Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score  |  Match Report

 | 

MILWAUKEE - Ashley Beyer had 12 kills to lead three players in double figures as Marquette claimed a 25-14, 25-20, 25-22 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night.

The win, in front of 1,021 fans at the Klotsche Center, gave the Golden Eagles (7-3) the title of the Milwaukee Invitational over the Panthers (7-3).

Rachel Neuberger had nine kills to lead Milwaukee, but the Panthers were outhit .333 to .154 and never really got on track.

"They played really, really well and we had a hard time getting in a groove," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We had a little bit of fight here and there but it was just really hard. When a team plays like that - when they're passing, they're digging, they're hitting well. Everything really flowed for them, so it was really hard for us to get anywhere."

Marquette controlled the first set by scoring 10 of the first 13 points. The Panthers pulled within three but saw the MU advantage quickly grow back to 21-11. Milwaukee never recovered after that.

The Panthers also dug a hole in the second set, falling down 16-9 after an error. The Panthers did fight back to within 23-17 and 24-20, but a kill by Carol Henney finished things off for the Eagles.

Milwaukee best chance to win a set came in the third. After UWM fell behind 16-11, the Panthers rallied to tie things at 18 on a kill by Julie Kolinske. Another kill by Kolinske again tied things at 19 but Marquette took the lead for good on the next point. UWM was still within 22-21 after an MU error but the Panthers could never get back over the hump.

Neuberger and Morgan Potter were the UWM representatives on the all-tournament team.

The Panthers return to action with another stiff test Tuesday night, heading to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a battle with Western Michigan. UWM is home next weekend to open Horizon League play against Green Bay (Friday 7 p.m.) and Loyola (4 p.m.).