Nov. 11, 2011

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Elizabeth Egerer and Julie Kolinske had 16 kills apiece and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee collected a season-high 17 blocks in claiming a 25-19, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24 win over Valparaiso Friday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Panthers (22-4, 15-0 Horizon) tied a school-record with their 15th-straight win and play at UIC Saturday looking to become the first school to go through the Horizon League schedule unbeaten since 1994.

Rachel Neuberger had eight blocks while Mackenzie Millis and Kerri Schuh added seven. Plus Morgan Potter collected 37 digs as Milwaukee held Valpo (19-13, 9-7) to a .100 hitting clip.

The Panthers finished the fourth set on a 10-1 run, rallying from a 23-16 deficit to seal the match. UWM actually scored the final five points of the match, with three coming thanks to Egerer (two blocks, one kill).

Katie Britton had 14 kills and Ellen Vanden Berg 11 for Valpo.

"I told the team we played like champions tonight," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We just kept fighting and pulled it out in the end. We weren't really ahead a lot and we were a little out of sorts at times, but we found a way to get it done. It's a good sign to win without playing our best, and it was really good to be tested now to help get us ready for the tournament next week."

Milwaukee fell behind 8-5 early in the first set but rallied to claim a 10-9 lead on a kill by Egerer. The lead grew to 14-10 on another Egerer kill and was still 18-14 after a Valpo error. The Crusaders did pull to within two a couple of times from there, but UWM finished the set with a flourish. Kills from Schuh and Egerer sandwiched around a triple block by Schuh, Egerer and Millis provided the final three points and the first-set win for Milwaukee.

UWM was able to pull out the second set. The Panthers held a 15-13 lead before falling behind 18-15. Milwaukee then eventually led 24-21 but Valpo stayed alive with the next three points. The Panthers had the final surge, though, as a kill by Egerer put Milwaukee ahead before another triple block involving Schuh, Egerer and Millis put UWM up by two sets.

Valpo got back in the match with a win in the third set. The Panthers played from behind the entire way in the frame, with the Crusaders building an early 11-6 lead on a kill by Janelle Hobbs. Milwaukee did close to within 15-14 on two-straight kills by Kolinske and UWM was still within a point at 18-17 following a kill by Egerer. It was just 21-20 Valpo after a block by Schuh and Millis but the Crusaders finished off the set with a 4-0 run.

The Panthers were again fighting from behind the entire fourth set. UWM fell down 14-8 after a 5-0 Valpo run and the Crusaders still led 16-10 moments later. Milwaukee countered with five in a row, pulling within 16-15. But it was Valpo that surged back, building a 23-16 advantage. It was all UWM from there, though. A kill by Neuberger and two kills by Kolinske helped spark the burst, with the Panthers closing the deficit to 23-21. A point by Valpo pushed the Crusaders to set point, but VU would never finish things off. Instead, kills by Kolinske and Kayla Price along with a block by Egerer and Neuberger fought off three set-points. A kill by Egerer then made it 25-24 before a solo block by Egerer on Britton ended the match for the Panthers.

Milwaukee's match at UIC Saturday begins at 6 p.m.