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VB vs VT recap graphic
3
Winner Virginia Tech VT 3-0
2
Milwaukee UWM 1-2
Winner
Virginia Tech VT
3-0
3
Final
2
Milwaukee UWM
1-2
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Virginia Tech VT 23 25 18 25 15 (3)
Milwaukee UWM 25 23 25 21 10 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Virginia Tech Outlasts Milwaukee In Five

Kalous, Wallenberger named to all-tournament team

MILWAUKEE – Caitlin Schultz led the Panthers with 17 kills but it wasn't enough as the Milwaukee volleyball team came up just short in a 3-2 decision against ACC foe Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon from the Klotsche Center in the final match of the 2017 Pepsi Panther Invitational.
 
Milwaukee jumped out of the gates and took two of the first three sets against the talented Hokies before a VT late push in the fourth that carried into the final frame for a 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 10-15 Panther defeat.
 
"They (Virginia Tech) are an aggressive and very physical team, so we knew it was going to be a tough challenge today," Milwaukee head coach Susie Johnson said. "Their serving was particularly aggressive, which threw us off a little bit. We were able to do well really in a lot of areas, but the finish really was the difference. They came on strong and played as close to perfect as you can in that fifth set."
 
Schultz's 17 kills led the way for Milwaukee, with a pair of teammates also reaching double-digits in the category Saturday. Jess Kalous and Bridget Wallenberger each tallied 13 kills on the day – with Wallenberger hitting .476 overall – en route to being named to the all-tournament team following the match.
 
Jenn Dore tallied her first double-double of the young season with 54 assists and 11 digs – one of four Panthers to tally 10-plus digs on the day. Senior Mykie Olsen led the way with 18, while freshman Kailynn Mongan added 17 and Kylie Wilks another 10.
 
Kaity Smith led all players with 20 kills for Virginia Tech, while the Hokies' setter – Rhegan Mitchell played at an impressive level with 56 assists and 14 digs on her way to being named tournament MVP.
 
In a fairly even opening set, the Panthers found themselves down five late at 21-16. But, Milwaukee never panicked and rattled off six straight behind the serve of Wallenberger and finished the set on a 14-5 run to claim the win and the early lead.
 
Much like the opener, UWM trailed 21-15 late in set two only to once again use a big run and grab a 22-21 edge. Up 23-22 and holding serve, an errant whistle halted what appeared to be another Panther point. VT was able to capitalize on the snafu for a tight 25-23 finish to even things up.
 
Milwaukee was dominant in the third. The Panthers steadily pulled away from the Hokies and closed things out on a big kill from Kalous for a 25-18 winner and a 2-1 set advantage.
 
The fourth set was a nail biter the whole way, with neither team able to separate until the final point. Tied at 20-20, VT was able to do just enough late to level the score and send things to a deciding fifth set.
 
Barely 12 hours after Milwaukee's impressive fifth-set showing over Idaho State, Virginia Tech flipped the script and played nearly perfect in the final frame with an early 8-2 lead before the switch. Milwaukee refused to quit, drawing back to 11-8 and forcing a VT timeout before running out of time on the comeback effort.
 
It's another quick turnaround, as the Panthers will play their fourth match in as many days Monday night when they host Northern Illinois in the Klotsche Center at 6 pm.
 
"It's important for us to get a lot of game experience for our team," Johnson said. "NIU is a very strong team. The main point though is that we give ourselves another chance to be on the court and really learn from this weekend and get better."
 
2017 Pepsi Panther Invitational All-Tournament Team
Rhegan Mitchell - Virginia Tech*
Kaity Smith - Virginia Tech
Stacey Christy - Virginia Tech
Jess Kalous - Milwaukee
Bridget Wallenberger - Milwaukee
Chloe Hirst - Idaho State
Sierra Peterson - South Dakota State
 
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