Sept. 15, 2012

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University women's volleyball team picked up a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-10) victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night at the Al McGuire Center in the finale of the Marquette Invitational.

The Golden Eagles (9-3) were led by 16 kills from sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Gosh and 14 from senior right-side hitter Holly Mertens. Mertens, who notched nine of her kills in the second set, hit .632 in the match.

The Panthers (5-8), who lost starting setter Kayla Price and middle hitter Rachel Neuberger to injury during the match, were led by 22 kills from sophomore outside hitter Julie Kolinske, an all-tournament selection.

After taking a 6-1 lead to open the match, Marquette faltered down the stretch of the first frame, ultimately losing 25-22. Kolinske shined for UWM in the opening frame as the Big Bend, Wis., native notched 10 kills while helping the Panthers to their first set victory over MU since 2009. 

Marquette used a 8-0 run early in the second set to take a 12-6 lead and never looked back, taking the frame 25-18. Mertens led MU with nine kills on 10 swings in the second as MU hit .378 as a team.

Gosh paced the Golden Eagles to a 25-16 win with nine kills in the third frame.

Price went down with a hand injury in the third set after colliding with a teammate in the backcourt. Sophomore Hannah Blanchard replaced Price at setter with MU leading 22-15.

UWM was unable to muster much offensively in the fourth set without the services of two starters and fell 25-10.

Freshman Mary Nilles entered to serve with MU leading 18-5 in the fourth in the first action of her career.

Marquette begins its eighth season of competition in the BIG EAST Conference when it hosts Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Al McGuire Center. Syracuse, which defeated No. 18 Iowa State on Sept. 8, is led by former Louisville head coach Leonid Yelin.

Marquette Invitational Champion: Pacific (3-0)
Marquette (2-1)
Iowa (1-2)
Milwaukee (0-3) 

All-Marquette Invitational
Megan Birch, Pacific (MVP)
Hannah Clancy, Pacific
Gillian Howard, Pacific
Danielle Carlson, Marquette
Holly Mertens, Marquette
Bethany Yeager, Iowa
Julie Kolinske, Milwaukee