Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team challenged a tough Iowa State University squad but came up short, falling 25-20, 25-21, 25-22, Friday evening in day one of the Diet Coke Classic.

The Panthers (4-4) were in all three sets of the match despite never really getting on track offensively against the Cyclones (4-2), one of the top teams in the "receiving votes" category of the AVCA national poll.

Senior Hannah Blanchard paced UWM with 13 kills as the only player to finish in double-figures. Junior Kayla Price had 28 assists and sophomore Myanna Ruiz led the way with 16 digs.

"We actually played a really great match other than our offense," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "We just could not get it going other than Hannah. Hannah was incredible, but it was a challenge for us offensively and no one could finish."

Victoria Hurtt topped the Cyclones with 11 kills. Suzanne Horner had a double-double with 30 assists and 12 digs.

"We played a great game defensively and our serving and blocking was really good," Johnson said. "We have to clean it up offensively and that is something that our individual players have to focus on before the next match. We will come out stronger, we are continuing to improve and have to be better tomorrow."

Milwaukee drew closer each set as the night went on and the third was highly contested. Down, 14-12, UWM ripped off three in a row to take a 15-14 advantage on an ISU attack error.

Iowa State responded to retake the lead, but a Maggie Dunbar kill and another error put the Panthers back on top at 18-17. Another kill by Kaisa Mattson inched UWM ahead 19-18 but Iowa State had one more stand in it.

Thirteen ties and five lead changes into the set, the Cyclones closed on a 5-2 run to earn the victory. The Panthers close out the weekend with a pair of games tomorrow, playing No. 19 Minnesota at 10 a.m. and Tulsa at 4:30 p.m.