MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Urgency and efficiency were the keys to victory in the Milwaukee volleyball team's victories a day ago. That message didn't change heading into Saturday and the Panthers delivered yet again. Milwaukee dominated from start to finish as they swept previously unbeaten Western Michigan 3-0 to win its home Panther Invitational.
 
In the first, neither team gained more than a one-point advantage, trading blows back and forth until 8-8 when three Panthers kills and a Western Michigan error made it 12-8, MKE.
 
Milwaukee held that advantage until the Broncos made a push with a kill and a service ace to pull within two. The Panthers responded, however, as Kylie Wilks laced an ace and Ari Miller and Kleja Cerniauskaite notched kills in a 5-0 run to end the set 25-18.
 
The Panthers hit .483 in the frame, committing just one attack error.
 
Milwaukee's smart play continued in the second as they seemed to do no wrong. The Panthers limited their play to just one error for the second straight set and dominated the set 25-9 to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
Paced by A. Miller's five kills, the Panthers used early runs to jump ahead 15-5. With Western Michigan on its heels, Milwaukee didn't allow the Broncos a thing, holding the opposition to seven kills, six errors, and a .028 attack percentage.
 
At 18-8, the Panthers continued to press, allowing just one point, a Milwaukee service error, as they rolled to the set victory.
 
The Panthers seem to click their best when they hold a lead and in the third, they yet again jumped out early. Three straight kills from Shari Volpis sparked a 9-1 run to open the set and Milwaukee was firmly in control.
 
Western Michigan tallied back to back points to cut their deficit to 12-8, but from that point on, Milwaukee always had a side out answer for the Broncos.
 
The offense again limited errors, tallying just three, as the Panthers hit .324 in a 25-15 set victory for the sweep.
 
"This team is just getting better," head coach Susie Johnson commented. "We are getting game experience and getting more comfortable in match experience. The urgency we focus on all week at practice is starting to come through."
 
 
Milwaukee hit a season-best .394, converting 42 kills on 94 attempts with just five errors. Seven different players put a kill in the books led by A. Miller's 10. Carmen Heilemann landed nine kills while hitting .533, a season best.
 
Kylie Wilks had another tremendous game for the Panthers, totaling 14 digs, four kills, and a pair of service aces. The senior earned All-Tournament honors as she led the team with 77 serve receptions and just two errors while totaling 19 kills and 33 digs.
 
Setters Rylie Vaughn and Jenn Dore also earned All-Tournament honors for Milwaukee. Vaughn totaled 75 assists and 25 digs in the three matches while Dore dished up 46 assists to go along with 15 digs.
 
Coach Johnson continued, "Defense has been a focus the last months of training. Our setters are really helping us with that. I think the back row has been incredible for us."
 
Against the Broncos, Jess Grabowski one again led the back line as she recorded 16 digs, bringing her total to 58 for the tournament.
 
Milwaukee will stay on their home court for the next match as it hosts Northern Illinois on Tuesday, September 17 at 6:00 pm. Tickets for the match and live stats are available on MKEPanthers.com.