Nov. 23, 2007

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette volleyball team pulled out a gritty 3-1 (17-30, 31-29, 30-21, 33-31) victory over Maine in the opening match of the "Battle for the Bird" tournament Friday evening.

Senior Kimberley Todd led the Golden Eagles (9-16) notching a double-double with 17 kills and 17 digs. Senior Jenn Brown slammed 16 kill on a .423 clip, while freshman Rabbecka Gonyo tallied 10 kills hitting .450. senior Katie Weidner also had a double-double, dishing out 41 assists and collecting 10 digs. Sophomore Hailey Viola also collected 10 digs.

MU got off to a slow start in game one, falling behind 13-7 to Maine and calling its first timeout early, then used its final timeout, down 18-10. A kill from Jenn Brown following the break saw MU trailing 20-12, and an error from Maine took the score to 21-13. The Golden Eagles dropped the first contest, 30-17. Brown connected for two kills on no errors, hitting a .667 clip.

A kill from Brown tied the second game at two each, and a block from Tiffany Helmbrecht and Rabbecka Gonyo gave MU a 9-6 advantage. Maine bounced back to tie at 12 apiece, but the Golden Eagles regained a 15-13 lead following a kill from Todd. Marquette called its first timeout, trailing 22-19, and following an error from Maine were within a point at 24-23. The Golden Eagles used their final timeout trailing 27-23, but a kill from Todd following the break saw MU come within 27-24. Trailing 28-26, MU forced Maine to call timeout, and tied the game at 28 apiece, following the rest. Todd served for game point with a 29-28 lead, but the Golden Eagles would need another try after an error. Terri Angst served for game point at 30-29 and MU took the second game 31-29. Todd smashed seven kills for a .417 hitting percentage in the second frame.

MU jumped out to an 8-4 advantage to open the third stanza and increased it to an 11-5 lead following an error from Maine. Maine called a timeout and MU kept pushing its lead, jumping out to the 15-8 advantage. Maine crept back within three points at 19-16, but MU pushed to 20-16 after an error from the Black Bears. After increasing their lead to 24-19, the Golden Eagles forced Maine to use its final timeout. Brown served for game point at 29-20, but MU would have to try again after a Maine kill. Todd slammed the game-winning kill to give Marquette the 30-21 victory. Todd connected on four kills in the game.

The fourth frame was close as the teams were tied at seven early, but MU scored three unanswered to take a 10-7 advantage, forcing Maine to the sidelines for a timeout. Out of the break, Marquette continued to lead and increased to 15-11. Following a kill from Helmbrecht, MU was ahead, 20-15, and pressed to 22-16 after Helmbrecht smashed another. Maine crept back to pull within a point at 22-21, and then tied the score at 23 apiece. Maine took its first lead at 26-25 to force the Golden Eagles to the sidelines. Maine served for game point at 29-27, but MU was able to hold them off on a kill from Gonyo. Tied at 29, Helmbrecht connected on a kill as Angst served for match point at 30-29, but Maine tied the score at 30. Hailey Viola served for match and Todd connected on a kill for a 33-31 final game victory.

The Golden Eagles will be back on the court to face South Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Saturday.