BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Milwaukee volleyball team picked up a 3-0 win over Kansas City in the first match of the Jackrabbit Invitational on Friday morning. The Panthers' (10-1) offense had yet another terrific showing, hitting .358 agains the Roos (2-6), marking the third straight match with an attack percentage of at least .300.
 
"Our offense was very good. The numbers speak for themselves," head coach Susie Johnson stated. "We also served well and kept them out of their system and rhythm. We stayed organized and played really well."
 
The Panthers wasted no time getting on top after a pair of kills from Ari Miller and a trio of Roos' errors had Milwaukee up 5-1. The advantage stayed that distance until Kansas City pulled within one after cashing in on five of six points midway through the first.
 
Milwaukee did not bat an eye as a trio of Panthers landed five total kills to pull ahead 20-17. Later, an error pulled the Roos within two but consecutive kills from A. Miller, Shari Volpis, and Kleja Cerniauskaite handed the Panthers set one.
 
The second frame was back and forth the entire way as Kansas City put away 18 kills to keep pace with Milwaukee. The Panthers jumped ahead after a service ace from jess Grabowski and two UMKC errors had Milwaukee up 15-14 but the Roos responded with a pair of kills of their own.
 
From that point, the teams traded 15 straight side outs, knotting the match at 23-23. Following a Johnson timeout, Volpis put Milwaukee up 24-23 with her sixth kill of the set and then the Panthers secured a 2-0 lead after a Roos' attack was off the mark.
 
In the third, Rylie Vaughn served nine straight to open as they ran to an 8-1 advantage. Cerniauskaite landed a kill to get another run going and Kylie Wilks served up six straight points including three aces to put Milwaukee in the lead 15-1.
 
UMKC put together scoring runs of 4-0 and 3-0 later but the Panthers had no trouble holding the lead and kills from Volpis and Carmen Heilemann ended the set 25-17 and the match 3-0.
 
As a team, Milwaukee put away 48 kills with just nine errors to hit .358, marking the first time since 2013 that the Panthers hit above .300 in three straight contests.
 
A. Miller led Milwaukee with 15 kills while Volpis put away 11 of her 21 swings, hitting .429. Wilks once again contributed all over the court with six kills, six digs, two assists, and three service aces.
 
The two-headed setter attack of Vaughn and Jenn Dore combined for 42 assists and eight digs.
 
The Panthers totaled 40 digs with Grabowski's 15 leading the charge.
 
Milwaukee will next take on the Jackrabbit Invitational host South Dakota State tonight at 7:00 pm. Live video and stats can be found on MKEPanthers.com.