Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - Julie Kolinske had 13 kills to lead a balanced attacked and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's defense controlled Drake throughout the match to claim a 25-20, 25-19, 25-22 win Saturday morning in the first match on day two of the InnTowner Invitational.

The Panthers (5-4) held the Bulldogs to a .064 hitting clip and forced 20 hitting errors.

UWM again had plenty of people involved in its defensive effort, as Anna Bartz and Kolinske tallied 11 digs apiece while Elizabeth Egerer added 10.

Egerer also added 10 kills while Maggie Dunbar had eight and Rachel Neuberger seven as Milwaukee hit .204 for the contest.

Bentley Mancini had 10 kills to lead Drake (0-8), which was reasonably effective offensively in the first set but then had more errors than kills over sets two and three.

"They tested us a bit and we really had to push back to win in the third," Milwaukee head coach Susie Johnson said. "I was really happy with the team to finish in three and work through some tough situations. One of the goals in the beginning of the match was to outdig them because I knew we could do that. Digging is really just a matter of staying focused and working hard and that's what we did."

The Panthers steadily took control of the first set to go ahead in the match. Milwaukee took the lead for good at 15-14 on a kill by Egerer, one of four in a row for the senior. The lead grew to 19-16 on a Kolinske kill and was 22-18 after two-straight kills by Nicole Latzig. Drake did pull within 22-20 but a pair of kills from Dunbar sandwiched around a service ace from Arianna Wiersma allowed the Panthers to wrap things up.

UWM followed a similar script in the second set, taking control late to go up two sets to none. The Panthers trailed 13-10 after a block by Cassie Effken and Mancini. But Milwaukee responded with the next seven points, sparked by the strong serving of Maisey Mulvey and two kills by Neubeger. The lead was still 21-17 after a Kolinske kill and then the Panthers finished the set behind a flurry from Egerer. She made it 23-19 with a kill, 24-19 by joining Neuberger for a block and 25-19 on another kill.

Milwaukee had to fight from behind late in the third set. The Panthers did build a 15-10 lead midway through the frame only to see Drake fight back to claim an 18-16 advantage. The Bulldog lead grew to 21-18 on a UWM hitting error before the Panthers finally answered. Two-straight Drake errors put Milwaukee ahead in the match and then two-straight kills from Neuberger wrapped things up for the Panthers.

UWM wraps up its weekend stay at the InnTowner Invitational by taking on the host Wisconsin Badgers at 7 p.m. The Badgers (6-1) are playing North Dakota State at noon today.