Sept. 8, 2006

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - Senior Jamie Mueller recorded a Marquette record 41 digs in leading the Golden Eagles' volleyball team to a 3-1 (30-27, 30-25, 28-30, 30-19) victory over the Pacific Tigers Friday night in the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge in Ann Arbor, Mich. Mueller broke Abby Roberts' record set nearly nine year ago when she tallied 36 digs against Saint Louis. MU, winners in two of their last three matches, improved to 3-5 with the win. Pacific fell to 1-6.

"We played the game I had been waiting for," said head coach Pati Rolf following the win. "We have the athletic ability and great talent and were finally able to put together the maturity that we needed. They had a lot more fun, a lot more energy and stuck together, and it truly paid off."

"I am very excited," said Mueller about the win. "I think we finally came together with a lot of enthusiasm and stuck to the game plan our coaches set for us. We brought a lot of energy on to the floor tonight."

Marquette began the match winning the first three points of game one, capitalizing on a Pacific service error, an ace by senior Lauren Pierce, and kill by freshman Leslie Bielski. It maintained the slim lead until the Tigers knotted the game at 8-8, and then took the lead on the next serve via an ace by junior Julie Magud that struck, and then curled over the top of the net.

The Golden Eagles bounced right back, regaining the lead, 10-9, on Pierce's second ace of the game. They maintained and built on their advantage, increasing the lead to three at 18-15 on a block by junior Kimberley Todd and Bielski.

Again, it lasted for just one serve as Bielski came up with a monster kill to tie the game at 25-25. The score turned out to be the first of three straight for Marquette, which took a two-point lead at 27-25 on a block by freshman Katie Vancura.

Back came the Tigers, tallying the next two points to tie the game at 27-27, but from then on out it was all Golden Eagles.

A kill by Todd, an ace by freshman Hailey Viola and another kill by Todd on the game's final point completed a 3-0 run and sealed the frame for Marquette, 30-27.

The Golden Eagles out-hit the Tigers 19.6-17.8 percent and were led by Todd who connected for six slams.

Pacific started out in command of frame two, taking a 9-3 lead out of the gate.

MU refused to be discouraged, however, cutting the lead to three points at 11-8 on a kill by Todd, before tying the game at 14-14 on a kill by Renfrow. A block by Bielski on the next point completed a 5-0 run and gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game.

The teams traded point and were tied once again at 17-17 before a small run by the Tigers gave them a three-point lead at 22-19.

A timeout by Marquette was called and out of the huddle emerged a revamped team. An ace by Pierce gave the Golden Eagles back the lead at 24-23 and three kills by Todd down the stretch capped an 11-3 run for MU as it went on to win the frame 30-25.

Todd tallied seven more kills in the game to lead Marquette.

The Golden Eagles continued to move and swing well in the final game, jumping out to an early 7-3 lead, forcing an early timeout by the Tigers.

Out of the break, Pacific scored five-straight points to take an 8-7 lead.

The momentum stayed with the Tigers as they held the Golden Eagles in check, never trailing, but at the same time struggling to gain full control of the frame.

A four point advantage for Pacific with the score 22-18 forced a timeout by Marquette, and out of it came a three consecutive points to cut the lead to one.

The Tigers slowly rebuilt their advantage, increasing their lead back to four at 27-23, but once again, the Golden Eagles refused to go away.

Three kills by senior Jamie Mueller and a 5-1 run by Marquette tied the game at 28-28, but a kill by Pacific and a MU error in the last two points of the frame gave the Tigers a 30-28 victory.

The Golden Eagles came out determined in the next frame to end the match in four games. A 7-2 run in the beginning of the game started them out in the right direction.

Pacific responded with an 8-3 run, however, tying the game at 10-10.

Mueller tallied a kill on the next point to regain the lead for Marquette at 11-10, and from there it never looked back.

The Golden Eagles scored 13 of the next 17 points, increasing their lead to 10 at 24-14, the largest of the game at that point.

The teams traded points from there on out before the final dagger was struck, fittingly by Mueller, to give Marquette a 30-19 win and 3-1-match victory.

Renfrow tallied a game-high five kills in the final frame, leading the Golden Eagles to a 37.5 hitting percentage.

With 11 kills to go along with her 41 digs, Mueller extended her consecutive streak of double-doubles to eight games. Renfrow notched her fourth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 44 assists, and was one dig from the first triple-double of her career.

Pacific was led by junior Johanna Hilbers who recorded 14 kills.

Marquette will conclude the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT when it faces Virginia (6-1).