Sept. 17, 2011

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Rachel Neuberger had 12 kills to lead a balanced attack and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was in control the entire match in claiming a 25-20, 25-15, 25-21 win over Loyola Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (9-4, 2-0 Horizon) never trailed in the match after the early part of the first set, recording their first three-set victory of the season.

Melissa Jansen and Kerri Schuh added 11 kills for Milwaukee, which also posted a stellar defensive effort. The Panthers had 11 blocks - including six from Neuberger and five from Mackenzie Millis - while limiting Loyola to a .126 hitting clip.

Meanwhile, the Panthers hit .252 as a team, with Kayla Price collecting 37 assists in directing the offense.

Laura Purcell had 12 kills to lead Loyola (3-7, 0-1).

"I was excited because all of our hitters were on and we did a really nice job," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We had really good sets, we had a lot of digs that were up, so the whole game was working well for us."

The Panthers pulled away to win the first set. Loyola held an 8-5 lead in the early going but Milwaukee took an 11-10 lead on a Loyola error. The advantage moved to 15-12 on a kill by Neuberger and was 21-17 on a kill by Schuh. Loyola did pull back to within 23-20, but a kill by Jansen and a block by Jansen and Mackenzie Millis put Milwaukee ahead in the match.

UWM had an easier time of it in the second set. The Panthers led the entire way, building an 8-3 lead on an ace by Millis. The advantage was 12-8 following a Jansen kill and 15-12 on a kill by Mary Beth O'Brien. Milwaukee really surged from there, with an ace from Schuh making it 18-13. UWM then finished off the set with seven-straight points, as two kills by Neuberger highlighted the final run.

Milwaukee then made a final surge to claim the third set. The Panthers led 6-3 after a kill by Neuberger and 12-9 after a kill by Schuh. Loyola did pull within 15-14 on a kill by Libby Bresser but would never forge a tie. A kill by Schuh made it 20-15 and another Schuh kill kept the lead at 22-17. The Panthers then finished out the match on a kill by O'Brien and a Loyola service error.

UWM stays home for a pair of league matches next weekend. The Panthers face Butler Friday at 7 p.m. before Wright State visits Saturday at 4 p.m.