FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Milwaukee volleyball team opened Horizon League play on a high note, taking down Purdue Fort Wayne 3-1 on Friday evening.
 
"We played very aggressive. That was the plan coming in," head coach Susie Johnson commented. "Jess {Grabowski} also had a great defensive match with 26 digs and helped us stay in system. Overall, it was a great team effort."
 
Milwaukee (7-6, 1-0 Horizon League) hit .295 for the match and outside of a second-set setback, dominated throughout.
 
The Panthers had no trouble in set one, rolling out to a 9-3 advantage. Milwaukee doubled up Purdue Fort Wayne (2-13, 0-1 Horizon League) from there as Madi Malone served up a pair of aces and Carmen Heilemann served four straight for a 18-8 advantage. MKE continued to roll for a 25-10 set-one win.
 
Milwaukee struggled offensively in the second with 10 attack errors but quickly responded in the third. The Panthers hit .421 with 17 kills and just one attack error to pull in front 2-1.
 
The Mastodons started hot early in the fourth, but Sarah Schrader served six straight to put the Panthers up 10-8. Purdue Fort Wayne would get no closer as Milwaukee had an answer for each point. Jess Grabowski put the finishing touches on the match as she served four straight to put the Panthers in control and back-to-back kills from Heilemann finished it 25-17.
 
Ari Miller led the team with 18 kills, hitting .417 while Madi Malone and Heilemann also reached double figure kills with 16 and 12, respectively.
 
Grabowski led an overall solid defensive effort with 26 digs. Malone added 10 while Rylie Vaughn added 13 for the Panthers.
 
Vaughn also dished up 47 assists for MKE, her fourth straight double-double.
 
The Panthers will next take on IUPUI in The Jungle on Sunday, September 26 at 1:00 pm.
 
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