Volleyball Looks To Keep Things Rolling With Weekend Homestand

Panthers take on Green Bay Sunday on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee volleyball continues its four-game home stand by welcoming another pair of Horizon League foes to the Klotsche Center this weekend. The Panthers host UIC on Saturday at 4 pm before a Sunday, 4 pm contest against in-state rival Green Bay. Sunday's match will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, with Matt Menzl and Michelle Griffin-Wenzel on the call.

Panther Points
• UWM started out conference play with a bang last weekend, taking down Northern Kentucky and Wright State as one of just three teams to start league play 2-0. NKU forced the action into five sets on Friday before the Panthers pulled it out. There was far less suspense on Saturday with Milwaukee sweeping the Raiders, taking all three sets by a score of 25-20.

• 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
The Milwaukee volleyball continues its four-game home stand by welcoming another pair of Horizon League foes to the Klotsche Center this weekend. The Panthers host UIC on Saturday at 4 pm before a Sunday, 4 pm contest against in-state rival Green Bay. Sunday's match will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, with Matt Menzl and Michelle Griffin-Wenzel on the call.

• Scouting Notebook
UIC has a league-best 12 wins thus far this season but hit a bump in the road at the start of league play, falling to Wright State and Valparaiso last weekend. UIC takes on Green Bay Friday before Saturday's matchup at the Klotsche Center. The Flames have a different look this year after two-time league player of the year Stephenee Yancy graduated. Toledo transfer Alyssa Ehrhardt leads the team with 3.68 kills/set, while as a team the Flames is second in the Horizon League in kills/set (13.30), hitting percentage (.237) and assists/set (12.38). UWM holds a 43-18 lead in the series after the two teams split a pair of five setters last year.

Green Bay and Milwaukee were both picked tied for fifth in the league's preseason poll but both are 2-0 to start conference play. The Phoenix is 10-4 heading into Friday's game against UIC, with its only losses coming to IUPUI, No. 12 Ohio State, Toledo and No. 3 Minnesota. Junior Lydia DeWeese leads the league with 1.57 blocks/set, is second in hitting percentage at .382 and leads her team with 2.94 kills/set. Milwaukee leads the all time series, 52-15, but Green Bay did sweep last year's season series - just its second and third wins over Milwaukee since 2008.

• 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 last weekend when Milwaukee took down Northern Kentucky in five sets to make it a perfect 10-for-10. After winning again on Saturday to move to 2-0, which is the seventh time the team has been perfect through two league matches under Johnson.

• 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 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 just last week after starting league play 2-0.

• Opening The Dore
Freshman setter Jenn Dore is off to a nice start to her collegiate career, dishing out 493 assists in her first 13 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.

• 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

• 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                   1,431                           2013-
5. Leanne Felsing                  1,329                       2004-07

• Up Next
It's back on the road for the next four matches for Milwaukee, starting next weekend with a trip to Northeast Ohio, taking on Cleveland State Friday before Youngstown State Saturday.

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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