Sept. 12, 2009

Box Score |  Notes
Postgame Podcast with Coach Johnson

MILWAUKEE - Katie Dull had 11 kills to lead an efficient Ohio State attack as the Buckeyes claimed a 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night in the final match of the Panther Invitational.

Ohio State (8-1) hit .333 for the match and had six players with at least six kills.

Milwaukee (2-8) was led by 10 kills from Jena Berg, but the Panthers hit just .106 and could never really get on track against the taller and athletic Buckeyes. OSU wound up collecting 50 kills in the match to 25 for UWM.

"Every single player (for Ohio State) was so very physical and strong and jumped very high," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "It seemed like they could just jump up and look where they wanted to hit it. But we battled and we kept giving them the ball back, but sometimes it is just too much. We hung in there and it was like a calm fight that we had the whole match, and that was a goal."

The Panthers started strong but couldn't hang on in the first set. UWM built a 12-10 lead after a block by Berg and Natalie Schmitting and eventually led 16-13 following an ace by Kellye Zaporski. But, the Buckeyes took the lead for good at 21-20 on a kill from Anna Szerszen and then scored the next four points to take the early lead in the match.

Ohio State used its steady attack to control the second set. A kill from Amanda Peterson gave the Buckeyes an 8-4 lead and the advantage grew to 14-8 on a kill from Dull. The Panthers did pull within 15-11 on a kill by Schmitting and again within 17-13 on a block by Mary Beth O'Brien and Maddie Sueppel. But, it was all OSU from there, as a kill from Emily Danks pushed the lead out to 22-14 and a block by Kristen Dozier and Dull finished things off.

The Buckeyes then steadily pulled away in the third set. Milwaukee was within 11-10 after an ace from Lauren Hintze but OSU extended its edge to 15-11 on a block by Dull and Dozier. UWM did pull within two for a final time at 18-16 on a kill by Mackenzie Millis, but the Panthers could not get over the hump. A kill by Danks made it 24-18 and a UWM service error wound up ending the match.

UWM returns to action Tuesday night, hitting the road to face Northern Illinois in its final non-league contest of the season. Then, Friday night, the Panthers open league play in Chicago against Loyola.