Box Score MILWAUKEE - Julie Kolinske had 16 kills and
Hannah Blanchard added 10 of her own to help pace the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team to a 25-16, 25-13, 25-23 victory over Robert Morris University in the season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.
The Panthers (1-0), playing in their first game of the Pepsi Panther Invitational, were in control of the first two sets from start to finish. The Colonials (0-1) battled in the third and had it tied, 20-20, only to see Milwaukee close it out for the victory.
"When you can finish in three in your first match of the season, that is a good sign," Milwaukee head coach
Susie Johnson said. "I think it is good to be challenged like that early. We talked about that in the locker room after the match. It was good to finish, but it is also important to be aware of the errors you are making and the points you are giving away to the other team. It gives them energy and made it harder for us."
Led by the senior duo of Kolinske and Blanchard, UWM hit .324 on offense and held RMU to a .159 hitting percentage on defense.
"They both did great," Johnson said. "Those are our two best hitters, I would say, right now, so I am really excited that in the first match they could perform like that."
Taylor Golabowski had a team-high 10 digs and
Kayla Price finished with 33 assists.
For Robert Morris, Arden Fisher led the way with 11 kills and Brianna Frakes had 16 assists.
Milwaukee came out swinging in the first set, getting five kills from
Myanna Ruiz and four from
Nicole Latzig to claim the 25-16 victory. Kolinske dominated the second, putting down eight kills on 11 attempts (.545) to lead her team to a 25-13 win.
Â
Robert Morris rallied in the third after falling behind, 17-10. A late surge got the score to 20-20 before the Panthers dug in. A service error and a Kolinske kill gave Milwaukee the edge and provided enough of an opening to secure the victory.Milwaukee is right back at it this evening, hosting North Dakota State at 7 p.m. at the Klotsche Center. NDSU fell, three sets to one, to Miami (Ohio) in the first match of the Pepsi Panther Invitational this morning.
