Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Playing its fourth match in just over 24 hours, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team fell in straight sets, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23, to host Missouri State Saturday night at the University Plaza/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational.
Julie Kolinske was named to the all-tournament team after tallying 55 kills in four matches over two days.
Hannah Blanchard registered eight kills and hit an impressive .615 to lead the way for UWM (4-3). Kolinske also had eight kills on the match, with
Myanna Ruiz tallying seven and hitting .250.
Three players reached double figures in kills for the Bears, who hit .378 in the tournament finale.
"This was a tough match for us," Milwaukee head coach
Susie Johnson said. "Missouri State is a very strong Missouri Valley team who will do very well this season and, offensively, they really outmatched us today. We did have some bright spots - Hannah had a nice match for us, as did Myanna, but it just wasn't enough."
The Panthers and Bears went back and forth the entire first set before MSU pulled away late. Milwaukee trailed 13-10 at the midway point but kills by
Nicole Latzig,
Sammi Herron and an ace by
Maddie Schmitz evened things up at 13 a piece. It was neck and neck down the stretch but a UWM hitting error and a block by the Bears closed things out.
It was all MSU in the second set. After a kill by freshman
Jess Kalous drew the Panthers within 6-8, Missouri State went on a 15-7 run to easily grab hold of the match.
Milwaukee showed great resilience in the third set, however. Kolinske pounded home a kill set up by
Kayla Price to give the Panthers an 11-9 edge in the early going. The two teams then traded serve seemingly the entirety of the final set, with the score being tied 18 times. Simone House and Andrea Beaty were able to team up for a block on the final point to give MSU the win."Our preseason is very challenging," Johnson said. "We have to continue to work to get better to prepare ourselves for the Horizon League. I'm confident we'll continue to get better and tougher and we're going to continue to work on finishing out these close matches."The Panthers continue their early season road swing, heading to the University of Minnesota Diet Coke Classic next weekend with a Friday matchup against Iowa State before Saturday contests against Tulsa and the host Gophers.
