Women's Volleyball October 06, 2016

Milwaukee Heads To Northeast Ohio Friday, Saturday

Panthers look to bounce back after first league loss

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee volleyball team hits the road this weekend, heading to Northeast Ohio for a pair of league contests. UWM will first take on defending league champion Cleveland State Friday at 6 pm Central before a 3 pm Central contest on Saturday at Youngstown State.

Panther Points
• While the season is still early, it seems safe to say the Panthers have rebounded from an uncharacteristically down year in 2015. With just 15 matches in the books, Milwaukee has already matched its win total from all of last year with nine.

• Susie Johnson has quite a few newcomers on this year's Panther squad with many already playing key rolls this season. In fact, Milwaukee sports one of the youngest teams, not only in the Horizon League but in the entire country. With seven true freshman and only five upperclassmen, that makes them by far the youngest team in the conference this year.

• The Panthers were picked tied for fifth in the 2016 Horizon League preseason poll after finishing sixth overall one season ago.

• Susie Johnson is in her 10th year as head coach at Milwaukee. Her teams have claimed either the regular season or league tournament title in six of her nine years thus far.

• The Week Ahead
The Milwaukee volleyball team hits the road this weekend, heading to Northeast Ohio for a pair of league contests. UWM will first take on defending league champion Cleveland State Friday at 6 pm Central before a 3 pm Central contest on Saturday at Youngstown State.

• Scouting Notebook
Cleveland State won 26 total matches a year ago on its way to both regular season and tournament titles and is once again looking strong in 2016. The Vikings already boast 12 wins and are tied with Milwaukee in the early conference rankings with a 3-1 mark. After dropping a five setter to Oakland at home in the league opener, CSU has won three-straight Horizon League matches, including a 3-2 decision over Northern Kentucky and a 3-1 win at Valparaiso last weekend. Statistically, Cleveland State leads the league in hitting percentage and is right near the top in virtually all other categories. Aaliyah Slappy (.484) and Sydney Mast (.408) are 1-2 in the league standings through the first two weekends in individual hitting percentages, while Alexis Middlebrooks and Grace Kauth are once again two of the tops in the conference in blocking.

It's been a bit of a streaky season so far for Youngstown State. The Penguins dropped four in a row early, only to win five of their next six before another five-match losing streak that carried into the start of league play. YSU stands at 7-11 overall and 1-3 in the Horizon League heading into the weekend. While Youngstown has struggled at times on the attack this season, they do rank as one of the top serving teams in the conference with four individuals standing in the top-10 in service aces this season, led by Sam Brown, averaging nearly one ace pet set in conference play. YSU will host Green Bay Friday night before Saturday's match against Milwaukee.

• Don't Call It A Comeback
Milwaukee had an uncharacteristic down season in 2015, finishing sixth in the Horizon League and tallying just nine wins overall. Now at the midway point of this season, it's safe to say last year is far in the rearview mirror. Just 15 games in, UWM has already reached last year's win total with a 9-6 overall record, with quite a few notable wins already under their belt. Not only that, but the Panthers are sitting right at the top of the league standings in the early going with a 3-1 league mark thus far.

• Liking League Play
This year is the 10th with Susie Johnson as the head coach of Milwaukee volleyball. In each of those 10 years, the Panthers have won their Horizon League opener. The streak was continued this season when Milwaukee took down Northern Kentucky Sept. 23 in five sets to make it a perfect 10-for-10. UWM also won its next two to improve to 3-0 - the sixth time the team has been perfect through three league matches under Johnson.

• Strong Start
It is no secret Milwaukee traditionally schedules a very challenging non-conference schedule, with this year being no exception. This year's 6-5 record in non-conference play certainly had its memorable moments and could be the start of something special. Three times Milwaukee won at least six non-conference games (2007, '08, '11) heading into Horizon League play under head coach Susie Johnson, with all three of those seasons resulting in a league title.

• Early Honors
While it is still early in the season, the Panthers have already garnered quite a few accolades throughout the weeks. After sweeping its home Panther Invitational to start the season, sophomore Caitlin Schultz was named the tournament MVP, while senior Myanna Ruiz and freshman Jenn Dore were each named to the all-tournament squad, as well. Ruiz went on to be named all-tournament after each of the next three tournaments, while Bridget Wallenberger joined her on that list at Western Michigan's home tournament.

