MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Panthers return to the Klotsche Center for three straight home games beginning with Northern Kentucky this Friday, October 28. Milwaukee hosts the Norse at 6:00 pm and is back in action on Saturday to host Wright State at 4:00 pm.
Friday's match against Northern Kentucky will be carried on ESPN+ with
Matt Menzl on the call while Saturday's match will feature live audio. Both matches will have live stats with all coverage links available on MKEPanthers.com.
The Panthers currently sit in fourth place in the league standings with the top six heading to the Horizon League Championships which begin on November 18.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Northern Kentucky has picked up six straight wins to move to 9-2 in Horizon League action which puts them third in the league standings. Defense has been key for the Norse, who lead the league in blocks (3.06 per set) and opponent hitting percentage (.131).
On the offensive end, Reilly Briggs and Anna Brinkman lead the charge. Brinkman paces NKU with 232 kills while Briggs is sixth in the league in attack percentage (.300) and points per set (3.96).
Wright State remains the hottest team in the Horizon League, still without a league blemish at 11-0. The Raiders rattled off seven straight sweeps from September 30 to October 14 before Oakland took one set and Cleveland State took two last weekend.
The Raiders lead the league in kills (14.16), assists (13.24), aces (1.97), and digs (18.35) per set so far this year. Senior Lainey Stephenson is tops in the conference with 11.65 assists per set and has added 205 digs. Jenna Story leads the WSU back line with 461 digs, averaging 5.49 per frame.
SERIES HISTORY
Northern Kentucky has had Milwaukee's number as of late, winning six of the last seven matchups to improve to 9-7 all-time against MKE. The Panthers last victory over NKU was September 30, 2021. Earlier this season, the Norse won a 3-1 matchup against the Panthers on October 1.
The Panthers own a 44-20 mark against Wright State all-time, but the Raiders have won five of the last six matchups. MKE is 24-6 at home against the Raiders including a 3-2 win at the Klostche Center last season.
HOME SWEET HOME
Dating back to March 15, 2021, Milwaukee has won 16 consecutive Horizon League contests on its home floor. The Panthers won their final two home league contests in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, finished 9-0 against league opponents last year, and are 5-0 so far this season.
It marks the longest undefeated streak at home against Horizon League opponents since 2008 when Milwaukee recorded its fifth straight perfect home league schedule. From 2004-08, MKE won 36 consecutive home matchups against league opponents.
Since 1990, MKE is 271-112 (.707) overall at the Klotsche Center and 167-47 against league opponents on its home floor.
GO OFF, GEURTS
Bri Geurts has put together a career-year so far with still six matches left in the regular season. The sophomore has recorded at least five blocks in three straight matches and has at least three blocks in 13 matches this season. On October 8 against Oakland, Geurts racked up a career-high nine stuffs.
Additionally, Geurts has set new career highs across the board with 145 kills, a .281 attack percentage, 10 aces, and 39 digs.
Over the last four contests, Geurts has piled up 31 kills at a .386 clip and has added 16 blocks.
GETTING IN THE GROOVE
Madi Malone has started to find her old ways recently, recorded two double-doubles in the last three contests.
Over the last four matches, Malone has at least 10 digs in each, totaling 51 digs, 48 kills, and two aces.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Natalie Schmitz has been a huge impact for the Panthers' offense this year and ranks second on the team with 223 kills and third with a .225 attack percentage.
Schmitz has at least 10 kills in five of the last six contests including 15 on October 21 against Robert Morris which matched a career high at MKE.
BLOCK PARTY
In the win over Oakland on October, 8
Bri Geurts racked up a career-high nine blocks. As a team, Milwaukee recorded 10 blocks, its ninth match this season with double figure stuffs. It marks the most matches with at least 10 blocks since 2016 when Milwaukee had 15 double-figure outputs.
The Panthers currently rank fourth in the league with 2.34 blocks per set in league play.
MILLER ON A MISSION
Ari Miller has been a leader for the Panthers all season but since Horizon League play began, her numbers have continued to improve.
In 10 league matches, Miller paces the Panthers in attack percentage (.391), kills (3.68), blocks (1.12), and points (4.54) per set. Those numbers also put her in the league's top eight of each category.
Miller has tallied at least 10 kills in 15 matches this season and has recorded at least six blocks on six occasions.
The junior currently ranks 96th in the nation in attack percentage.
YEAR 50
This year marks the 50th season of Milwaukee volleyball.
Susie Johnson has been on the bench for more than half that time, spending 10 seasons as an assistant coach and embarking on her 16th at the helm this year. Johnson is just 10 victories away from surpassing
Kathy Litzau for the most NCAA Division I wins in program history (271).
As a program since inception in 1973, the Panthers have claimed 14 league championships and have been to 10 NCAA Tournaments. Milwaukee volleyball also has 21 Bud K. Haidet Hall of Famers, 12 All-Americans, 11 league players of the year, and much more in its history.
MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Natalie Schmitz is not the only freshman who has stepped into a pivotal role for the Panthers.
Josie Johnson has helped control the offense at the setter position. Johnson has dished up 374 assists and has added 127 digs and nine aces, which ranks fifth on the team.
Kara Erdmann currently ranks fifth on the team with 123 digs, reaching double digits three of the last four matches including a season-high 18 against Northern Kentucky on October 1.
Czhen Beneby has also made an impact, totaling 122 kills and 68 blocks in her first season with the black and gold.
A GRAND MILESTONE
On September 17 against San Jose State, junior
Ari Miller put away 13 kills which put her over 1,000 for her career. Miller became the 15th player in program history to reach the milestone.
Additionally, Miller currently ranks sixth in career kills per set (3.16) and first in attack percentage (.337).
PRESEASON POLL
The Panthers picked up four first-place votes and 93 total poll points as they were predicted to finish second in this year's Horizon League preseason poll. MKE was edged by Northern Kentucky, who earned six first-place votes and 96 poll points. Wright State was picked third (78 points) followed by Green Bay (69) to round out the top four.
CATCH ALL THE ACTION
Thanks to ESPN+, Milwaukee volleyball will be readily available for viewers. The Horizon League and ESPN have an agreement that includes ESPN hosting the league's digital network on the ESPN+ platform.
ESPN+, which will host the Horizon League women's soccer, men's soccer, and volleyball championships, offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content, and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) and cancel at any time.
For road games, visit MKEPanthers.com for live coverage links.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will gear up for Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday, November 1 to complete the homestand before their final road trip of the regular season.
