Women's Volleyball November 02, 2016

Volleyball Looks To Bounce Back On The Road

Panthers take on Raiders, Norse this weekend

MILWAUKEE - With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Milwaukee volleyball team wraps up its road schedule this weekend with a trip to Ohio. The Panthers will take on Wright State Friday at 6 pm central before a Saturday afternoon matchup at Northern Kentucky.

Panther Points
• 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.

• Milwaukee has been hit hard by the injury bug this season, especially of late. Caitlin Schultz missed a good portion of the early going with a preseason injury and Mykie Olsen has missed the last seven with a leg injury. Now, Maddie Williams suffered an injury just last week while filling in for a banged up Jess Kalous.

• 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
With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Milwaukee volleyball team wraps up its road schedule this weekend with a trip to Ohio. The Panthers will take on Wright State Friday at 6 pm central before a Saturday afternoon matchup at Northern Kentucky.

• Scouting Notebook
Wright State enters the weekend with a 4-8 league record, making a push for spot in the top-six to qualify for the league tournament. The Raiders have just one win in their last seven matches, but put together some solid efforts along the way. WSU's strength is its defense, where it ranks second in the league in digs with nearly 17 per set. Jessie Thornton and Maddie Lohmeier each rank in the top-10 in the league in digs per set, individually. Milwaukee swept Wright State in late September, with each set finishing 25-20.

The Norse host Green Bay on Friday before Saturday's showdown with UWM. Northern Kentucky sits just one spot ahead of Milwaukee heading into the weekend with this figuring to be a key matchup for helping determine the finale league standings. NKU
ranks in the top-three in five of the six major league categories, including second in the conference in assists with nearly 12.88 per set - nearly all of which coming from redshirt senior setter Taylor Snyder. Saturday is a rematch of the league opener for both teams, with Milwaukee winning that one in a thrilling five setter.

• Injury Bug
Milwaukee has been hit hard by the injury bug this season, especially of late. Caitlin Schultz missed a good portion of the early going with a preseason injury before Mykie Olsen went down a few weeks ago and has missed the last seven with a leg injury. Now, Maddie Williams suffered an injury just last week while filling in for a banged up Jess Kalous.

• Learning On The Job
UWM is by far the youngest team in the Horizon League this season and has gotten quite a bit of production so far from its youngsters. Five of Milwaukee's newcomers have seen significant time on the court this season, with six seeing the court this past weekend. Setter Jenn Dore leads the league in assists with 10.65 per set. Meanwhile, Bridget Wallenberger ranks in the top 10 in the league in kills (232), hitting percentage (.257) and blocks (88), while Kylie Wilks has also climbed into the charts in total kills with 204.

• League Standings
With four games to go, Milwaukee is right in the thick of things near the top of the league standings. The Panthers head into the weekend with a 6-6 league record for fifth place in the standings, just one game behind a Northern Kentucky for fourth. In addition to the Norse, UWM also still has Oakland left on its schedule as another team currently ahead of them in the rankings, so quite a bit can change before the league tournament begins Nov. 18.

• Gimme Five
Panther fans sure are getting their money's worth out of games this season, with already eight matches going the full five sets so far this season. This is something of a trend, as Milwaukee played a total of 10 five setters one year ago, just one shy of the program record of 11 set back in 1998. This year's squad is an even 4-4 in five-set matches thus far.

• A Look At The League Ranks
With two weeks left in league play, Milwaukee has certainly made its presence known in the conference rankings. As a team, the Panthers rank second in blocks (2.53/set), third in assists (12.67/set), and third in kills (13.31/set) in league-only play. What is notable about those ranks is that - outside of the play of freshman Jenn Dore as team's primary setter - no one else from the Black & Gold leads the league in any individual category.

• 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.

• Setting The Record Straight
Milwaukee has quite a few freshmen playing significant minutes this season, which has led to some impressive results from the Panther newcomers. So much so that the freshman record book will have to be completely rewritten by the end of the season. With plenty of time to go, Milwaukee already has the following to add to its freshmen top-10 all time: Jenn Dore, 968 assists (4th); Bridget Wallenberger, 251 kills (6th); Kylie Wilks, 233 kills (t-7th); Wallenberger, 2.85 kills/set (3rd); Wilks, 2.68 kills/set (5th); Wallenberger, 1.10 blocks/set (t-3rd).

• 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.

• Opening The Dore
Freshman setter Jenn Dore is off to a nice start to her collegiate career, dishing out 884 assists in her first 21 matches as a Panther. That already ranks as fifth most for a freshman in school history. If her pace holds, she should reach 1,000 assists for the season, something only done two total times in program history by a freshman (Lindsey Spoden (1,264) in 2000 and Kayla Price (1.180) in 2011).

• Nice Net Work
Part of Milwaukee's success thus far stems from its work at the net. The Panthers posted 210 total blocks so far, 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 surpassing that total (11 so far this year) with at least four matches left on the schedule.

UWM is also doing well on the offensive side of the net, hitting .192 through its first 23 matches. In fact, the Panthers have hit .200 or better in nine 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 11-2 when hitting that benchmark so far this season.

• Early Honors
The Panthers have garnered quite a few accolades throughout the 2016 campaign. 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.

• 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 and has consistently been the defensive leader for Milwaukee all season.

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

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

• Up Next
Milwaukee closes out the 2016 regular season at home, playing host to Oakland on Friday before senior day on Saturday at 4 pm against Valparaiso.

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Players Mentioned

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

#9 Jess Kalous: MB; 6' 2"; Junior

#11 Mykie Olsen: DS; 5' 6"; Junior

#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

#14 Kylie Wilks: OH; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#9 Jess Kalous
: 6' 2"; Junior
: MB

#11 Mykie Olsen
: 5' 6"; Junior
: DS

#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

#14 Kylie Wilks
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: OH