Related Links:
Dig Panici Classic Web Page
About Lisa Panici / Dig Panici Night
Silent Night Video
The No. 11 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team clinched its 36th consecutive 20-win season Friday night with a 26-24, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Loras (Iowa) on Dig Panici Night at Kris Russell Volleyball Arena.
Senior setter
Staci Hasler (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) posted a triple-double with 10 kills, 37 assists and 12 digs to lead the Warhawks (20-6 overall), who posted a .323 hitting percentage in the final set to close out the Duhawks.
Senior outside hitter
Lauren Pfeifer (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) added a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, and junior right side hitter
Sydney Racky (Walworth, Wis./Big Foot) collected 15 kills. Freshman middle hitter Ashton doll totaled a team-high six blocks.
Sophomore
Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) paced the defense with 26 digs. Freshman defensive specialist
Elizabeth Tworek (Lake Zurich, Ill./Carmel Catholic) registered 11 digs, and senior defensive specialist
Tessa Weber (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Tremper) contributed 10.
Fans observed a "Silent Night" at the start of the match, staying silent on UW-Whitewater's first two points of the match in remembrance of former Warhawk Lisa Panici, who passed away after a battle against brain cancer in 2012. In honor of Panici's No. 12, fans were silent for the first two points before erupting on the team's third point to add to the remembrance.
The two teams traded points in the first set as neither led by more than two at any point. Loras (10-15) had a match point at 24-23, but UW-Whitewater claimed the last three points on a kill by Doll, a block by Doll and Racky and a kill by Racky.
The Duhawks ran out to a 12-4 advantage in the second, but the Warhawks closed made runs on the serves of Hasler and Tworek to eventually level the set at 23-23. Loras tallied the last two points to tie the match at 1-1.
UW-Whitewater scored the first four points in the third, but the Duhawks responded with a run to take a 14-13 lead. The Warhawks surged back ahead with four straight points, including two kills by Racky, and didn't look back.
UW-Whitewater led for a majority of the fourth set after turning an 8-6 deficit into a 12-9 lead. The Warhawks never trailed from there, closing the match on Hasler's 10th kill to give her a triple-double, the first of her career.
All proceeds from t-shirt and wristband sales and other donations from Friday's match benefit a scholarship in Lisa Panici's name.
The Warhawks continue action in the Dig Panici Classic Saturday against Carthage at noon.
