MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee volleyball team hit a season-best .376 as the Panthers worked a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Youngstown State on Friday night.
 
The Penguins (6-7, 0-2 Horizon League) stole a 25-20 victory in the first set, but the Panthers quickly responded and took three straight sets in the win.
 
"Youngstown came to compete today. We had to get better as the match went on," head coach Susie Johnson said. "We had to up our game defensively and offensively, I thought we did really well. The team got better as the match went on. I was really proud of the team."
 
The Panthers (3-10, 2-0 Horizon League) were solid in the first frame, hitting .360, but Youngstown State was step-for-step and hit .480 to take the set.
 
Milwaukee got out of the gate hot in set two and maintained that lead throughout to even the match 1-1 with a 25-21 victory.
 
Everyone chipped in for the Panthers in the third set as MKE hit .536 with just one error. Natalie Schmitz and Madi Malone had four kills apiece while Ari Miller chipped in three and Tatum Catalano had two. Up 12-6, Milwaukee rattled off an 11-2 run and finished 25-10 to earn the advantage in the match.
 
Defense took over the in the fourth set as the Panthers did not let YSU get anything down. Milwaukee racked up six blocks and 12 digs to hold YSU to 11 kills and eight errors in 35 swings.
 
The Penguins kept it close down just two at 19-17, but five straight Milwaukee points put the game out of reach and the Panthers earned their second straight Horizon League victory.
 
Miller led all attackers with 16 blocks, hitting .367. The junior added six total blocks and three aces in the win.
 
Schmitz also reached double figures with 12 kills. Czhen Beneby came on strong, putting away eight kills in 10 swings and adding three total blocks.
 
Josie Johnson and Kaley Blake combined for 41 assists and 13 digs. Malone led the defense with 10 digs in addition to six kills.
 
Milwaukee will host Robert Morris tomorrow at 4:00 pm for Girls Scout Day at the Klotsche Center.
 
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