The Horizon League has also taken note of some of the Panther performances thus far, with Ruiz being named defensive player of the week Aug. 29 after the opening tournament, before Dore was named league offensive player of the week Sept. 26 after helping the Panthers to a 2-0 start to league play.

• Opening The Dore
Freshman setter Jenn Dore is off to a nice start to her collegiate career, dishing out 582 assists in her first 15 matches as a Panther. That already ranks as seventh most for a freshman in school history. If her pace holds, she could reach 1,000 assists for the season, something only done two total times in program history by a freshman (Lindsey Spoden - 2000 and Kayla Price - 2011).

• Young Panthers
Susie Johnson has quite a few newcomers on this year's Panther squad with many already playing key rolls this season. In fact, Milwaukee sports one of the youngest teams, not only in the Horizon League but in the entire country. With seven true freshman and only five upperclassmen, that makes Milwaukee by far the youngest team in the conference this year.

• Nice Net Work
Part of Milwaukee's success during its 9-6 start to the season stems from its work at the net. The Panthers posted a solid 135 total blocks in the first 15 matches, including 11 and 13 in the first two matches alone. That is especially impressive considering the Panthers only tallied double-digit blocks seven times all of the 2015 season, already equaling that total with at least 12 matches left on the schedule.

UWM is also doing well on the offensive side of the net, hitting .195 through its first 15 matches. In fact, the Panthers have hit .200 or better in six matches and .300 or better twice this year - all wins. So far, the statistics show that if Milwaukee hits .175 or better, they should win, sitting 9-1 when hitting that benchmark so far this season.

• Hitting The Century Mark
Myanna Ruiz reached a milestone mark last year when she collected her 1,000th dig during her Milwaukee career. Ruiz achieved the memorable feat Oct. 10th at UIC, becoming the 12th player in program history to reach the remarkable accomplishment.

• She Can Dig It
Myanna Ruiz picked up right where she left off last year. After being named All-Horizon League a year ago with one of the best defensive back row seasons in program history, Ruiz led all players in the Panther Invitational with 48 digs in the three matches, earning her Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Ruiz is quickly climbing the charts as one of the all-time digs leaders in program history, already ranking fourth all time.

1. Lauren Felsing                                 1,929                                        2006-09
2. Becky Peters                                    1,875                                        2005-08
3. Laura Dallenbach                            1,600                                        1998-01
4. Myanna Ruiz                                  1,475                                             2013-
5. Leanne Felsing                                1,329                                        2004-07

• It's Good To Be Home
When it comes to home court advantage, Milwaukee has proven to make the Klotsche Center one of the toughest places to play. The Panthers posted a 7-4 mark last year and are already 5-0 at Klotsche this season to up their home record to 87-28 under head coach Susie Johnson, good for a winning percentage of .757. Here's Milwaukee's year-by-year home record under Johnson:

2015: 7-4
2014: 9-3
2013: 8-1
2012: 5-7
2011: 12-2
2010: 10-4
2009: 8-4
2008: 10-2
2007: 13-1

• All-Horizon League
Myanna Ruiz and Maddie Williams each were awarded All-Horizon League honors last year. Ruiz was named to the All-League Team after leading Milwaukee with an outstanding 579 digs this season for an average of 4.99 digs/set. Meanwhile, Williams earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. The newcomer from Normal, Ill. has appeared in all 30 matches last season, making 27 starts. She was second on the team in kills with 251 and first on the team in blocks with 69, with both of those figures ranking in the top-10 in program history for a freshman.

• Up Next
The Panthers continue their four-game road trip, head to the state of Michigan for a Friday contest at Oakland before a stop at Valparaiso on the trek back home.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Kayla Price: S; 5' 9"; Senior

#2 Myanna Ruiz: L; 5' 8"; Senior

#17 Caitlin Schultz: OH; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#15 Maddie Williams: MB; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#8 Jenn Dore: S; 5' 10"; Freshman

#12 Bridget Wallenberger: MB; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Kayla Price
: 5' 9"; Senior
: S

#2 Myanna Ruiz
: 5' 8"; Senior
: L

#17 Caitlin Schultz
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: OH

#15 Maddie Williams
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: MB

#8 Jenn Dore
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: S

#12 Bridget Wallenberger
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: MB