ROCHESTER, Mich. – Behind a solid defensive effort and nearly flawless third set, the Milwaukee volleyball team swept Oakland 3-0 on Thursday evening.
 
"We had a bit of a slow start but then got into a rhythm," head coach Susie Johnson commented. "We improved significantly in the third set as we continued to get better and execute."
 
Jess Grabowski and Rylie Vaughn combined for 37 digs for the Panthers, who totaled 62 in the match.
 
Early on, neither team was lights out on offense, but Milwaukee (11-6, 5-0 Horizon) strung together points when it needed. Madi Malone and Kleja Cerniauskaite put away kills combined with three Oakland errors which forced a Golden Grizzlies timeout at 20-18 in the first set. Two more Oakland errors had the Panthers in control and with a 24-20 lead, Ari Miller and Carmen Heilemann finished the frame with a block.
 
Offense came alive midway through the second frame as Milwaukee connected for five kills in a 6-0 run to make it 18-14 Panthers. Oakland (9-7, 3-2 Horizon League) fought back to tie at 20-20 but Miller and Abby Koenen combined for four kills down the stretch to help clinch a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead.
 
It was all Panthers in the final frame as Milwaukee finished with 20 kills and just three errors in a 25-16 win. Heilemann led the way with eight kills and a .429 attack percentage.
 
The Panthers finished hitting .264 as a team with Heielmann's 16 kills leading all players. Miller added 12 while Madi Malone reached double figures with 11.
 
Vaughn recorded her third straight double-double with 44 assists and 19 digs.
 
Milwaukee looks for its sixth straight win tomorrow at Cleveland State before returning to the Klotsche Center for five consecutive home matches beginning on October 12.
 
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