FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Box Score

LAKELAND, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2013)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside volleyball team opened its 2013 season on Friday inside Jenkins Field House at the Florida Southern College/Terrace Hotel Classic, rallying past Anderson University for head coach Christine Paciero's 100th career victory. The Rangers dropped the opening two sets before rebounding with three straight set victories to secure the 3-2 (18-25, 22-25, 25-14, 27-25, 15-7) win.

In the opening set, Anderson (0-1) led 15-14 before closing out the set on a 10-4 run. Neither squad led by more than four points in the second set with the Trojans emerging with the 25-22 decision. The Rangers (1-0) led wire-to-wire in the third set, turning the tide with a dominating 25-14 win that included a 8-1 run midway through the contest, turning a tight 13-9 ballgame into 21-10 affair.

The Trojans responded in the fourth set, tallying the opening four points and seven of the first nine. UW-Parkside countered with a 14-7 run, securing a 21-17 advantage. Anderson battled back and reclaimed the lead, putting UW-P against the ropes facing a match point at 25-24 before a pair of kills by Bridget Nickel sandwiched around a bad set gave the Rangers the dramatic 27-25 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.

UW-Parkside rattled off eight of the first nine points, including five off the serve of Lauren Hickson and never looked back, earning the 15-7 set win to secure the match.

Nickel paced the Ranger offense, collecting 26 kills while Hickson added nine kills and four service aces. Makenzie Fahnestock and Lisa Gregerson both added eight kills. Sarah Mlachnik led the defensive efforts with 25 digs while Hickson and Nickel added 21 and 16, respectively.

The win was the 100th of head coach Christine Paciero's career. Paciero, now in her third year with the Rangers, owns a 100-64 overall mark, including a 37-26 record with UW-P after going 63-38 in three seasons at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.

The Rangers return to the court later today at 4:30 p.m., taking on Kentucky State University.