Volleyball Overwhelms Loyola in Three-Game Sweep

Solid all-around effort guides Phoenix to win

Chelsea Lyga had five service aces in a Phoenix sweep of Loyola.

Nov. 3, 2006

GREEN BAY, Wis. - In one of its finest all-around efforts of the season, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay volleyball team posted a 30-24, 35-33, 30-26 sweep in the penultimate home match for the Phoenix this season Friday night at the Phoenix Sports Center.

With the win, UW-Green Bay (11-14, 5-6 Horizon League) snapped a four-match losing skid and moved to just one game back in the win column behind the Ramblers (13-14, 6-6) and Cleveland State for fourth place in the Horizon League.

The Phoenix posted a balanced hitting effort on the night with Holly Visser recording 11 kills, Sarah Rauen tallying 10 and Betty Slinger and Abby Bergsma posting nine apiece. Rauen completed her double-double by collecting 18 digs while Megan Elfering had 17. Slinger finished just one kill and two digs shy of her eighth triple-double of the season.

UW-Green Bay dug itself a 7-2 hole in the first game, but following a timeout the Phoenix rattled off 11 of the next 13 points to take a 13-9 lead. Loyola would rally back to tie the game at 18 apiece, but an 8-2 run put the hosts in control at 26-20. UW-Green Bay hit a solid .271 in the set to take the early lead.

The Ramblers were well on their way to knotting the match at a game apiece, leading 16-10 in the second frame. However, the Phoenix refused to go away, using another 11-2 run to go up 20-18 behind kills by seven different players. The teams then battled back and forth as there would be a total of 14 ties in the set. UW-Green Bay would fight off four game points before securing the win behind a kill by Visser and a Loyola error.

The Phoenix jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third frame before the Ramblers stormed back with a 9-1 spurt to go up 10-6. But again UW-Green Bay away, eventually tying the match at 16 before a pair of Rochelle Meulemans service aces and kills by Lynsey Thiel and Visser put the Phoenix up 19-16. Up just one at 19-18, UW-Green Bay was able to pull away behind the serve of Chelsea Lyga who collected two of her five service aces during an 8-3 surge that iced the game and match for the hosts.

The Phoenix will close out its home season at 5 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Loyola on Senior Day.