By Patrick Stumpf
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Harbinger or not, Friday night at the Kress Center certainly had a 2003 feel to it for more reasons than one.
With several members of the lone NCAA Tournament team in program history in attendance on Alumni Day, the Green Bay volleyball team (14-7, 5-3 HL) did something not even that team could accomplish: sweep four consecutive Horizon League matches.
Sophomores Lydia DeWeese (11 kills) and Taylor Totka (10 kills/.714 percentage) led the way for the Phoenix offense, while a trio of seniors – Jillian Bauer (10), Becca Mastey (10) and Emily Riese (10) – each recorded double-digit digs en route to Green Bay's 12th straight-set win in the last week-and-a-half, this time over in-state rival Milwaukee (25-20, 25-18, 26-24).
It marks the first time a Phoenix team has won four straight matches via sweep in over 14 years, since beginning its season that way in 2001. It was also the program's first sweep over the Panthers since it did so twice in the 1994 campaign.
“We know nothing is easy,” said head coach Sean Burdette after the win. “We've worked hard every day in the gym to try and build upon everything that we just finished in the past weekend.”
“I give credit to the players who stayed focused during the week and working hard whether we are home or away. This was a really good Milwaukee team who fought tooth and nail there at the end, we just managed to find a way to score some points to pull it out.”
The two teams exchanged points early, until Green Bay stretched its lead out in the latter stages, winning on a kill from Totka to take a 1-0 set lead. The Phoenix used a 13-3 run in the second frame to grab a 10-point lead, 19-9, and finished it off once again a few minutes later, 25-18.
After an intermission that featured an Alumni ceremony, including banner presentations honoring both Janelle Tomlinson (2003) and Brittany Groth (2012) for their respective AVCA Honorable Mention All-American selections during their playing days, Green Bay doubled up the Panthers 14-7 to begin set No. 3.
Milwaukee would battle all the way back to take the lead, which forced two late Phoenix timeouts. As the team has done all season, however, Green Bay rallied behind a big “Green Out” crowd to cap off the victory.
“This run has built confidence (now and for the future),” said Burdette. “I was totally impressed by the turnout tonight in terms of Alums, the students and fans that came out to support us this weekend.”
“It was phenomenal, and one of the best crowds we have had since I've been here.”
Green Bay will be back at the Kress Center for three more matches next week, beginning with a date against defending-champion Oakland on Wednesday night. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
BOX SCORE – GREEN BAY 3, MILWAUKEE 0
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