Women's Volleyball September 21, 2016

Panthers Open League Play With Weekend Homestand

Northern Kentucky, Wright State come to Klotsche Center this Friday, Saturday

MILWAUKEE - After nearly a month on the road, the Milwaukee volleyball team finally returns home this weekend, kicking off conference play starting Friday. The Panthers will host Northern Kentucky Friday at 7 pm before a Saturday 4 pm tilt against Wright State. Both matches will take place inside the Klotsche Center and can be streamed live on ESPN3 with Matt Schroeder on the call against NKU and Nate Lisko against the Raiders.

Panther Points
• UWM ran into its toughest challenge of the season so far last weekend at the Marquette Invitational, taking on a pair of teams just outside of the national top-25 poll in Missouri State and the host Golden Eagles. Despite dropping both matches, the Panthers still have plenty to hang their hats on. Milwaukee arguably out-played MSU despite the deceiving score sheet. Then on Saturday, the Panthers played even better and came close in all three sets before coming up just short.

• 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 nearly a month on the road, the Milwaukee volleyball team finally returns home this weekend, kicking off conference play starting Friday. The Panthers will host Northern Kentucky Friday at 7 pm before a Saturday 4 pm tilt against Wright State. Both matches will take place inside the Klotsche Center and can be streamed live on ESPN3 with Matt Schroeder on the call against NKU and Nate Lisko against the Raiders.

• Scouting Notebook
Northern Kentucky enters Friday with a 6-5 record. After a strong start to the season, the Norse lost all three of last weekend's tournament against a trio of talented teams in Butler, Arizona and Loyola (Chicago). Redshirt senior Lauren Hurley is one of the tops in the league in digs, averaging just under five per set. Offensively, Keely Creamer, Haley Libs and Tristen Simpson all have nearly 100 kills each. UWM leads the all time series, 2-0, after sweeping the Norse last year.

WSU got off to a slow start, dropping its first five matches, before going 5-2 in its last seven contests. Junior libero Jessie Thornton leads the league with 5.02 digs/set, while Katie Klusman is third in the league in kills/set with 3.64. Milwaukee holds a 38-16 all time lead against the Raiders, including winners in 12 of the last 13.

• Strong Start
It is no secret Milwaukee traditionally schedules a very challenging non-conference schedule each season, with this year being no exception. This year's 6-5 start has 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.

• League Openers
Milwaukee historically has not only had quite a bit of success against the Horizon League, but has specifically done well in starting league play. The Panthers are a perfect 9-0 when starting league play under head coach Susie Johnson and have not lost a league opener since 2005 against UIC. In all, UWM is 18-4 in the first league match of the year since joining the Horizon League.

• Early Honors
After the first four 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. Ruiz was again named the all-tournament after a trip to Western Michigan, before making it a perfect 4-for-4 after being named to the Marquette Invite All-Tournament Team last weekend.

• Setting The Table
Freshman setter Jenn Dore is off to a nice start to her collegiate career, dishing out 395 assists in her first 11 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 (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.

• 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 3-0 at Klotsche this season to up their home record to 85-28 under head coach Susie Johnson, good for a winning percentage of .752. 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

• 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                                  1,399                                             2013-
5. Leanne Felsing                                1,329                                        2004-07

• Up Next
The Panthers continue their four-match home stand next weekend with two more league matches. UWM will take on UIC on Saturday at the turn of the calendar before welcoming in-state rival Green Bay to the Klotsche Center Sunday for a 4 pm contest that will also be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

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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

#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

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

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