Golden Eagles Fly Past Hawkeyes

Sept. 2, 2005

MILWAUKEE - Led by senior outside hitter Theresa Coughlin who scored 21.5 points on 21 kills and one block assist, the Golden Eagles flew past Iowa, 3-1 tonight in the second match of the Marquette Challenge at the Al McGuire Center. The Golden Eagles improve to 3-1, while handing the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season to drop to 2-1.

"I am very proud at the way we came out to play tonight," said head coach Pati Rolf. "Jenn, Jamie and Theresa played well and our middles just continue to get stronger to help stabilize the rest of our team. I thought we gave a tremendous effort as we are adjusting into new roles and settling into a new lineup."

Marquette wasted no time getting on the board first and defeated the Hawkeyes 30-26 in game one. Sophomore Kim Todd led the way with five kills, while fellow sophomores Jenn Brown and Tiffany Helmbrecht both hit 40 percent in the first game.

Game two was the same story as Marquette had little cruised to an easy second win, 30-22. The Golden Eagles out killed Iowa, 17-8, and posted five team blocks.

The Hawkeyes gave the Golden Eagles some what of a scare defeating them in game three, 30-23, forcing a fourth game. However, Marquette rebounded and won the fourth game to win the match, in deciding fashion, 30-21.

Jamie Mueller, who played libero in the first three games moved to outside hitter and tallied six kills along with Coughlin also with six, while Todd added five. The Golden Eagles dominated at the net in game four hitting a match high 43 percent.

Junior transfer Katie Weidner had a strong showing with 53 assists, 13 digs and a game high 4.5 blocks including three solo blocks. Jen Brown finished the evening tallying nine kills and 2.5 blocks. Catherine Smale and Melanie Meister led the Hawkeyes with 13 kills apiece.

In earlier action, IUPUI came back from a two-game deficit and defeated New Hampshire, 3-2, to win its first match of the season. Carol Newell and Casey Chrzastowski led the cause for the Jaguars combining for 27 kills.

The Golden Eagles will resume play tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., at "The Al" against IUPUI. They will battle New Hampshire in the tournament finale at 7 p.m.