Sept. 21, 2012

Box Score

  

MILWAUKEE - Four players reached double-figures in kills and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hit .305 as a team in claiming a 23-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-21 win over Youngstown State Friday night in the Horizon League opener for both team.

UWM's defense was also strong, as the Panthers limited the Penguins to a .135 hitting clip. Anna Bartz led the way with 26 digs.

Julie Kolinske had 19 kills to spearhead the offense, which also got 16 kills from Rachel Neuberger, 12 from Sammi Herron and 11 from Elizabeth Egerer.

Hannah Blanchard, making her first career start at setter in place of injured all-league setter Kayla Price, had 50 assists and flawlessly directed the attack.

The Panthers have now won 26-straight regular season league matches dating back to October of 2010.

"We just needed to settle in a little bit and we did that after the first set. This team fought back, we were really efficient and we were able to get the win," Milwaukee head coach Susie Johnson said. "Hannah did an excellent job. She was so calm and so good and did not panic whatsoever. She did such a nice job running the team and we had a very balance offense."

The Panthers started slowly but still nearly rallied to win the first set. UWM trailed 13-10 after two-straight errors and was still down 18-14 following a kill from Shannon Watson. Milwaukee fought back, tying the frame at 22 on a block by Kolinske and Nicole Latzig. But YSU scored three of the next four points to wrap things up, finishing the set on a kill by Hundelt.

Milwaukee evened the match by controlling the second set. UWM scored eight of the first 10 points of the frame and led 15-6 following a kill by Neuberger. The lead hit 19-9 on a solo block by Neuberger and Milwaukee was never seriously threatened after that. A kill by Kolinske pushed the Panthers to set point and another Kolinske kill eventually wrapped it up.

The Panthers continued rolling into the third set. UWM scored six of the first eight points and then led 13-7 after a YSU error. The lead was still 18-12 following a block by Neuberger and Kolinske and the Panthers pulled away from there. A block by Kolinske and Latzig pushed the edge to 22-13 and it was another kill from Kolinske that finished off the frame.

The fourth set was tighter but Milwaukee maintained control throughout. A kill by Kolinske put UWM ahead 11-6 in the early going and an Egerer kill made it 15-9. YSU did pull to within 18-16 but a kill by Egerer restored a 21-17 lead. Kills from Egerer and Kolinske then finished things out for Milwaukee, getting the Panthers off on the right foot in defense of their league title.

UWM closes out the weekend by hosting Cleveland State Saturday at 4 p.m. The contest, a rematch of last year's Horizon League Tournament championship match, is Alumni Day and Youth Day, with all kids 8th grade and younger admitted free.