Sept. 10, 2004

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Karen Fruit had 16 kills and Leanne Felsing added 10 as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee handled Saint Louis, 30-24, 30-20, 30-27, on the first night of the Powerade Panther Invitational at the Klotsche Center.

Monica Ferguson added seven blocks and Jamie Gabrielson five service aces for the Panthers (3-1), who outblocked the Billikens (3-2) 10-5 and out-aced them 10-3.

UWM controlled the first two games and then rallied in game three to claim its 19th win in 22 tries at its own tournament.

Aida Antanaviciute led Saint Louis with 16 kills.

"In the first two games I felt like we made it look easy," UWM head coach Kathy Litzau said. "The movement was perfect. Saint Louis was creating, but we were ready for everything. In game three, I thought we got a little lazy and we got flat-footed. When you get a lead like that, you often sit back. But I am so happy this young team didn't give it away."

While Fruit and Felsing have continued to be steady offensively for the Panthers, Ferguson is emerging as a key defensively for UWM.

"She just works so hard to get her hands there," Litzau said of the sophomore. "The reason she got those blocks is because her timing was perfect. Many times the blockers get there early and the hitters see the block. But she timed it just right."

UWM steadily built a lead in the first game, turning a 7-all tie into a 13-9 lead following a Billiken error. SLU rallied to within 15-13, but the Panthers broke free with a 9-5 run that included three kills by Fruit to claim a 24-18 advantage. Saint Louis pulled within 27-24, but UWM scored the final three points on a kill by Rachel Kuebbing and two aces by Gabrielson.

The Panthers were also able to take control of game two, using a 5-0 run to build a 20-14 lead. Fruit had two kills during the run, and the Panthers were also sparked by three blocks by Kuebbing and Ferguson in the early part of the frame. SLU pulled within 21-18 before the Panthers finished strong. UWM led 25-18 following a kill by Cheryl Hegemann and scored the next three points on aces by Gabrielson before closing out the game.

UWM had to fight from behind in game three. After trailing 15-11, the Panthers rallied to take a 23-22 lead on a kill by Hegemann. The Panthers pushed the lead to 28-25 on a Billiken error and then closed out the match on a kill by Fruit and another SLU error.

The Powerade Panther Invitational continues with four matches Saturday. Saint Louis and the College of Charleston play at 11 with UWM facing IUPUI at 1:30. The evening session finds the Billikens and Jaguars playing at 4:30 while the Panthers face the Cougars at 7.