Sept. 15, 2012

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Megan Birch had 19 kills to lead three players in double figures as Pacific opened day two of the Marquette Invitational with a 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Panthers (5-7) were on track after winning the first set but then saw the Tigers' offense take over from there.

Pacific (11-1) wound up hitting .314 for the match after hitting just .152 in the first set. Five of UWM's seven blocks came in the first frame, as did 23 of their 54 digs.

Julie Kolinske had 18 kills and 15 digs to lead Milwaukee, which also got 14 kills from Rachel Neuberger and 10 from Sammi Herron. The Panthers hit a solid .209 themselves but could not slow down the Tigers after the early going.

"We were able to do a really nice job of getting them out of system in the first set but then we just weren't able to do that in the rest of the match," Milwaukee head coach Susie Johnson said. "Julie really came alive in the match and there were times where did a lot of nice things. We continue to make progress and continue to challenge ourselves with every match."

The Panthers put together a very solid performance to win the first set. In fact, UWM led most of the way after scoring seven of the first 10 points. The lead was 15-10 following a block by Kolinske and Nicole Latzig and was still 20-17 after a block by Neuberger and Kayla Price. Pacific did rally to tie the set at 21 and 22, but UWM took the lead back for good at 23-22 on a tip-kill by Price. Kolinske then followed with a kill before she shared a block with Latzig, putting Milwaukee ahead in the match.

Pacific struck back in the second set. The Tigers built a 10-6 lead after a block by Hannah Clancy and Jennifer Sanders and the lead was still 16-12 a bit later in the frame. UWM did pull within 19-17 on a kill by Egerer but could get no closer. A Milwaukee error pushed Pacific to set point and then a kill from Kat Schulz finished things off.

The Tigers kept the momentum in the third set to go ahead in the match. Pacific jumped out to an 8-4 lead and then led 14-9 on a kill by Clancy. The lead grew to 18-11 on a UWM error and hit 21-13 as the Tigers pulled away. A kill and ace by Kolinske did draw the Panthers to within 22-16 but Pacific closed things out on a kill by Birch.

There was no letup from Pacific in the fourth set. The Tigers scored six of the first nine points of the frame and then led 14-7 after a UWM error. The Panthers did pull to within 16-12 on a Kolinske kill and to within 19-16 following a kill by Neuberger. But Pacific rattled off the next four points to reclaim control and then finished out the match with a block from Clancy and Gillian Howard.

UWM wraps up its weekend at the Marquette Invitational by taking on the host Golden Eagles at 7 p.m.