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Sammi Herron
Senior Sammi Herron
1
Western Michigan WMU 0-1
3
Winner Milwaukee UWM 1-0
Western Michigan WMU
0-1
1
Final
3
Milwaukee UWM
1-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Michigan WMU 19 21 25 22 (1)
Milwaukee UWM 25 25 22 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Panthers Use Balanced Attack For Season-Opening Win

Herron leads all players with 18 kills

MILWAUKEE – Four players tallied double-figure kills as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team rode a very balanced attacked to a season-opening 3-1 win over Western Michigan Friday night as part of the Pepsi Panther Invitational from the Klotsche Center.
 
The Panthers claimed their fifth season-opening win in the last six years with a 25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22 victory Friday over a very talented Bronco squad.
 
"We knew this was going to be a tough match," Milwaukee head coach Susie Johnson said. "We're very similar teams. They don't give up and they fight to the end and that's what happened. It was tough. We were tested, we had to make adjustments and had to come back. I'm very excited for the team for getting a win out of that."
 
Sammi Herron led the way for Milwaukee with 18 kills. Junior Kaisa Mattson and newcomers Taylor Mansfield and Maddie Williams all also reached double figures to lead the balanced attack.
 
Senior Kayla Price dished out 52 assists and junior Myanna Ruiz notched an impressive 30 digs to lead the way defensively.
 
"I was really proud of our defense tonight," Johnson said. "Offensively, that was the plan to keep it balanced to keep their blockers on their toes. (Western Michigan) still had 10 blocks so we need to continue to work on that, but we want to be as balanced as we can and not overuse any one player."
 
"There are lots of exciting things to come."
 
It was back-and-forth in the opening frame before Milwaukee broke away late. The two teams were knotted up at 17 apiece before a kill from Mansfield and an ace from Olsen. Price closed things out on four-straight serves, scoring aces on the final two points to take the opening frame.
 
Set two was much of the same. The two teams traded the lead throughout before tying things up 18-18. Late in the match, UWM again took over. Mansfield had a kill to start the run, with Olsen running off four-straight from the serve to open it up. A pair of kills by Herron sealed the deal and gave Milwaukee the quick 2-0 lead.
 
After the break, Western Michigan was able to cut the lead in half. The two teams were tied at 22-22, before a pair of late errors gave the Broncos their first set.
 
UWM turned right back around with a solid effort in the fourth. After WMU jumped out to a 6-1 lead, Milwaukee countered with five-straight points of its own, including another two aces by Price. The teams again were knotted up at 22-22 until Milwaukee pounded home three straight to clinch the win.
 
The Panthers are right back at it tomorrow for a pair of matches in the final day of the Panther Invitational. Milwaukee will take on Furman at 12:30 p.m. before the final matchup of the tournament in a 7:30 p.m. contest against Missouri State.
 
"These preseason tournaments are a grind and this one is especially tough," Johnson said. "We turn around and play Furman tomorrow, who is a conference contender every year, and then Missouri State, who is a very physical team from the Missouri Valley. We expect tough matches, but we're excited to continue to get better."
 
 
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