Sept. 10, 2010

Box Score

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MILWAUKEE - Alexis Mitchell had 15 kills to lead three players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin pulled out a 16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 26-24 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday night in the Milwaukee/Marquette Invitational at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (2-6) dominated the first set and were up 17-10 in the second frame before the Badgers (7-0) were able to turn the tide. Then, UWM had two set-point chances in the fourth set before Wisconsin rallied to wrap up the match.

Elizabeth Egerer had 17 kills and Mary Beth O'Brien 15 for Milwaukee, which committed just seven hitting errors in sets one and four but 15 in the middle two frames.

Morgan Potter led UWM's defensive efforts with 21 digs, with the Panthers also collecting eight blocks while forcing Wisconsin into 27 hitting errors.

The Panthers played without starters Kerri Schuh and Maddie Sueppel, both sidelined by injury.

Dominique Thompson and Elise Walsh had 10 kills apiece to help the Badgers, who had not lost a set entering the contest.

In the decisive fourth set, Milwaukee recovered from a 14-12 deficit to claim a 22-18 lead on a kill by Egerer. The advantage was still 23-20 on another Egerer kill and went to 24-22 on a Wisconsin hitting error. But, a kill by Mitchell, two UWM errors and then a loose-ball kill by Walch finished things off for the Badgers.

"We played really well most of the time," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "I felt like we did a really good job against them. We had a game plan and it worked most of the time. Finishing in two of the games would have made a really big difference."

UWM pulled away to claim a dominating win in the first set. The Panther lead was just 11-10 after an ace by Julie Mikaelsen but Milwaukee proceeded to score 10 of the next 11 points to claim a 21-11 advantage. The run was highlighted by the serving of Natalie Schmitting and three Panther blocks, including two by Mackenzie Millis. Wisconsin never got closer than eight points from there, with a kill by O'Brien capping the set and an impressive Milwaukee start.

The Panthers looked like they would roll through the second set, too. UWM jumped out to an 8-4 lead after an ace by Anna Bartz and then extended the edge to 14-8 on a block by Rachel Neuberger and Millis. Milwaukee had the lead all the way out to 17-10 after a kill by O'Brien, but the Badgers turned things around from there. UW ties the set at 20-all on a kill by Annemarie Hickey and then led 23-20 on a UWM error. The Panthers scored the next point but a kill by Thompson and a UWM error allowed the Badgers to even the match.

Wisconsin had more control in the third set, building leads of 9-3, 10-5 and 16-9 before the Panthers rallied. UWM pulled within 16-13 on a Wisconsin error and then within 17-16 on a kill by O'Brien. After the Badgers scored the next four point to reclaim some control, kills by O'Brien and Schmitting sandwiched around a block from Schmitting and Berg had Milwaukee back within two at 21-19. But two kills by Mitchell helped spark a final Badger run that put Wisconsin back ahead in the match.

UWM plays two more matches Saturday, hosting Toledo at 11 a.m. before heading across town to Marquette for a 7:30 p.m. contest.