Oct. 31, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Maddie Sueppel and Becky Peters collected 11 kills apiece and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hit .297 for the match in claiming a 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 win over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Friday night at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (16-8, 9-3 Horizon) snapped a three-match losing streak and remained one match ahead of Valparaiso for the top spot in the Horizon League.

Kerri Schuh added 10 kills for Milwaukee, which made just 10 hitting errors all night.

Green Bay (8-14, 4-8) did hit .215 for the contest, but the Panthers forced 19 hitting errors, had eight blocks and got 18 digs from Lauren Felsing. Holly Visser led the Phoenix with 15 kills.

"I am very happy with the performance. I feel like we're back," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "Green Bay played very well but we were still able to fight through. We definitely had to work for the win but we did it. We completed the match and that is something we hadn't done very well the last few times out."

The Panthers led most of the way in the first set but then needed a late surge to pull things out. Milwaukee claimed a 16-11 advantage on a kill by Sueppel only to see Green Bay fight back to take an 18-17 lead on a UWM error. The Panthers then broke free from a 22-all tie, going ahead for good on a Green Bay error before moving to set point on a kill by Sueppel. After a kill by Abbey Gitter pulled the Phoenix within 24-23, a block by Sueppel and Schuh wrapped up the first frame for the Panthers.

UWM had to fight from behind to pull out the second set. Green Bay built a 19-15 lead after a kill by Visser and still led 20-16 after a Panther error. Milwaukee scored the next four points to tie the frame at 20 but GB scored three of the next four points for a 23-21 advantage. UWM made the final surge, though, with a block by Peters and Natalie Schmitting giving the Panthers a 24-23 lead before a solo block by Melissa Jansen pushed Milwaukee into a 2-0 lead in the match.

Milwaukee again had the lead much of the third set, with the Panthers' advantage growing to 20-15 on a kill by Natalie Chery. Green Bay scored the next four points to pull within 20-19 but could never force the tie. A block by Sueppel and Schuh pushed the lead back to 22-19 and a kill from Samantha Trawitzke and a Green Bay error finished things off for the Panthers.

"It really was a true team effort tonight," Johnson said. "A lot of people contributed, both from the starting lineup and off the bench. Everyone stayed very composed throughout the match and came through late in each set."

UWM returns to action next weekend, hosting Cleveland State Friday and Youngstown State Saturday in the final two home matches of the season.