MILWAUKEE, Wis. – For the second time in four days, the Milwaukee volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep of Valparaiso. The Panthers (13-1) cashed in their 10th straight victory as they used a late run in the third set to blank the Crusaders (5-9) at the Klotsche Center on Tuesday night.
 
It was all Milwaukee in the first frame as they put away 16 kills and hit .483 to earn the early lead. Carmen Heilemann had the Panthers rolling early with three straight kills, helping MKE to a 12-4 run to open the set.
 
The eight-point advantage stayed until Valparaiso landed five kills in the next nine serves, but another slam from Heilemann and a kill from Jenna Miller pushed the lead back to eight. After a Milwaukee service error, Kylie Wilks and Ari Miller put away kills around a Crusaders' error for a 25-15 victory in the first.
 
Valparaiso adjusted in the second set and came out hot, scoring the first four points to put Milwaukee in just its second deficit of the match. Errors hurt the Crusaders, however, as a Heilemann kill preceded three Valparaiso mistakes to put the Panthers in control 10-8.
 
Valpo battled back to tie it 12-12 but Milwaukee used a 5-2 run to pull ahead by three at 17-14. Heilemann then flexed again, tallying three more kills in a 5-0 run for a 22-15 advantage. The junior again came through to close it as she put away two more attacks for a 25-18 set two win. Through two sets, Heilemann had 12 kills in 14 swings, hitting .857.
 
In the third, Valparaiso again controlled early and then used a 7-2 run to gain a 15-10 lead, forcing a Milwaukee timeout. The two traded a pair of points back and forth before Jess Grabowski stepped up to serve. The Panthers' defensive specialist served eight straight points as the offense put away seven kills and Milwaukee was back in front 20-17.
 
"It was a matter of executing in that moment," head Coach Susie Johnson commented. "It helped to have Jess' consistency there and then a couple of plays at the net we were able to finish."
 
 The Crusaders pulled back within two, but errors once again plagued the visitors and Heilemann came through with her team-high 15th kill to hand Milwaukee its second sweep of Valparaiso in four days.
 
Milwaukee hit at least .300 for the fifth time this season, landing attacks at a .306 clip against Valparaiso.
 
Heilemann connected for 15 kills, hitting .519 in the sweep. Louise Kiekhofer put away nine kills while J. Miller and A. Miller had seven apiece.
 
"Carmen had really good approaches tonight. Jenn [Dore] set her at the right time and she was able to finish. It was nice to see her execute," Johnson mentioned.
 
Grabowski recorded 23 of the Panthers 52 digs while Jenn Dore nearly reached a double-double, totaling 22 assists and nine digs.
 
Defense again proved. Tough, holding Valparaiso to a .124 attack percentage with just 31 kills.
Milwaukee will next gear up for Horizon League play as the Panthers head to UIC on Saturday for a 4:00 pm contest before battling Green Bay on Sunday, September 29. Live coverage links for the road contests can be found on MKEPanthers.com.