Oct. 7, 2009

Box Score |  Notes

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Tara Diebler collected 16 kills and Valparaiso University made a late surge in the fifth set to pull out a 25-23, 16-25, 25-22, 27-29, 15-12 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Maddie Sueppel and Natalie Schmitting had 15 kills apiece for Milwaukee (5-12, 2-4 Horizon), which put forth a valiant effort against the Crusaders (11-6, 5-1).

The Panthers limited reigning Horizon League Player of the Year Angie Porche to a .031 hitting clip, as Milwaukee forced Valpo into 36 hitting errors. UWM's defense collected 101 digs - including 31 by Lauren Felsing - and the Panthers tallied 15 blocks. But, along with the efforts of Diebler, the Crusaders got 14 kills apiece from Porche and Katie Britton to pull out the win.

Milwaukee led 8-5 midway through the deciding fifth set but the Crusaders surged back for a 9-8 lead. Milwaukee held its final lead at 11-10 before Valpo finished the match on a 5-2 run to claim the victory.

Jena Berg added 14 kills and Kerri Schuh 10 for UWM, which has dropped three-straight matches. Kellye Zaporski also directed the offense effectively, recording 48 assists and four kills to go with 21 digs.

UWM nearly came all the way back from a big deficit in the first set. The Panthers held an early 7-6 lead but eventually fell behind 20-12. The hole was still at 24-19 after a kill by Katie Layman, but Milwaukee scored four-straight to make things interesting. Zaporski and Sueppel each had a pair of kills during the burst. But, Amy Groesbeck countered with her only kill of the first set to push Valpo ahead in the match.

The Panthers put it all together in the second set, cruising to the win to even the match. UWM never trailed after jumping to a quick 3-1 lead, with the advantage growing to 15-8 on a kill by Berg. The lead was still 20-13 following a block from Sueppel and Natalie Chery and grew to 22-14 on a Chery kill. Valpo would never recover, as a solo block from Sueppel and two-straight Crusader errors wrapped up the set.

The Crusaders went back ahead in the match by pulling out a hard-fought third set. Valpo actually looked to be running away with things, building an 18-9 lead after a Diebler kill. UWM pulled back to within 19-15 on a solo block by Sueppel and crawled to within 20-17 on a Sueppel kill. Milwaukee then pulled within a single point twice, first at 21-20 on a Valpo error and again at 23-22 on a block by Berg and Schmitting. But, another kill from Diebler and a block by Diebler and Jenny Pokorny allowed Valpo to pull out the frame.

Milwaukee returned the favor with a thrilling win in the fourth set. The Panthers led most of the way, building a 13-10 lead early before still leading 21-18 on an ace by Berg. Valpo fought back to tie things at 24 and the set was again tied at 25, 26 and 27 before UWM put together the set-winning surge. A kill by Schmitting fought off a Valpo set-point before a kill by Berg and a block by Schuh and Schmitting forced a deciding fifth frame.

That fifth set was tight throughout, with nine ties and five lead changes. But, the Crusaders battled back from a three-point deficit and claimed the win with an ace by Porche.

The Panthers will get two days off before another pair of road matches. UWM plays at Cleveland State Saturday night and at Wright State Sunday afternoon.