MILWAUKEE - After two weeks of road trips to big weekend tournaments, the Milwaukee volleyball team is back in town this weekend for a pair of matches for the Marquette Invitational, starting Friday. The Panthers first will take on a talented Missouri State squad Friday at 4 pm before a Saturday afternoon matchup against crosstown rival Marquette. Both matches will be played at the Al McGuire Center on Marquette's campus.

Panther Points
• UWM ran into its toughest challenge of the season so far last weekend, but still came out strong with a big road win at Western Michigan to wrap up the weekend. Milwaukee is now 6-3 on the young season heading into the Marquette Invitational. The team got there by sweeping their home invite, followed by a pair of wins at a tournament in Connecticut and Saturday's win over the Broncos at their home tournament.

• 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 Week Ahead
After two weeks on the road, the Milwaukee volleyball team returns to town for a pair of matches in the Marquette Invitational. UWM will take on Missouri State Friday before a Saturday afternoon matchup against the host Golden Eagles.

• Scouting Notebook
Both of Milwaukee's opponents this weekend are receiving votes in this week's AVP top-25 poll and both are red hot.

After a 3-1 win over Arkansas State on Tuesday, Missouri State will enter Friday's match with UWM on a six-match win streak with an 8-3 overall record. The Bears have taken on a daunting schedule, going up against four nationally ranked opponents and coming out with a 2-2 record (wins over No. 14 Illinois and No. 12 Ohio State). Lily Johnson leads the team in kills (174), kills/set (4.14) and is second on the team in digs (135). This marks the third-straight year UWM and MSU have squared off after previously doing so just once back in 1985 - Milwaukee's lone win in the brief series.

Meanwhile, Marquette heads into the weekend with a 7-2 record overall after sweeping through the Bluegrass Battle hosted by Kentucky last weekend. The Golden Eagles will take on Iowa State Friday night before Saturday's matinee with the Panthers. UWM still holds a 44-31 all-time lead in the series between the crosstown rivals that dates back all the way to 1975, but MU has made a big dent in that lead with nine-straight victories.

• Strong Start
It has been quite a start to the season for Milwaukee this year. After sweeping their home Panther Invitational to start the season, Milwaukee went 2-1 out east and added another win last weekend to improve to 6-3 overall on the young season. That's already nearly more wins than all of last year, as the Panthers had an uncharacteristic down season with just nine wins.

Early Honors
After the first three weekends of competition, the Panthers have already garnered quite a few awards for their efforts. 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. Then, after a 2-1 showing at Sacred Heart's home tournament, Ruiz was again named to the all-tournament team, joined this time by freshman Bridget Wallenberger. Finally, Ruiz was again named the all-tournament after this past weekend's trip to Western Michigan, making it a perfect 3-for-3 for the senior libero.

• Party Crashers
Milwaukee has had plenty of success to start the season, especially in the first three tournaments of the year. After sweeping their home tournament to start the season, UWM then took down both of its next tournament hosts on their home court. Milwaukee dropped the first two sets at Sacred Heart only to roar back for the 3-2 win Sept. 3. Then, last Saturday, the Panthers and Western Michigan traded the first four sets before UWM took down the host Broncos.

• Nice Net Work
Part of Milwaukee's success during its 6-3 start to the season stems from its work at the net. The Panthers posted a solid 77 total blocks in the first nine matches, including 11 and 13 in the first two matches alone, followed by performances of 11 and 16 at Sacred Heart. That is especially impressive considering the Panthers only tallied double-digit blocks seven times all of the 2015 season.

UWM started strong on the offensive side of the net too, hitting .245 in the first six matches, including a whopping .376 in the sweep of Akron, followed closely by a .338 mark against George Mason. That already doubles last year's .300+ hitting matches after doing so just once one year ago.

• Young Panthers
Susie Johnson has quite a few newcomers on this year's Panther squad with many figuring to play 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, making them by far the youngest team in the conference this year.

• 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 to start this season. 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 1,370 2013-
5. Leanne Felsing 1,329 2004-07

• Up Next
Next Friday marks the start of an important stretch for Milwaukee. Not only do the Panthers return home for the first time in a month, they also kick off conference play with four-straight home matches. UWM will get Horizon League play underway Friday at 7 pm it hosts Northern Kentucky before a Saturday contest against Wright State at 4 pm. Both matches will take place from the Klotsche Center.