After losing the first two games by the same score of 28-30, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s volleyball rallied back to take the next three games and win the match against a tough Northern Illinois squad.

Behind Jamie Gabrielsen’s 27 kills and 20 digs, and Leanne Felsing’s triple-double stat line of 20 kills, 19 digs and 36 kills, the Panther volleyball team overcame 18 potentially costly service miscues to run their winning streak to 11 matches; the last time they lost was the season opener at Madison.

After losing the first two games, UWM fell behind 19-16 in the third game before finally rallying to win the match against the reigning Mid-American Conference Western Division champions. Evening it up in the fourth game, UWM continued to hold the momentum and kept the winning streak alive by clinching the fifth game with a score of 15-11.

In the first two games, the Panthers couldn’t maintain a rhythm, committing 10 errors in the first game and then had six service mistakes in the second game. Even in the third game, NIU held an 8-3 lead early, and then was leading 19-16 before finally faltering to the Panthers.

Felsing’s kill sealed the game three victory; 30-26 in favor of UWM.

In the fourth game, UWM sustained their momentum and in the fifth and final game, with Felsing and Gabrielsen leading the charge, the women’s volleyball team sealed their hard- fought victory.

After playing NIU, the women’s volleyball team returns home to face Butler Friday night, followed by Wright State on Saturday. Both games will be played at the Klotsche Center.

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