Oct. 30, 2010

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Kerri Schuh had 17 kills and Morgan Potter led a strong defensive effort with 29 digs as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee captured a 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17 win over Valparaiso Saturday night at the Athletics Recreation Center.

The Panthers (17-8, 12-1 Horizon) have now won eight-straight matches and moved into sole possession of first place in the Horizon League, one-half match ahead of idle Butler.

Natalie Schmitting added 11 kills for Milwaukee, which hit .316 in the fourth set to wrap up the win. Jena Berg had five kills and 42 assists in directing the offense.

Sarah Dooms had 14 kills and Kelsey Victor 11 for Valparaiso (21-6, 8-5), which saw its five-match winning streak snapped.

UWM tallied 71 digs and 11 blocks in the contest, limiting Valpo to a .136 hitting clip while forcing 29 hitting errors. Lauren Hintze and Anna Bartz also reached double figures in digs, with Hintze collecting 13 and Bartz 10.

The Panthers pulled away to win the first set. Valpo led by as many as three points in the early going and still led 12-10 before a run of five-straight points put Milwaukee ahead for good. The lead grew to 18-14 on a service ace by Schuh and 19-14 on a Schuh kill. The Panthers eventually led 24-16 and, after a brief Crusader run, closed things out on a kill from Schmitting.

The script was similar in the second set, as Valpo built an 11-8 lead and still led 14-13 after a solo block by Victor. But the Panthers took the lead for good at 16-15 on a Schmitting kill and led 21-16 after two-straight aces by Bartz. Valpo did pull within 22-19 after a block, but an Egerer kill restored order before a block by Egerer and Schmitting and a kill by Schmitting put Milwaukee up two sets to none.

Valpo led almost the entire way in winning the third set. The Crusaders took the lead for good at 6-5 and eventually led 18-13 following a kill by Victor. The Panthers did get all the way back to within 22-21 but a kill by Dooms started a final surge for the Crusaders, with another kill from Dooms wrapping things up.

Milwaukee then reclaimed control of the match quickly in the fourth set. The Panthers took an early 4-1 lead and then broke a 6-all tie with three-straight points. UWM never gave the lead back, with a kill by Egerer making it 17-13 and a block from Berg and Schmitting taking the lead to 18-13. Valpo never got closer than three points after that, with kills from Schuh and Melissa Jansen eventually finishing things off.

Milwaukee stays on the road for two matches next weekend. The Panthers play at Wright State Friday night and at Butler Saturday afternoon.