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Volleyball goes 2-1 in Invitational
Fierce games end in a Panther victory
By Mike Kennedy
Coming into a new season with a new coach looked like a tough task as they faced No. 11 Wisconsin in their season opener. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team lost their first match against their instate opponent but won the last two matches in the InnTowner Invitational against Gardner-Webb and Syracuse.
UWM traveled the distance to Madison to face Wisconsin but were swept 3-0 under new head coach Susie Johnson. The Panthers return five seniors and add six freshmen to their squad.
The Panthers had many opportunities to mount a comeback but could not against the dominant Badgers. Senior Jamie Gabrielsen contributed with 10 kills in the match while Kellye Zaporski had a solid 12 digs on defense.
In the second match of the season, the Panthers faced Syracuse in attempt to earn Johnson’s first career win as a head coach at UWM. Gabrielsen recorded a collegiate-high 31 kills in the Panthers’ first win of the season, 3-2. Senior Leanne Felsing recorded a triple-double earning 17 kills and 22 digs.
Looking for their second win of the day, the Panthers took total control over Gardner-Webb, sweeping them with a score of 3-0. A close battle in the first game looked as though the Panthers might drop their third game of the season, but a late rally after going down 16-15 set them up for a 30-21 win.
Felsing earned her second-straight triple-double with 18 kills, 11 assists and 10 digs earning her the honor of Horizon League player of the week for the fourth time in her career at UWM. Gabrielsen added 16 kills and 18 digs in the dominant performance. After a 30-17 blowout in the second game the Panthers took their momentum into the third as they went up but the Bulldogs climbed back tying the game at 25. After fighting through four match points the Panther offense lead them to a sweep putting the final game at 33-31.
The Panthers will travel to Buffalo, N.Y. on Aug. 31 for the Western New York Invitational against St. Francis (N.Y.), Fordham and Binghamton before returning home to host the Panther Invitational starting Sept. 7.
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