DEKALB, Ill. – Behind a strong defensive effort that included 91 digs and 12 blocks, the Milwaukee volleyball team recorded its first win of the season in four sets over the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
 
The Panthers took the opening set 25-23 before Western Illinois bounced back to even the score with a 25-22 set two victory. Milwaukee won the next two sets 28-26 and 25-23 to earn the victory.
 
Kara Erdmann recorded a career-best 31 digs to help lead the way while Madi Malone was second on the team with 15 digs and recorded her first double-double of the season with 18 kills to lead the offense.
 
"That was a very close match throughout," commented head coach Susie Johnson. "We were great defensively … but overall, the effort was well-balanced, and we competed in such a great way … I'm really proud of that team effort."
 
With 12 blocks as a team, the Panthers were led by Lakyn Graves with six blocks on the night including two of the solo variety. Alexis Lewis and Rachel Scott each had four blocks, while Bri Geurts added a pair.
 
The Western Illinois defense made it challenging on the Panther offense, as Milwaukee was only able to hit .171 on the evening. The Leathernecks ended the match with 113 digs on 228 attempts by the Panthers.
 
In addition to Malone's 18 kills, Natalie Schmitz added 12 kills, while Graves added nine and Geurts chipped in with eight, while finishing the match hitting .350.
 
Josie Johnson earned 24 helpers while fellow setter Milica Tomic connected on 14 assists. Malone and Graves led the Panthers with three aces apiece, including the match winner by Graves to close out the night.
 
After evenly splitting the first two sets, the Panthers took short leads in the third, but the Leathernecks scurried right back with their own brief offensive outbursts to tie the set late at 22. Tied at 26, Malone got the Panthers within their fourth set point before a Western Illinois error ultimately gave Milwaukee the third-set win, 28-26.
 
The fourth set was more of the same as the Panthers took short leads answered thereafter by Western Illinois. With the Leathernecks ahead 22-20 late in the stanza, Graves connected on a kill, followed by a WIU error, and a Schmitz kill to put Milwaukee ahead. After a kill by Western Illinois tied the score once more, a bad set by the Leathernecks was followed by the game-winning service ace from Graves to seal the Panther victory.
 
Keyana Cruse put together an impressive showing for Western Illinois with 29 kills, many of which were assisted by Maggie Craker, who ended the night with 45 assists. Cruse also led WIU with 31 digs, while libero Karli Wenzel recorded 21.
 
Milwaukee looks to sweep the weekend in Illinois on Sunday, when the Panthers take on host Northern Illinois at 3:00 p.m. at the Convocation Center. Sunday's match is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.