Oct. 1, 2011

Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Kerri Schuh and Elizabeth Egerer had eight kills apiece and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee held Youngstown State to a negative hitting percentage in claiming a 25-16, 25-12, 25-21 win Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.

UWM (13-4, 6-0 Horizon) has won its first six matches of league play for the second-straight season and tied a school record by winning in three sets for a fifth-straight time.

The Panthers' defense stole the show, with Milwaukee forcing YSU (1-15, 0-4) into 30 hitting errors and a -.018 hitting clip. UWM tallied 10 blocks in the win, while Morgan Potter (12 digs) and Schuh (11 digs) led the way in the back row.

Missy Hundelt led the Penguins with nine kills.

UWM was in control during the first two sets and needed a late surge in the third frame to remain the only unbeaten team in the Horizon League.

"We're really pleased to be able to finish each match this weekend in three sets," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "Having our block be so good today makes a difference for the hitters because it requires them to think of different things to do."

Milwaukee built an early lead in the first set and never let up. The Panthers scored 11 of the first 15 points of the frame, with the final point in the early burst coming thanks to a solo block from Rachel Neuberger. The Penguins would never get closer than five points the rest of the way, with Milwaukee building a 14-6 lead on a kill by Neuberger. The advantage grew to 17-8 on a solo block by Mackenzie Millis and to 21-10 on a YSU error. Milwaukee then closed out the frame on three more Penguin errors, with YSU hitting -.059 in the set.

The Panthers again built a lead in the second set, scoring 10 of the first 15 points. The advantage was still 12-7 after a kill by Egerer and grew to 16-8 on a kill by Mary Beth O'Brien. A run of five-straight then put things away for Milwaukee, with a kill by O'Brien making it 22-11. The final points of the set for UWM came thanks to kills by Egerer and Neuberger, putting the Panthers in commanding position in the match.

The going was a little tougher for Milwaukee in the third set. The Panthers had early leads of 10-5 and 14-7 but YSU rallied to tie the frame at 16 on a kill by Hundelt. UWM took the lead back for good at 19-18 on a kill by Neuberger and eventually went up 22-18 on a solo block from O'Brien. The final point of the match came thanks to a kill by Egerer, keeping Milwaukee unbeaten in the Horizon League.

The Panthers head back home for a pair of midweek road matches. UWM hosts UIC Tuesday night before Valparaiso visits the Klotsche Center Wednesday.