WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Milwaukee volleyball team pushed No. 11 Purdue to the brink but fell in four on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Panthers won the third set and nearly forced a fifth set before the Boilermakers edged MKE in the fourth 25-23.
 
"We played an incredible match. Lots of adversity and I'm really proud of this team," head coach Susie Johnson commented. "I am impressed with our team's fight and adjustments in-game. We are growing and getting better."
 
Ari Miller was named to the All-Tournament team after totaling 39 kills and 15 blocks in three matches.
 
The Panthers (1-5) were efficient early on, hitting .310 in the first set, but Purdue got anything they wanted, hitting .485 and earning a 25-15 win.
 
The hole quickly became 2-0 for MKE when the Boilermakers (6-0) won the second 25-17, but the Panthers were not about to go down without a fight.
 
In the third, Madi Malone helped give the Panthers space with four kills early on for a 16-14 lead. A block from Miller and Czhen Beneby followed by a Purdue error put MKE up four.
 
Kaley Blake followed with an ace and Natalie Schmitz put away a kill to help the Panthers win 25-18.
 
Miller and Schmitz combined for nine kills in the fourth set as Milwaukee was step-for-step with Purdue. Miller found another spot to pull the Panthers within one at 24-23, but Purdue landed a kill to end it.
 
Schmitz led MKE with 14 kills, hitting .367 while Miller (13) and Malone (11) also reached double digits.
 
Josie Johnson recorded 22 assists and four digs while Blake added 19 assists and nine digs.
 
Sarah Schrader led the back line with 16 digs.
 
The Panthers will next host their first home match of the year, taking on LSU at the Klotsche Center on September 9 at 5:00 pm.
 
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