Sept. 24, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE -- The Marquette volleyball team, playing short handed without the services of two starters, gave the UW-Milwaukee squad a stern test Wednesday evening before coming out on the short end of a intense five-game match at the Klotsche Center on the UWM campus. The Panthers edged the Golden Eagles, 30-28, 28-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-11, to raise their record to 11-3. The loss leaves MU at 3-10.

Marquette was without senior setter Gemma Greer and freshman Jamie Mueller after the pair suffered injuries this past Saturday. Despite not having the pair, Marquette played an inspired contest with a number of performers turning in fine outings.

Marquette ended the contest hitting 22.1 percent (75-30--204) compared to UWM's effort of 21.4 percent (76-31--210). The Panthers held a 92-85 margin in digs while Marquette finished with a 9-8 margin in blocks.

Both squads had their offenses in high gear in the first game with MU hitting 30 percent and UW-Milwaukee 30.2 percent. With the scored tied at 25-25, the Panthers scored four of the next five points to take a 29-26 advantage. After a kill by sophomore Aga Niemcezewska (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and a combo block by senior Ann Lopata and junior Erica Heisser narrowed the deficit to one point, UW-Milwaukee closed out the game with a kill by senior Sarah Potts.

Marquette continued its strong offensive play in the second game, hitting 31.7 percent. Trailing by a 23-20 count, Marquette rallied to take a 25-24 lead when Heisser recorded a solo block. Marquette assumed a 29-27 lead on the strength of an Erin Freer attack before Potts kept the Panthers alive with a kill of her own. The Golden Eagles then evened the contest when Lopata notched her fourth termination of the match.

Game three saw Marquette jump out to a 10-5 lead before UW-Milwaukee bounced back to knot the game at 14-14. Holding a 22-18 lead, the host team rattled off four straight points, upping its advantage to 26-18, which proved too much for Marquette to overcome. MU hit 19.6 percent in that game while Milwaukee posted a 26.8 percent showing.

A strong defensive effort, combined with some timely offensive play, enabled Marquette to deadlock the match in game four. MU held the Panthers to a zero hitting percentage while coming up with a 23.4 percent effort. The Golden Eagles trailed by a 23-21 margin before responding with five straight points that put them up, 26-23. A pair of block assists by Heisser and Niemcezewska accounted for the team's 29 and 30th points forcing a decisive fifth game.

Marquette got off to a strong start in the deciding affair, using a pair of aces by junior Sarah Vernon (Englewood, Col.) that aided in a quick 3-0 lead. However, UW-Milwaukee reclaimed momentum, taking a 6-4 lead that grew to 12-7. The Golden Eagles got back into the game with three straight points, but the Panthers held off the late charge in nailing down the victory.

Coughlin led the Marquette offensive attack with 23 kills while tying for team-high honors with 18 digs. It marked her third outing of 20 or more kills this year. Freer totaled 16 attacks and contributed 18 digs as well, her fourth straight double-double performance (kills/digs). Vernon was steady at setter, establishing career bests in both assists (59) and kills (11). Heisser rounded out the double-figure attackers for Marquette with 10 while totaling a team-high six blocks.

UWM's Potts paced all players with 24 attacks while junior Karen Fruit added 18 along with 21 digs.

Marquette's next action takes place on Friday, Oct. 3, when it opens Conference USA action at Cincinnati.

Marquette Golden Eagles Women's Volleyball

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