Nov. 17, 2006
Dayton, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee continued on their quest for a Horizon League Championship after sweeping Youngstown State University, 30-26, 30-25, 30-19. The Panthers captured their fourth consecutive regular-season championship after losing just one match in the circuit. UW-Milwaukee will play the winner between UW-Green Bay and Wright State in the second semifinal at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow evening.
The Penguins kept the score close throughout the entire match, but couldn't overcome the late runs from UW-Milwaukee. The Panthers hit .301 for the night, while holding Youngstown State to just .162.
2006 Horizon League Player of the Year, Cheryl Hegemann, showed why she was deserving of the award by grabbing 13 kills and tying for a match-high 21 digs with teammate Becky Peters. Three other Panthers posted double figures for kills as senior Melissa David (12), junior Jamie Gabrielsen (11) and senior Sarah Moore (10) paced the attack.
Youngstown State was led by freshman and 2006 Horizon League Co-Newcomer of the Year, Ruth Boscaljon. Boscaljon tied for a team-high 11 kills with sophomore Ebony Barbosa, but finished with a .474 hitting percentage. Senior Amanda Cindric led YSU defensively, notching a team-high 20 digs.
The 2006 Horizon League Championships will be held Nov. 17-19 at Wright State University's C.J. McLin Gymnasium. The championship match is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the winner earning the Horizon League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will be begin Nov. 30 at campus sites. The 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will take place at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on Dec. 14 and 16.
