Sept. 23, 2007

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette volleyball team opened its conference season on a strong note, as they shut out Rutgers, 3-0 (30-26, 30-21, 30-26), at the Al McGuire Center.

Senior Kim Todd posted her sixth double-double of the season with 17 kills and 10 digs to lead the Golden Eagles (4-6, 1-0). Junior Ashlee Fisher smashed 14 kills and hit .370, while junior Terri Angst collected 16 digs. Senior setter Katie Weidner dished out 41 assists.

"Katie Weidner did a really fine job setting," head coach Pati Rolf said. "We played great offensively and got balls in great situations. There was a really good overall team effort today. Everything is blending well and we were really improved overall. It feels good heading into Cincinnati and Louisville next weekend."

Kyra Thompson led Rutgers (2-9, 0-2) with 10 kills and 12 digs. Emma Chrystal dished out 22 assists and Lauren Voss notched 10 digs.

Marquette stormed into the first game and jumped to a 6-0 lead on serving from Todd that forced Rutgers to take an early timeout. Coming out of the break, the Scarlet Knights crept within four, to bring the score to 9-5. A kill by Todd kept MU ahead, 12-7 and they remained ahead, as Brown hit a kill for a 19-13 lead. The Golden Eagles never trailed, and another Brown kill gave them game point, 29-26, as MU won the first game, 30-26. Fisher and Todd led MU with six kills apiece.

Rutgers opened the second stanza with a 6-1 lead, but the Golden Eagles pushed back and with a 12-9 lead forced RU into a timeout. Marquette continued to lead at 20-14, and again at 22-16, on a kill by Todd. Fisher slammed a kill to keep MU ahead, 22-16 and forced the Scarlet Knights to use their second timeout. MU did not falter following the break and Julie Richards served up game point at 29-20. It took the Golden Eagles one try and they earned the game two victory, 30-21, on a tip by Brown.

MU got off to another early lead in game three, as Todd served an ace to a 3-1 lead, and Rabeccka Gonyo served an ace to give MU a 4-1 lead. Marquette earned another ace by Richards and took a 7-2 lead. A 7-2 run by MU forced Rutgers to use a timeout, with MU ahead, 13-4. Back-to-back kills by Tiffany Helmbrecht and Fisher gave the Golden Eagles an 18-9 lead. Rutgers took its second timeout with MU ahead, 27-24. Todd slammed another kill to increase the lead, 29-26. Angst served for match point and the Golden Eagles grabbed their third victory, 30-26, on an error by Rutgers.

This was the second consecutive, and third overall sweep for the Golden Eagles this season.

Marquette will be back in action on Sept. 28 as they head to Cincinnati for a BIG EAST match-up at 6:30 p.m., and will be at Louisville on Sept. 30 with match-time at 1 p.m.