spoden collected 35 assists while adding six digs, two blocks and four kills. Robin Alt and Melissa Lange shared team-high dig honors with seven apiece.

UWM broke open game one with a 9-1 run midway through the frame. After Niagara pulled within 12-11, the Panthers scored nine of the next 10 points to build a 20-12 lead and never looked back. Fruit and Cattanach had two kills apiece during the run.

The Panthers ran away with game two down the stretch, using a 9-2 run to close things out. Kills by Fruit and Cheryl Hegemann sparked the run before the Panthers benefitted from a number of errors down the stretch.

UWM again broke open a tight contest in game three, turning an 18-17 lead into a 30-22 win. Potts, Fruit and Cattanach had two kills apiece during the run for the Panthers.

UWM faces LaSalle later tonight.