INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After dropping the first set, the Milwaukee volleyball team bounced back to earn a 3-1 win over IUPUI on the road. The Panthers captured their 10th Horizon League victory and regained control of first place at 10-2.
 
"It was a hard match. They [Jaguars] played really well and defensively they were really strong," head coach Susie Johnson stated."
 
IUPUI (6-19, 2-10 Horizon League) came out strong in the first, hitting .295 with 18 kills in a win. Milwaukee (23-3, 10-2 Horizon League) used a 3-0 run late to tie it 18-18 before the teams traded points until 25-25. A block from Ari Miller and Jenn Dore put Milwaukee in front 26-25, but two IUPUI kills and a block gave IUPUI the lead.
 
In the second, the defense came up with some big digs, totaling 18 in the frame. The Panthers had seven errors offensively but took advantage of some Jaguars miscues for a late 21-17 lead.
 
Following an IUPUI timeout, the Jaguars scored three straight to pull within one but kills from Jenna Miller and Carmen Heilemann had Milwaukee in control 23-20. Heilemann put away another slam for the 24th point and IUPUI gave MKE a scare with two straight kills, but the junior come through again with her fifth kill of the frame for a 25-23 win.
 
The Panthers limited the errors in the following set as they gained control of the match with a 25-17 victory in the third. Milwaukee used an early 6-1 run and later, a 5-0 run to go on top 20-13.
 
The Jaguars cashed in for three straight points but a pair of kills from Kylie Wilks and Abby Koenen along with a Wilks service ace had Milwaukee at set point 24-16. IUPUI responded with a kill but Kleja Cerniauskaite put away a slam for a 2-1 match lead.
 
The defense again carried the load in the fourth set, recording 28 total digs including eight from Jess Grabowski as Milwaukee went on a 5-0 run at 13-9 and held that advantage the rest of the way.
 
IUPUI cut its deficit to four points at 19-15, but that was as close as the Jaguars would come as Milwaukee continued to cut down any chance the home team had. At match point, Koenen put away her season-best 11th kill to win the match 3-1.
 
Rylie Vaughn and Jenn Dore had a nice day the Panthers. Vaughn recorded her 13th double-double of the year with 29 assists and 15 digs. Dore added 21 assists to go along with eight digs.
 
Heilemann led the attack with 13 kills while Koenen and Cerniauskaite each had 11.
 
After her streak of 24 consecutive matches this season with at least 10 digs ended on Friday, Grabowski led the team with 22 digs.
 
Wilks stuffed the stat sheet with 13 digs, nine kills, four assists, and an ace in the win.
 
"I'm proud of this team after a tough loss last night," Johnson stated. "To be able to turn around, be competitive and mature, and win in four was impressive. Jess' defense was terrific and the whole team defensively played well. The setters did a really nice job today as well."
 
Milwaukee will next return home to host Oakland in a crucial Horizon League contest. The 6:00 pm contest on Friday, November 8 will feature live stats with a link available on MKEPanthers.com.