Sept. 8, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Jamie Gabrielsen had 12 kills and tournament most valuable player Becky Peters added 10 kills and 11 digs as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed the title of the Panther Invitational with a 30-23, 30-20, 30-21 win over Bradley Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (8-1) have now won eight-straight matches and followed up wins Friday over Virginia Tech and Cincinnati with a steady victory over the Braves (1-9). Kelley Olson added nine kills for UWM's offense while Lauren Felsing led the Milwaukee defense with 14 digs.

Milwaukee also had 12 service aces, with Breit Nelson recording five and Gabrielsen pitching in with four.

Nikki Pierzchala had six kills for Bradley, which went 0-3 on the weekend.

Peters was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Lauren Felsing and Natalie Schmitting. Meanwhile, the tourney title was the first time UWM has won its own event since 2000 and extended the Panthers' best start since 2003.

"I am very pleased with how this team has progressed over the first three weeks of the season," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We continue to adjust very well to different lineups and we are doing a very good job of getting everyone involved. In three tournaments, we have had six different players named to the all-tournament teams, so it shows you the number of people that are contributing."

The Panthers weathered a Bradley rally to claim the first game. Milwaukee built an early 13-7 lead and still led 18-13 after a block by Felsing and Schmitting. The Braves fought back, though, claiming a 21-20 lead on a UWM error. The Panthers took control from there, scoring 10 of the final 12 points to pull away. Two aces by Gabrielsen helped spark the run, which also included a pair of blocks by Felsing and Peters.

UWM controlled the second game from start to finish. Milwaukee built a 12-7 lead after a Bradley error and extended the edge to 18-11 on a kill by Olson. The Braves got back to within four at 23-19 but would get no closer. Two blocks by Gabrielsen and Nicole Vilter sparked the run, with blocks by Felsing and Vilter and then Felsing and Gabrielsen finishing off the game.

Milwaukee jumped to a quick 10-2 lead in the third game and never really looked back. Bradley did pull back to within 10-7 and again cut the Panthers' lead to 21-18. But, UWM scored nine of the final 11 points from there. Peters had two kills during the finishing run, which was capped off by a Felsing service ace.

In the first match on Saturday, Cincinnati knocked off Virginia Tech 30-28, 30-19, 30-28. Jessie Nevitt had 16 kills and Stephanie Niemer added 14 for the Bearcats (7-3), who bounced back nicely from their five-game loss to UWM Friday night. Felicia Willoughby led the Hokies (6-4) with 11 kills.

UWM returns to action next weekend, getting an early start on Horizon League play with a trip to Chicago. The Panthers will face UIC Friday night and Loyola Saturday afternoon.