MILWAUKEE, Wis. – IUPUI took set one on Tuesday night, but the Milwaukee women's volleyball team rallied to top the Jaguars 3-1 and improve to 5-0 against Horizon League opponents at home this season.
 
The Panthers (7-14, 6-4 Horizon League) put together one of their best offensive performances this season, recording 65 kills, a season-high for a four-set match. MKE's .362 attack percentage was the third highest recorded this year.
 
"IUPUI came to play today and made it tough for us to win but I felt like we really bounced back and showed some fight," head coach Susie Johnson commented. "That helped our offense come back to life. Defensively, we had to make some adjustments and we battled enough to be successful there."
 
After the Jaguars (9-13, 3-7 Horizon League) stole set one, MKE bounced back in a big way, hitting .522 in a 25-18 victory in the second. Ari Miller was a perfect 4-for-4 on her swings and Madi Malone added four kills and two digs to help pave the way.
 
Neither team could create much separation in set three as the two traded points back and forth down the wire to 23-23. Malone came through with a big kill and Bri Geurts put away the ensuing serve to pull in front 2-1.
 
In the fourth, IUPUI took control with a 6-1 run to go up 19-14, but the Panthers responded. MKE rattled off seven consecutive points including back-to-back kills from Czhen Beneby for a 21-19 advantage.
 
IUPUI finally stopped the run with a kill, but MKE held all the momentum and put away four more kills to take it 25-21.
 
"Ari did great with 17 kills which is what she needed to do and she's capable of," Johnson continued. "Everybody else performed offensively. Setters did well and set hitters at the right time and Kara Erdmann really came through defensively for us."
 
Miller led with 17 kills, her second most this season, and a .500 attack percentage. Natalie Schmitz (14 kills) and Malone (13 kills) also recorded their second-highest kill total this year. Malone added 13 digs for her 10th double-double this year.
 
Erdmann stepped into the libero role in the final three frames and tallied 14 digs, three assists and an ace.
 
Kaley Blake and Josie Johnson combined for 55 assists and 12 digs in the win.

Beneby and Geurts totaled nine blocks and 17 kills at the net.
 
Milwaukee next heads to Robert Morris and Youngstown State this weekend beginning on Friday, October 21.
 
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