Flames Sweep Past Panthers
UIC downs UWM in three sets
CHICAGO - Nicole Allgood and Kelsey Safranek had 10 kills apiece as the University of Illinois at Chicago claimed a 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at the Flames Athletic Center.
UIC (4-8, 1-0 Horizon) rode fast starts in each of the first two sets to take control of the contest. Then, the Flames used a late surge to win the third set and the match, becoming the first Horizon League team to record a 3-0 sweep of UWM since 2005.
Jena Berg had nine kills and Kerri Schuh eight for Milwaukee (4-9, 1-1), which hit just .119 in the contest and could never really get on track. UIC tallied 10 blocks in the match and outdug the Panthers, 59-51.
"They were really excited ... they were fired up," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said of UIC. "This is a big match for them. It affected us, how hard they came out. I have been trying to prepare the team for this, because when you are picked first, when you've been winning year after year, teams generally play hard against us and play with a lot of heart. That's just what they did."
UIC wasted little time in taking control of the opening set, scoring eight of the first 11 points before eventually leading 11-5 on a UWM error. The Flames extended their edge to 17-8 after another Panther error and then led 21-11 on a kill by Allgood. Milwaukee did put some pressure on down the stretch, closing all the way back to within 24-21 while fighting off five set-point opportunities. But, a kill by Epiphany Davis ended the first set in favor of UIC.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the second set followed a similar script. UIC scored 10 of the first 13 points and led 13-7 after a kill by Lana Lobdell. The Flames' advantage was still 20-15 following another kill by Lobdell, but UWM did rally from there. An ace by Samantha Trawitzke pulled Milwaukee within 20-17 and a kill by Melissa Jansen brought the Panthers within a point at 22-21. But two-straight UIC points helped stem the tide and, after a kill by Schuh made it 24-22, a tip-kill by Davis put the Flames in control of the match.
Milwaukee started better in the third frame, building a 7-5 edge on a kill by Schuh. But, UIC countered with five of the next six points to take a 10-8 lead. The Panthers eventually trailed 16-13 before scoring three-straight to tie the frame at 16. UIC then put together what would be the deciding run, scoring five-straight to claim control. The Panthers were able to crawl back within 24-22, but a UWM service error ended the match.
UWM returns to action with just a single match next weekend, heading up I-43 Friday for a contest against Green Bay at the Kress Events Center. The match begins at 7 p.m.
UIC downs UWM in three sets
CHICAGO - Nicole Allgood and Kelsey Safranek had 10 kills apiece as the University of Illinois at Chicago claimed a 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at the Flames Athletic Center.
UIC (4-8, 1-0 Horizon) rode fast starts in each of the first two sets to take control of the contest. Then, the Flames used a late surge to win the third set and the match, becoming the first Horizon League team to record a 3-0 sweep of UWM since 2005.
Jena Berg had nine kills and Kerri Schuh eight for Milwaukee (4-9, 1-1), which hit just .119 in the contest and could never really get on track. UIC tallied 10 blocks in the match and outdug the Panthers, 59-51.
"They were really excited ... they were fired up," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said of UIC. "This is a big match for them. It affected us, how hard they came out. I have been trying to prepare the team for this, because when you are picked first, when you've been winning year after year, teams generally play hard against us and play with a lot of heart. That's just what they did."
UIC wasted little time in taking control of the opening set, scoring eight of the first 11 points before eventually leading 11-5 on a UWM error. The Flames extended their edge to 17-8 after another Panther error and then led 21-11 on a kill by Allgood. Milwaukee did put some pressure on down the stretch, closing all the way back to within 24-21 while fighting off five set-point opportunities. But, a kill by Epiphany Davis ended the first set in favor of UIC.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the second set followed a similar script. UIC scored 10 of the first 13 points and led 13-7 after a kill by Lana Lobdell. The Flames' advantage was still 20-15 following another kill by Lobdell, but UWM did rally from there. An ace by Samantha Trawitzke pulled Milwaukee within 20-17 and a kill by Melissa Jansen brought the Panthers within a point at 22-21. But two-straight UIC points helped stem the tide and, after a kill by Schuh made it 24-22, a tip-kill by Davis put the Flames in control of the match.
Milwaukee started better in the third frame, building a 7-5 edge on a kill by Schuh. But, UIC countered with five of the next six points to take a 10-8 lead. The Panthers eventually trailed 16-13 before scoring three-straight to tie the frame at 16. UIC then put together what would be the deciding run, scoring five-straight to claim control. The Panthers were able to crawl back within 24-22, but a UWM service error ended the match.
UWM returns to action with just a single match next weekend, heading up I-43 Friday for a contest against Green Bay at the Kress Events Center. The match begins at 7 p.m.
