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June 6, 2001

MILWAUKEE - The UWM women's volleyball team will face five conference champions and seven NCAA Tournament teams during the 2001 season, coach Kathy Litzau announced today.

The Panthers, who made the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season last year, will face Southeast Missouri State (23-9) at home, Cincinnati (24-10), North Carolina (26-8), and Northern Iowa (29-5) on the road, and Louisville (26-8) and Pepperdine (24-7) on neutral courts. UWM will also play a home-and-home series with Horizon League-rival Loyola (22-9).

"Obviously we have assembled a very challenging schedule," Litzau said. "But, we believe we can be extremely competitive against the top teams in the nation, and playing those teams will prepare us for league play and the NCAA Tournament."

UWM will also host the 2001 Horizon League Tournament for the first time ever. The event, which will include eight teams, is scheduled for Nov. 16-18. The winner receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

"Having the league tournament on our home floor is exciting, and it is also a nice advantage," Litzau said. "Winning that tournament is definitely a goal for this season."

The Panthers will open the 2001 campaign at the Illinois State Tournament, where UWM will face Conference USA champion Louisville. They then return home Sept. 7-8 for the Panther Invitational, opening play against Ohio Valley Conference champion Southeast Missouri State, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.

UWM will also play at the University of North Carolina Tournament Sept. 14-15, facing the ACC champion Tar Heels as well as traditional power Pepperdine, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round last year.

The Panthers will also travel to Northern Iowa, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round before losing to Wisconsin. UNI has won 34 straight home matches, and won the Missouri Valley Conference last season.

UWM, which won four straight Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular season titles, will open Horizon League play at Illinois-Chicago Sept. 21. The Panthers will face last year's conference tournament champion Loyola Sept. 22 in Chicago and Oct. 19 in Milwaukee. UWM gets its first look at the newest league team, Youngstown State, Oct. 6 in Youngstown, Ohio. The Panthers and Penguins play in Milwaukee Nov. 3.

2001 Panther Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 31-Sep. 1 @ Illinois State Tournament
Aug. 31	vs. UMKC	        4 p.m.
Sep. 1	vs. Louisville	        10 a.m.
Sep. 1	at Illinois State	7 p.m.

Sep. 7-8 @ Panther Invitational
Sep. 7	SE Missouri St.	        7 p.m.
Sep. 8	Drake	                11 a.m.
Sep. 8	DePaul	                7 p.m.

Sep. 11 Marquette	        7 p.m.

Sep. 14-15 @ North Carolina Tourney
Sep. 14	vs. Georgia	        4 p.m.
Sep. 15	vs. Pepperdine	        9 a.m.
Sep. 15	at North Carolina	6 p.m.

Sep. 18	@ Northern Iowa	        7 p.m.
Sep. 21	@ Illinois-Chicago*	7 p.m.
Sep. 22	@ Loyola Chicago*	4 p.m.
Sep. 28	Wright State*	        7 p.m.
Sep. 29	Butler*	                4 p.m.

Oct. 5	@ Youngstown State*	6 p.m.
Oct. 6	@ Cleveland State*	1 p.m.
Oct. 12	UW-Green Bay*	        7 p.m.
Oct. 19	Loyola Chicago*	        7 p.m.
Oct. 20	Illinois-Chicago*	4 p.m.
Oct. 26	@ Butler*	        7 p.m.
Oct. 27	@ Wright State*	        3 p.m.
Oct. 30	@ Valparaiso	        7 p.m.

Nov. 2	Cleveland State*	7 p.m.
Nov. 3	Youngstown State*	2 p.m.
Nov. 9	@ UW-Green Bay*	        7 p.m.
Nov. 11	@ Cincinnati	        1 p.m.


Horizon League Championship @ Milwaukee, Wis.
Nov. 16 Quarterfinals           TBA
Nov. 17 Semifinals              TBA
Nov. 18 Championship            TBA