Panthers Set To Learn NCAA Tournament Opponent, Site Sunday
Nov. 28, 2008
MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's volleyball team will learn its destination and opponent for the 2008 NCAA Tournament when the pairings are announced Sunday. The team will gather at Harry's Bar and Grill on Oakland Avenue in Shorewood to watch the pairings, which will air live on ESPNU at 9 p.m. CST. UWM (23-8) earned an automatic berth in the national tournament by claiming the title of the Horizon League Tournament last weekend. The Panthers beat host Cleveland State in a five-set thriller Sunday to wrap up the crown. Milwaukee also won the regular season title for the sixth-straight time. This will be the seventh NCAA Tournament for the Panthers, who have never won an NCAA Tournament match. UWM's most recent tournament appearance came in 2006, when Milwaukee fell to Iowa State in a first-round contest. The Panthers' success this season has come behind a young roster that includes 12 freshmen and sophomores. The lone senior on the roster, Becky Peters, did earn All-Horizon League honors, as did junior Lauren Felsing and sophomore Maddie Sueppel. Freshmen Kerri Schuh and Samantha Trawitzke earned spots on the league's all-newcomer team. Plus, head coach Susie Johnson earned league coach of the year honors for a second-straight time. Then, following the league tournament, Sueppel earned tournament most valuable player honors and was joined by Felsing and Schuh on the all-tournament team.
UWM has used defense as its main path to success. The Panthers have ranked in the top 20 nationally in digs much of the season, while Milwaukee had a season-best 18 blocks in the league tournament victory over Cleveland State. |
