MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee volleyball team ran into red-hot Marquette on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-0 to the 23rd-ranked team at the Al McGuire Center.
 
"Marquette showed today that they are in the top-25. They played great," head coach Susie Johnson said. "We had a hard time responding. It was a tough for us but we are going to keep getting better, working, and growing."
 
The Golden Eagles hit .481 through the first two sets and carried that momentum to a .418 attack percentage in the win over the Panthers.
 
Marquette (6-1) came out on fire in the first, hitting .480 compared to just .133 for the Panthers. The MU defense was everywhere, 15 digs while holding MKE to just nine kills.
 
Milwaukee (1-7) found a little rhythm early in the second, trading points with Marquette, but three straight Golden Eagles' aces at 8-7 shifted the momentum and MU could not miss the rest of the way. Marquette found the floor 14 times in 27 swings with just one error (.481).
 
Natalie Schmitz got it going in the third, putting away three kills in four swings and Czhen Beneby added four kills, but it was too late for MKE. The Panthers pushed late with three straight points to pull within three, but Marquette ended the rally and finished the match with a pair of kills.
 
Schmitz led the Panthers with seven kills, hitting .375, while Bri Geurts, Beneby, and Ari Miller each added six apiece.
 
Kaley Blake recorded 15 assists and three digs while Josie Johnson added 10 assists and two digs. Sarah Schrader recorded 12 digs to lead MKE.
 
The Panthers will next head to California for the USC Trojan Challenge beginning on Friday, September 16.
 
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