Sept. 2, 2010

Box Score

DES MOINES, Iowa - Devin Trefz tallied 18 kills as North Dakota earned a hard-fought 25-23, 26-24, 23-25, 29-31, 15-8 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Thursday night at the Knapp Center.

The Panthers (2-2) had successfully fought off six match-point chances for the Fighting Sioux (4-1) in the fourth set but could not pull things out in the fifth frame.

In that deciding fifth set, North Dakota used a 7-0 run to build a 9-4 lead and then never let Milwaukee get closer than three points the rest of the way.

Kerri Schuh had 16 kills while Rachel Neuberger added 13 for Milwaukee, which has played three 5-set matches over its first four contests of the season.

Annika Smed added 11 kills, including the match-winner from the back row. Ronni Munkeby also pitched-in with 11 for North Dakota, which won the Great West Conference last season and is picked to win the league again this season.

Both teams posted strong defensive efforts, as UWM hit just .139 while North Dakota hit .124. In fact, the two squads were forced into a combined 68 hitting errors, with the Fighting Sioux tallying 18 blocks and the Panthers 13. Courtney Halvorson had a match-high 29 digs for the Fighting Sioux, which had 96 digs as a team. Milwaukee had four players reach double figures in digs, led by 18 from libero Morgan Potter.

Milwaukee dropped a tight first set after leading much of the way. The Panthers built an early 6-4 advantage and still led 11-9 after a kill by Jena Berg. The lead grew to 14-11 on a North Dakota error and was still 16-14 moments later. But that is when the Fighting Sioux found its stride, taking the lead for good at 18-17 on a kill by Ellen Krueger. The advantage eventually grew to 22-18 on a block by Tiara Russell and Erin Joki, but the Panthers made one more rally. A Schuh kill made it 24-22 and then a North Dakota error brought the Panthers within 24-23. But, a UWM hitting error finished things off for the Sioux.

The second set followed a similar script, with the Panthers unable to ever pull away before giving up one final late surge. UWM led 7-4 after a run of three-straight points and still led 9-6 after a block by Schuh and Natalie Schmitting. The Sioux grabbed a 12-11 lead and the two teams traded the advantage from there, with Milwaukee eventually reclaiming a 21-20 lead on a block by Schmitting and Mackenzie Millis. But that would be the final lead of the set for the Panthers. UWM did fight off one set-point chance when a North Dakota service error tied things at 24. But, a kill by Annika Smed followed by a block from Joki and Munkeby put the Sioux up two sets to none.

The Panthers extended the match by pulling out the third set. UWM trailed in the early going but grabbed a 16-15 lead on a solo block by Neuberger. The lead grew to 21-18 on a North Dakota error and was still 22-19 after a block by Melissa Jansen and Schmitting. The Fighting Sioux didn't go away, scoring the next three points to tie the set at 22. But, a service error gave UWM the lead back and then kills by Neuberger and Schuh sent the match to a fourth set.

UWM then pushed the match further by pulling out a thrilling win in the fourth. The Panthers looked to be in good shape after building a 21-18 lead on a Neuberger kill, only to see North Dakota score the next six points to claim a 24-21 advantage. Milwaukee then successfully fought off three match points, eventually taking a 25-24 lead on a Fighting Sioux hitting error. The Panthers didn't pull it out at that point, though, and had to fight off three more match points before finally claiming the win. A kill by Neuberger put UWM up 30-29 before a block by Neuberger and Schuh finally finished things off.

Milwaukee jumped ahead 4-2 in the fifth set after a kill by Mary Beth O'Brien. But, a pair of blocks and an ace played a big part in the 7-0 Fighting Sioux run that allowed them to take control. UWM pulled within 9-6 after a North Dakota error but would never get any closer.

The Panthers continue their brief but busy stay in Iowa with a pair of matches Friday. UWM will face North Dakota State at 11 a.m. before taking on #12 Iowa State at 1 p.m. Both matches will take place at Ames High School.