Sept. 12, 2009

Box Score

Box Score

MILWAUKEE- The Marquette University women's volleyball team topped the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday afternoon in the Panther Invitational 3-1. Marquette concludes the event 3-0 after defeating both Western Michigan and South Dakota Friday.

Junior Rabbecka Gonyo recorded a career high 11 blocks to go along with 11 kills for her first career double-double. Leslie Bielski finished three blocks away from a triple-double with 15 kills, 11 digs and seven blocks, while Ashley Beyer recorded another double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs.

For their play at the Panther Invitational, junior Nikki Klingsporn was given most valuable player honors and Bielski was also named to the all-tournament team.

Marquette jumped out early in the first set, forcing UWM into two timeouts by the time the score reached 12-5. The Golden Eagles continued to keep the Panthers at arms length allowing them to only come within a point until UWM tied the score at 21-21. After a MU timeout, the Panthers closed out the set 25-22. Marquette registered an attack percentage of .000 (13-13-46) as a team in the first with most of its errors coming after the Panthers' second timeout.

Just as MU struggled with UWM's blocking in the first, Marquette took a while to get its legs under it in the second. The Golden Eagles took the lead on Klingsporn's kill at 4-3 before allowing the Panthers to take a 12-9 lead, which they held until MU pulled ahead 24-23. Putting MU ahead 24-23 were a kill and two straight aces from Bielski followed by a kill from Beyer.

Bielski recorded seven kills and Beyer came up huge late in the second, not letting MU fall with three kills in extra points, all with UWM leading. The Golden Eagles closed out the set 29-27 even though the Panthers hit .429 (22-4-42) against them.

The third set proved to be even more of a marathon than the second, with MU pulling off a 32-30 triumph. To start the set, the Panthers took a 12-6 advantage with MU responding to tie the frame at 13-13. Marquette built a 22-16 lead before four straight UWM points pulled the score to 22-20. After an MU timeout and two Golden Eagle points, the Panthers scored five straight for a 25-24 lead. In extra points the Golden Eagles refused to fall, fighting back when trailing 30-29 for a 32-30 victory.

After a pair of crushing defeats in sets two and three, the Panthers appeared as less of an obstacle for MU in the fourth as the Golden Eagles grabbed a 25-21 victory. In the final stanza freshman Kelsey Mattai hit a perfect 1.000 (4-0-4) with three blocks, while Gonyo added three kills and two blocks.

The Golden Eagles improve to 9-1 on the season, their best start since 1997 and remain unbeaten over the last eight contests.

For the Panthers, Maddie Sueppel had an impressive match with 19 kills and 19 blocks.

Marquette (9-1) returns to action Sunday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center at 1 p.m. against Ohio State.