WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Milwaukee volleyball team responded from a tough five-set setback to Utah, topping Bradley 3-1 on Friday afternoon.
 
The Panthers (1-4) held the Braves to a .170 attack percentage, totaling 54 digs and 10 blocks in West Lafayette.

"I thought we played great," head coach Susie Johnson said. "We had to respond very quickly. I thought our team fought and matured a lot just in one day. That win was tough. We had a lot of great offense, defense, and our block was excellent. Overall, it was a great day."
 
Offense was on point for Milwaukee, hitting at least .300 in three of the four frames.
 
Neither team created separation in the first, trading blows back and forth, but the Panthers took the set 25-23 following a pair of costly Bradley errors.
 
The Braves responded to tie the match with a second-set win, but the Panthers once again took control. Madi Malone put away three straight kills and Bri Geurts added another as MKE built its advantage to 17-10 in the third. It was smooth sailing from there as the Panthers pulled in front 2-1 with a 25-16 victory.
 
In the fourth, Bradley (1-4) got off to a hot start, going up 9-3, but Milwaukee would not let it get away. The Panthers used their own 9-3 run to tie it at 12 and the two teams stayed even to 18-18.
 
From there, Milwaukee got help from all over the floor as four different players recorded a kill, with Malone and Natalie Schmitz putting the match away for good 25-21.
 
Malone recorded a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs while Miller (12) also reached double digit kills.
 
Kaley Blake had 17 assists and seven digs while Josie Johnson finished with 18 assists and three digs.
 
In the opening match of the day, the Panthers battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set but fell 3-2 to Utah (3-1).

"We played an incredible match to the wire," Johnson said. "Such great play, really tough team. We were so good, but I felt like we learned a ton."
 
Despite dropping the second set 25-21, the Panthers rattled off seven straight points to steal some momentum and used that to fuel the rest of the way.
 
The offense caught fire in the fourth, hitting .375 with 17 kills led by Malone's six kills for a 26-24 fourth-set win.
 
In the fifth, Schmitz put the Panthers ahead early with three kills but after Utah responded to tie it 9-9, the two teams traded blows back and forth the rest of the way.
 
MKE had five match points, but each time, the Utes found an answer and at 17-17, Utah took advantage of two Panthers' errors to win the match.
 
Schmitz led the Panthers with a career-high 15 kills. Geurts finished with 11 kills, six digs, and a career-high seven blocks. Miller (14 kills) and Malone (13) also reached double figure kills.
 
Both Blake and Johnson recorded double-doubles, combining for 47 assists and 29 digs. Sarah Schrader added a career-high 21 digs.
 
The Panthers will wrap up the Purdue Reamer Club Xtra Special with host No. 11 Purdue at 2:00 pm CT.
 
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