Sept. 15, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

CHICAGO - Jamie Gabrielsen had 19 kills and Leanne Felsing posted another triple-double as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a hard-fought 34-32, 32-30, 30-28 victory over Loyola University Chicago Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.

The Panthers (10-1, 2-0 Horizon) had to come from behind in all three games to win for the 10th-straight time. UWM has also won 27 of its last 28 Horizon League regular season matches, with its only loss in that span coming at Loyola last season.

Felsing's triple-double included 16 kills, 16 digs and 28 assists, while Gabrielsen added 12 digs to go with her 19 kills. Becky Peters led UWM's defense with 22 digs and Lauren Felsing added 19 as the Panthers limited Loyola (2-9, 0-1) to a .089 hitting percentage.

Dana VanDiggelen led the Ramblers with 13 kills.

In all, the match had 38 ties and 19 lead changes, with 17 ties and eight lead changes in the third game alone.

The first two games followed a similar script, with the Panthers digging a big hole before recovering. In fact, after its early recovery, UWM had to fight off three game-points to pull out the first frame. Milwaukee trailed by as many as four points in the early going before moving out to a 24-21 lead on a Gabrielsen kill. The Panthers still led 27-25 after a Felsing kill and reclaimed a 28-27 advantage on another kill by Felsing. But, Loyola had chances to claim the first game in holding leads of 29-28, 31-30 and 32-21. The Panthers had the final surge, though, using a kill by Maddie Sueppel, a Loyola error and a block by Gabrielsen and Sueppel to pull things out.

Game two looked like it might be a runaway for the Ramblers, as Milwaukee fell down 11-1 thanks to four aces and three blocks by Loyola. But UWM recovered, cutting the lead to 17-12 on a Rambler error before tying the game at 21 on a block by Kelley Olson and Natalie Schmitting. Loyola rebuilt a 27-22 lead and again appeared to have things in hand, only to see Milwaukee score six-straight points to lead 28-27. The Panthers then had to fight off a game-point at 30-29, doing so thanks to kills by Gabrielsen and Sueppel before a block by the duo gave UWM a 2-0 lead in the match.

Game three was tight the entire way, with UWM inching out to a 20-18 advantage before Loyola fought back for a 25-22 lead. The Panthers scored the next four points to reclaim a 26-25 edge and never trailed after that. A kill by Olson gave Milwaukee a 29-27 lead and a kill by Schmitting then finished off the game and match for the Panthers.

UWM returns to non-league play for its next contest, traveling to DeKalb, Ill., for a contest with Northern Illinois Tuesday night. The Panthers then host Butler and Wright State in Horizon League play next weekend.