Sept. 26, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Becky Peters had 14 kills and Maddie Sueppel added 12 as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee collected a 25-16, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19 win over Butler Friday night at the Klotsche Center.

UWM's defense again carried the day, limiting Butler to a .055 hitting clip and just 34 kills while collecting 95 digs. Kellye Zaporski led the way with a collegiate-best 22 digs while Lauren Felsing (19), Becky Peters (18) and Lauren Hintze (14) also reached double figures.

Plus, freshman Samantha Trawitzke produced the best all-around match of her young career, tallying seven kills, nine digs and 32 assists.

Dana Daprile had seven kills to lead Butler (11-3, 1-1).

The Panthers (9-4, 2-0 Horizon) controlled the first two sets but then had to fight hard to wrap up the match. In the fourth set, UWM trailed 17-15 before storming to the win.

"I liked the way we started and finished the match, but we hit a lull in the middle that hurt us," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We'll have to be more consistent tomorrow and then going forward. But I am proud that we finished strong and got the victory."

Milwaukee controlled the first set from start to finish. In fact, the Panthers built a quick 8-2 advantage and pushed the lead to 11-3 on two-straight kills by Mary Beth O'Brien. The lead was still 13-5 after a Sueppel kill and 19-11 after a kill by Kerri Schuh. The Bulldogs never did get any closer than six points, and a kill by Trawitzke followed by a block from Schmitting and Schuh wrapped up the first frame.

The Panthers had a little more trouble in the second set but eventually pulled away for the win. Butler built a 5-3 lead before UWM took the lead for good at 11-10 on a Sueppel kill. The advantage grew to 16-12 on a block by Schmitting and Natalie Chery and Butler would never be closer than three points the rest of the way. A block by Sueppel and Trawitzke and a kill by Sueppel pushed the Panthers to set point at 24-18 and another kill by Sueppel eventually gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in the match.

Butler struck back in the third set, bolting to a 12-7 lead that grew to 17-9 after a solo block by Maureen Bamiro. The Panthers did rally, pulling within 18-16 on a Peters ace and then to within 19-18 on a Butler error. But the Bulldogs scored six of the final eight points in the set to extend the match.

UWM again had to battle in the fourth set, trailing 17-15 after a Porshia Allen kill. But, the Panthers scored the next four points to take the lead for good and then surged to the finish on a pair of kills by Schmitting.

The Panthers continue their weekend homestand Saturday by welcoming Valparaiso to the Klotsche Center. The match begins at 4 p.m.