Aug. 24, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

MADISON, Wis. - Brittney Dolgner tallied 16 kills to lead 11th-ranked Wisconsin to a 30-21, 30-24, 30-19 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The Panthers, making their debut under new head coach Susie Johnson, were in all three games before being overwhelmed by late Badger surges in each frame.

Jamie Gabrielsen had 10 kills while Leanne Felsing added eight kills, seven digs and 12 assists to lead Milwaukee.

"I thought our team fought pretty hard at times, but there is a reason Wisconsin is ranked #11 in the preseason. They showed it tonight," Johnson said. "They had good ball control, a good block and good hitters, and that came through in the match."

Wisconsin used a run midway through the first game to take control. The Badgers actually took the lead for good at 2-1 but still led just 10-8 after a kill by Natalie Schmitting. The Badgers then scored 11 of the next 17 points, pushing their edge out to 21-14. The Panthers mounted a comeback, pulling within 21-16 on a Gabrielsen kill and to within 22-18 on a kill by Felsing. But, UW scored the next four points to rebuild its edge to 26-18 before two late kills by Dolgner closed things out for the Badgers.

Milwaukee pushed out to a strong start in the second frame, scoring four-straight points - including kills by Felsing, Maddie Sueppel and Gabrielsen - to build an 8-4 lead. But, the Badgers struck back by scoring 13 of the next 16 points to grab a 17-11 advantage. The Panthers did pull back to within 21-17 on a block by Felsing and Sueppel and again to within 24-20 on a kill by Gabrielsen, but UWM would never get any closer. Two-straight kills by Schmitting did bring Milwaukee to within 28-23, but the Badgers scored two of the next three points to finish things off.

The Panthers were again right in the middle of game three before the Badgers pulled away. The game was tied at seven and UWM was still within 11-10 following a Wisconsin error. Milwaukee again pulled to within 15-13 but UW responded quickly to erase any doubt in the outcome. The Badgers scored seven-straight points for a 22-13 edge and the Panthers could never recover as UW wrapped up the sweep.

"I did tell my team in the locker room they have to be proud of themselves for how they fought," Johnson said. "I know they are upset they lost but they have to remember the moments where they did fight and were good. Again, there is a reason Wisconsin is #11. They are very good and they are very tough to play against."

The Panthers will continue play in the InnTowner Invitational with a pair of matches Saturday. UWM will face Syracuse at 10 a.m. and Gardner-Webb at 5 p.m. The Orange beat the Bulldogs in four games in the first match of the day Friday.