Oct. 8, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Becky Peters had 17 kills to lead three players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hung on for a 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12 win over UIC Wednesday night at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (12-5, 5-1 Horizon) never really found their stride in the match yet still found a way to pull out their 33rd-straight regular season home league contest.

Maddie Sueppel added 14 kills and Kerri Schuh 12 for Milwaukee. Plus, Lauren Felsing tallied 30 digs to lead five players in double figures.

Katarina Hanackova had 18 kills to lead UIC (6-11, 1-5), which also had five players reach double figures in digs.

But Milwaukee, less than a week after losing a 2-0 lead at Green Bay and just a day after a tough four-set win over rival Loyola, overcame 34 hitting errors to pull out another victory. Combined with Butler's loss at Wright State Wednesday night, the Panthers took over sole possession of first place in the league.

"I am excited about the fact that we found a way to win," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We were clearly not at our best but we kept battling and did hang tough in the fifth set. It is not easy to play back-to-back tough matches but we won them both and hopefully we can carry this momentum into the weekend."

UWM's defense again played a large role in the win. UIC hit .176 in the match but the Panthers tallied 11 blocks and totaled 95 digs. In addition to the 30 from Felsing, Peters and Kellye Zaporski had 14 apiece while Samantha Trawitzke and Lauren Hintze added 13 apiece.

The Panthers also saw plenty of underclassmen step up again. Along with Sueppel's 14 kills and Schuh's 12, Natalie Chery had six kills off the bench while Trawitzke had six kills and 31 assists to go with her 13 digs.

"Maddie really did a nice job for us and Kerri Schuh stepped up at some key times," Johnson said. "You just can't say enough about Lauren, either, in getting 30 digs."

The Panthers won the first two sets by an identical 25-23 score. Set one saw UWM score the final four points to rally from a 23-21 deficit, while in set two the Panthers nearly let a late, four-point lead slip away before a Peters kill secured a 2-0 lead in the match.

Milwaukee then looked to be on its way to a sweep after holding leads of 19-15 and 22-20 in the third set. Instead, UIC rallied to keep the match alive and then pulled out the fourth frame, scoring four of the final six points after a 21-all tie.

The fifth set saw eight ties and five lead changes, with the score tied for a final time at 12-apiece after a UIC block. But, two errors by the Flames and a block by Peters and late sub Mackenzie Millis allowed the Panthers to escape with the win.

The Panthers return to action this weekend, heading to Ohio for a Saturday match with Youngstown State and a Sunday contest with preseason league favorite Cleveland State.