Nov. 3, 2006

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MILWAUKEE - Behind double-doubles by senior Jamie Mueller (20 K, 18 D) and junior Kimberley Todd (23 K, 16 D), the Marquette volleyball team secured a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with a, 3-1 (30-22, 26-30, 30-24, 30-25), victory over Connecticut, Friday night, at the Al McGuire Center. The victory was the fifth-straight for the Golden Eagles (14-11, 9-3).

"It was a fun match tonight," said head coach Pati Rolf. "We struggled for a bit there, but played tough. Now we need to take this momentum in Sunday's match against St. John's."

Down 4-1 to start the game, the Golden Eagles tied the score and then took the lead, 7-6, on back-to-back aces by freshman Leslie Bielski, both part of a 9-1 run that would give MU a 14-7 advantage. Marquette remained in control of the frame with its lead never dropping below four as it gradually increased its advantage to nine at 27-18 on a kill by Mueller. After trading points with the Huskies, Mueller concluded game one with an ace as the Golden Eagles won, 30-22.

Mueller and Todd tallied five kills each to lead MU in the first frame.

Connecticut took a 9-4 lead to start the second frame before moving ahead six at 15-9, prompting a Marquette timeout. Out of the break the Golden Eagles went on a 5-0 run, using two kills by Mueller to cut their deficit to one at 15-14. MU would get within one three times more, the last coming on a kill by Todd at 21-20, only before UConn tied the match at 1-1 with a 30-26 game-two victory.

Down 4-1 early in game three, the Golden Eagles rallied to score five of the next seven points to tie the frame at 6-6 on a kill by freshman Katie Vancura. The Huskies would go on a 3-0 run at that point to take a 9-6 lead. MU would slowly work its way back into the lead, however. Down 17-15, Marquette went on a 4-0 run, tying the game at 17-17 on a kill by junior Monica Renfrow and then taking a two-point lead at 19-17 on a kill by senior Nicole Wallace. Connecticut rallied to tie the game at 20-20, but with the score tied again at 24-24, Marquette went on a 6-0 run that included two kills by Bielski for a 30-24 victory.

Todd led the Golden Eagles with six kills in the frame. MU hit 39.5 percent as a team.

Marquette and Connecticut were tied at 4-4 to start the fourth game, but a 5-0 gave the Huskies an advantage as they went up 8-4. MU would rally to cut its deficit to one on four occasions before falling behind 20-16. At that point the Golden Eagles used a timeout and out of the break scored five of the next six points to tie the game at 21-21 on an ace by freshman Lauren Pierce. Consecutive aces by Bielski gave Marquette a 25-23, prompting a timeout by UConn. Out of the huddle, the Golden Eagles scored five of the final eight points, winning the match, 30-25, on a kill by Todd.

Renfrow registered 48 assists and 14 digs in the match, and Bielski tallied a season-high five aces.

Lorelle Schaub and Kate Seabaugh led Connecticut with 13 kills each.

Marquette returns to The Al for its final home match of the season, Sunday at 2 p.m., when it hosts St. John's.