Nov. 5, 2005

Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Rachel Kuebbing had 17 kills to lead a balanced University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee attack in a 32-30, 30-28, 30-28 win over Cleveland State, giving UWM its third-straight Horizon League regular season crown.

Milwaukee (19-8, 11-2 Horizon) had to overcome deficits late in all three games but came through when it counted. The Panthers can finish no worse than tied with the Vikings (17-8, 9-3) in the league standings and will hold the top seed for the league tournament after beating CSU twice during the regular season.

Sarah Moore added 14 kills and Leanne Felsing had 12 kills and 15 digs to spark the Panthers, who have now won 11-straight league matches and finish the regular season next Friday at UW-Green Bay. UWM is also one victory away from its eighth 20-win season in the last nine years.

Nickole Kennedy had 11 kills to lead Cleveland State, which finishes its regular season next weekend with matches at UIC and Loyola.

"It was just a tremendous team effort," UWM head coach Kathy Litzau said. "I am so proud of this team for how they fought down the stretch and how people stepped up when we needed them to. It is a great feeling to know we have won the regular season championship and we also know there is a lot of work still ahead."

The Panthers trailed 26-22 in game one, 25-22 in game two and 22-17 in game three, but each time UWM pulled it out.

In game one, late kills by Felsing and Kuebbing and a CSU error gave the Panthers the win. In game two, it was a block by Moore and Melissa Lange and a kill by Kuebbing that made the difference. Then, in game three, UWM scored the final four points, getting two kills from Hegemann and a kill from Moore along with a CSU error.

When it was all done, UWM had overcome an 0-2 start in league play to live up to their billing as the preseason favorite in the league.

"We certainly are thrilled to come out of here with the win," Litzau said. "We knew it would not be easy and it wasn't, and we know if we see Cleveland State down the road it will be a big challenge."

Lange was tremendous is directing the UWM attack, tallying 57 digs. And, freshman Becky Peters recorded 17 more digs, giving her 477 on the season.

UWM's match next Friday with UW-Green Bay starts at 7 p.m.