Sept. 18, 2010

Box Score |  Notes

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Kerri Schuh had eight kills to lead a balanced University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee attack as the Panthers opened Horizon League play with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 win over Green Bay Saturday night at the Kress Center.

The Panthers (4-7, 1-0 Horizon) also got seven kills apiece from Jena Berg, Elizabeth Egerer and Natalie Schmitting. Berg added 13 digs, 26 assists and hit .500 while directing a Milwaukee offense that committed just 11 hitting errors.

Berg was one of five Milwaukee players that reached double figures in digs, as Schuh also had 13 while Anna Bartz, Morgan Potter and Lauren Hintze all added 10 apiece.

Carlie Willison had 11 kills and Carmen Leitermann 10 for Green Bay (3-10, 0-1), which lost to Milwaukee for the 34th time in the last 37 meetings between the two schools.

"It is hard to win at Green Bay. They play hard here and it was their first home match of the season, so it is a great win to get out of here in three," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "The team really stayed relaxed. It was a huge team effort. It wasn't just one person doing everything, it was really everybody combining and staying the course."

UWM rode a fast start to a win in the first set. The Panthers jumped out to an 8-1 advantage and then led 12-4 on a kill by Berg. A kill by Rachel Neuberger and a Green Bay error made it 14-5, marking the largest lead of the frame for Milwaukee. The advantage was still 17-9 after a Phoenix error before Green Bay rallied. The Phoenix closed to within 19-15 on a kill by Willison and within 22-20 on a UWM error. But, a pair of Green Bay errors followed by a block from Berg and Schmitting put the Panthers ahead in the match.

The Panthers again built a lead before hanging on in the second set. Milwaukee took the lead for good at 8-7 on a tip kill by Berg, with that point starting a 6-0 burst which put the Panthers up, 13-7. The lead grew to 17-10 on a kill by Schuh, but the Phoenix rallied to within three at 19-16 and 20-17. Milwaukee scored four in a row from there to regain control, with a kill by Schuh making it 24-17. A kill by Egerer then finished things off, putting Milwaukee up two sets to none.

UWM then pulled out a tight third set. Green Bay built an early 6-3 lead and took the lead again at 13-12 after an ace by Kara Lindstedt. The Phoenix lead went to 18-14 before the Panthers rallied, reclaiming a 20-19 lead on a Green Bay error. GB had one more surge, leading 22-20 after a Milwaukee error. But, a kill by Berg and two kills by Schmitting sparked the Panthers to their final run, with a Green Bay error eventually wrapping things up.

The Panthers continue early season play in the Horizon League with a trip to Ohio next weekend. UWM is at Cleveland State Friday night before playing at Youngstown State Saturday afternoon.