Oct. 17, 2009

Box Score
Postmatch interview with Coach Johnson
Photo Gallery

MILWAUKEE - Jena Berg had 15 kills to lead three players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 26-24, 26-28, 25-17, 25-20 win over Loyola Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

Kerri Schuh added 13 kills and Natalie Schmitting pitched-in with 10 for Milwaukee (7-14, 4-6 Horizon), which won for the second-straight time.

The Panthers again rode a stellar defensive effort to victory. UWM tallied 104 digs, as Lauren Felsing led the way with 33. Milwaukee wound up limiting Loyola to a .122 hitting clip.

Plus, UWM steadily improved on the offensive end throughout the match. After committing 21 hitting errors over the first two sets, the Panthers had just 10 over the final two frames.

Colleen Francis had 12 kills and Dana VanDiggelen 11 for the Ramblers (10-13, 3-7).

The annual "Pink Out" match to promote breast cancer awareness and research drew 1,037 fans, the second-largest volleyball crowd in school history.

"That third and fourth set was very steady and that's the Panther volleyball we know," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "I can see it in their eyes - they are feeling it and we're climbing. We're just playing our game with the quicker offense, the defense, the block was solid, so it was a really, really good match."

The teams split the first two sets, with each frame extending past 25 points.

In the first set, UWM had to fight off a set-point at 24-23, but did so when Loyola committed a hitting error. Then, a solo block by Sueppel and a kill from Mary Beth O'Brien put the Panthers ahead in the match.

In set two, UWM fought back from a 24-19 deficit to claim a set-point chance at 25-24. But, a kill by Natalie Pounovich kept Loyola alive and eventually a UWM error and an ace from Francis evened up the match.

The Panthers were in control throughout the third set. Milwaukee jumped out to a 9-5 lead and then went up 18-9 after two kills from Berg and one from Schuh. Loyola did pull back to within four points at 20-16 but would get no closer. Kills by Sueppel and Kellye Zaporski pushed the lead back to 22-16 and then kills from O'Brien and Berg along with a Loyola error put Milwaukee back ahead in the match.

UWM then put the match away with a solid performance in the fourth set. The Panthers bolted to a 13-8 advantage after a kill by Sueppel and extended the edge to 21-13 on a kill by Zaporski. Loyola did crawl back to within four points at 23-19, but kills by Schmitting and Berg finished things off.

UWM has just one match next week, with the Panthers hosting in-state rival Green Bay Friday at 7 p.m.