Sept. 27, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Becky Peters had 15 kills while Natalie Schmitting added 12 kills and nine blocks as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee remained unbeaten in the Horizon League with a 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-13 win over Valparaiso Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (10-4, 3-0 Horizon) and Crusaders (7-5, 0-3) split the first two sets before UWM dominated the third and fourth frames.

Natalie Chery added eight kills, Kerri Schuh seven and Maddie Sueppel six as part of a balanced Panther attack, with UWM hitting a solid. 237 in the match.

Milwaukee also wound up equaling its season-high with 14 blocks, helping force Valpo into 32 hitting errors and a .117 hitting clip.

Angie Porche had 15 kills to lead the Crusaders, who were picked to finish second in the league but have dropped their first three league contests.

"The team, as a whole, played very, very well," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We really stuck to our game plan, trusted our system and trusted each other. It got results and it is always a good confidence builder to see the plan work out so well."

While defense has been a cornerstone of the Panthers' early-season success, it has often been the back row taking a starring role. And, while the Panthers still put three players in double figures in digs, it was the blocking efforts up front that made a big impact.

"We really did block a lot," Johnson said. "We focused today on our blocking schemes and as the match went on we were talking about blocking stronger. We did that, too, and it really made an impact."

Milwaukee steadily pulled away in the first set. The Panthers took the lead for good at 6-5 on a block by Schmitting and Chery and extended the edge to 13-9 on a Valpo error. The Panthers' advantage hit 17-12 on a kill by Chery and grew to 23-16 on another Crusader error. Valpo did cut the lead to 24-22 but a final VU error gave the first set to the Panthers.

Game two was tight throughout, with a total of 17 ties and eight lead changes. The Panthers had an 18-17 lead on a kill by Sueppel and then held their final lead at 23-22 on a Valpo error. But, two kills by Porche sandwiched around a UWM ball-handling error gave the Crusaders the second set, evening the match.

The Panthers quickly gained control in the third set, scoring nine of the first 12 points. Valpo did rally to within 9-6 but Milwaukee quickly rebuilt its lead to 16-8 on a Crusader error. Valpo never got closer than five points after that, with late kills by Peters and Schmitting putting UWM back ahead in the match.

UWM then dominated the fourth set. The Panthers bolted to an 11-3 lead and still led 15-7 after a Valpo error. Milwaukee's advantage grew to double digits at 19-9 on another VU error and eventually hit 22-10 on an ace by Peters. Kills by Schuh and Chery then wrapped up the match.

The Panthers have just one match next week, traveling to Green Bay for a Friday night contest with the Phoenix.