MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Back on its home floor for the first time in nearly two weeks, the Milwaukee volleyball team wasted no chances and downed Cleveland State 3-0.
 
"We played very well and were much more in sync offensively and defensively," head coach Susie Johnson commented. "Cleveland State pushed us quite a bit in the third set and I felt like we responded very well. It was great to see the team because that's the goal – working as team and it was way better tonight and we're happy with that win."
 
The Panthers racked up 50 kills and 61 digs, both three-set season highs digs in the sweep of the Vikings.
 
Ari Miller put Milwaukee in control in the first, putting away three kills in a 4-0 swing to give the Panthers a 12-7 advantage. Cleveland State battled back to pull within one, but two errors and a kill from Madi Malone sealed it 25-22.
 
In the second, Bri Geurts and Natalie Schimtz combined for three kills to hand MKE a five-point advantage and MKE never looked back. CSU cut it to two but kills from three different Panthers and a block from Geurts and Czhen Beneby made it 20-14 MKE.
 
It was all MKE from there as Beneby and Miller recorded another big stuff to end the frame 25-18 and put the Panthers up 2-0.
 
Cleveland State would not go down without a fight and rallied to a four-point advantage before MKE rallied. The Panthers scored eight straight points to take a 21-17 lead and deflate the Vikings momentum.
 
Newcomers carried the load in the third as Beneby put away all five of her swings and Schmitz hit .364 with five kills on 11 swings in a 25-20 victory.
 
The setter combo of Kaley Blake and Josie Johnson were in control all night, combining for 40 assists and 21 digs. Blake recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 22 assists and 14 digs.
 
Sarah Schrader led the back line with 19 digs while Madi Malone added nine digs and 11 kills.
 
Miller hit .478 with 13 kills. Schmitz also reached double digits with 11 kills, hitting .320 while Beneby hit .600 with seven kills.
 
The Panthers are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host Oakland on ESPN+ beginning at 4:00 pm.
 
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