Sept. 10, 2010

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Lauren Krupsky had 16 kills as Central Michigan opened the Milwaukee/Marquette Invitational with a 27-25, 25-17, 25-23 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (2-5), playing without injured kill leader Kerri Schuh, led late in sets one and three but could not close things out.

Natalie Schmitting had 11 kills for Milwaukee, while Mary Beth O'Brien added nine off the bench. But, the Chippewas (4-3) had 11 blocks in limiting the Panthers to a .155 hitting clip.

UWM's defense did tally 54 digs, including a match-high 16 from Morgan Potter, and the Panthers forced the Chippewas into 20 hitting errors.

Still, Central Michigan made surges late in every set to capture the three-set victory.

Milwaukee looked like it had the first set under control after overcoming an early deficit. UWM turned a 14-10 disadvantage into a 22-18 lead thanks to a run that included three kills from Schmitting and two from Rachel Neuberger. The Panthers still led 23-20 following a kill by Jena Berg but the Chippewas responded with the next four points. UWM was able to fight off set-point twice, but on the third try a kill by Jocelyn VerVelde finished things off for the Chippewas.

CMU controlled the second set from start to finish. The Chippewas scored five-straight points to build a 12-7 lead, though UWM did pull back within 15-14 on a kill by Neuberger. But CMU scored the next five points to reclaim control before two kills by Krupsky and a kill by Catherine Ludwig put the Chippewas ahead by two sets.

UWM appeared to be getting back in the match with a strong start to the third frame. The Panthers scored the first four points of the set and eventually led 11-5. After Central Michigan fought back to tie things at 14, Milwaukee rebuilt a 20-15 advantage with a run that included two more kills by Schmitting. But CMU scored five in a row to tie the frame and then took the lead for good at 23-22 on kills by Krupsky and Kaitlyn Schultz. UWM was still within 24-23 after a block by Berg and Maddie Sueppel, but a block by Ludwig and Schultz finished off the match.

Milwaukee plays again tonight, hosting Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m.