GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Playing on the road at league-leading Milwaukee (11-8, 8-1 HL), the Green Bay volleyball team twice rallied to even the match, but the Phoenix (7-16, 3-6 HL) was unable to pull off the upset, falling 3-2 (25-14, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-7) at the Klotsche Center.

"It was another disappointing five-game loss, but I was proud of the way we responded after a miserable game one loss," said head coach Debbie Kirch. "We made some lineup changes and the players responded well, but close isn't good enough for us. We have to learn to continue to do the things that are working on throughout the entire match."

Two freshman stepped up to have impressive matches for the Phoenix, with Lyndsay Zabkowicz (Oak Creek, Wis.) and Leah Van Zeeland (Kaukauna, Wis.) tallying 18 and 13 kills respectively. 

After the Phoenix fell 25-14, Zabkowicz notched 10 kills in the second set alone to help Green Bay even the contest heading to intermission.

Milwaukee reclaimed the lead in set three with the Phoenix committing nine attack errors. The Phoenix again responded, forcing a fifth set by pulling away late in the fourth set for a 25-20 victory.

In the fifth set, Green Bay tied the score early at 5-5 before the host Panthers pulled away to take the match.

One of the positives of the match was the Phoenix defense, which recorded a season-high 11 blocks. Junior Alison Bohnen (St. Germain, Wis.), senior Whitney Schott (Roscoe, Ill.) and Zabkowicz each had four blocks apiece. Schott's 38 assists led the team while sophomore libero Brittany Groth (Oak Creek, Wis.) registered a team-high 24 digs.

Green Bay returns home next weekend to host a pair of Horizon League matches. The Phoenix will welcome Cleveland State Friday at 7 p.m. and Youngstown State Saturday at 2 p.m.

Milwaukee def. Green Bay 25-14, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-7

Green Bay (7-16, 3-6 HL) (Kills-aces-blocks)
ZABKOWICZ, Lyndsay 18-0-4; VAN ZEELAND, Leah 13-0-1; MISCHLER, Kelly 6-0-3; GITTER, Abbey 5-0-2; BOHNEN, Alison 4-0-4; SCHOTT, Whitney 4-1-4; LEITERMANN, Carmen 1-0-2; GROTH, Brittany 1-2-0; LINDSTEDT, Kara 1-0-0; Totals 53-3-11.0. (Assists) - SCHOTT, Whitney 38. (Dig leaders) - GROTH, Brittany 24; MARUNOWSKI, Sabrina 12; KORALEWSKI, Karli 12; VAN ZEELAND, Leah 8

Milwaukee (11-8, 8-1 HL) (Kills-aces-blocks)
SCHUH, Kerri 15-1-7; EGERER, Elizabeth 13-0-1; JANSEN, Melissa 13-0-1; SCHMITTING, Natalie 11-0-6; BERG, Jena 6-0-5; NEUBERGER, Rachel 3-0-5; MILLIS, Mackenzie 3-0-3; BARTZ, Anna 1-3-0; Totals 65-4-14.0. (Assists) - BERG, Jena 49. (Dig leaders) - POTTER, Morgan 39; HINTZE, Lauren 20; BARTZ, Anna 13; SCHUH, Kerri 10; BERG, Jena 9