MILWAUKEE – Behind a season-best 60 kills including a match-high 18 from Madi Malone, the Milwaukee volleyball team upended the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday afternoon in four sets at the Klotsche Center.
 
The Panthers took the opening two sets by 25-21 and 26-24 scores before the Hawkeyes rallied and took set three, 25-23. Milwaukee trailed 24-23 in the fourth set and were able to erase the deficit by scoring the next three to win the match, 26-24, capped off by the 15th kill of the match by Natalie Schmitz.
 
"Offensively the attackers were attacking without fear and were competitive," said head coach Susie Johnson postgame. "Our setters were moving the ball around really well allowing them [the attackers] to have space to swing."
 
Milwaukee made it difficult on Iowa, who was only able to hit just .194 combined on the match. The Hawkeyes hit just .150 in the three sets the Panthers had won with 24 errors on 160 swings over the first, second, and fourth sets.
 
"The block made a huge adjustment for us today and returned to form and that made a big difference for us to get the win today," Johnson added.
 
The defense was also effective in creating offensive chances as Milwaukee had 80 digs including a team-best 29 from Kara Erdmann. The Panthers also totaled 13 blocks, including a career-best eight from Rachel Scott and six from Lakyn Graves. Bella Lipski made her first start of the season and tallied four blocks.
 
"The front row and the back row working in sync is really the difference … seeing that today makes such a big difference allowing our defense to play with a great effort," concluded Johnson.
 
Milwaukee also had eight service aces compared to Iowa's four, including two each from Erdmann and Josie Johnson. Milica Tomic had a team-best 23 assists, while Johnson added 22 of her own.
 
In the opening stanza, Milwaukee built up an early 7-3 lead including kills by Bri Geurts, Malone, and Lipski. The Panthers eventually led by as many as five on several occasions including 20-15 following an ace by Erdmann, but Iowa got the next three to pull back within two. The final stretch saw Milwaukee cap off the four-point win on a block by Geurts and Lipski.
 
In the second, the Panthers needed extra serves to get past the stingy Iowa squad after trailing 22-17 late in the set. A kill by Malone sparked a seven-point run by Milwaukee. During the run the Panthers had four blocks including three assisted and one solo block by Graves to put the Panthers up 24-22.
 
Iowa took the next two points on a pair of kills, but the Panthers delivered the 1-2 knockout on kills by Schmitz and Graves.
 
The Hawkeyes started out with a 7-1 lead in the third, but Milwaukee showed tremendous grit to take a 12-11 lead. Iowa tied the set back up at 21 and scored the next two to open a 23-21 lead before doing just enough to earn the set win, 25-23.
 
The visitors again opened an early advantage, but this time the Panthers were able to complete the comeback. Iowa led 11-5 before a five-point run by MKE, that included three blocks, got the Panthers within one. This time it was Scott to contribute to all three blocks with one of the solo variety while teaming with Graves for a pair.
 
The set remained close into the 20s with Iowa clinging onto a 24-23 lead. Schmitz leveled the score off a pass from Tomic, followed by a Graves kill to give Milwaukee match point. Johnson found Schmitz for the final strike as the Panthers won the fourth, 26-24.
 
Malone picked up the double-double for the Panthers with 13 digs to go along with her 18 kills. Tomic also added the first double-double of her career with 11 digs to go along with her assist total. Kati Goba notched 11 digs to contribute to the Panther defensive effort. Geurts tallied five kills and a pair of blocks.
 
Iowa was led by four players that reached double digits in kills, led by Gabby Deery with 16 and Malu Garcia with 15. Jenna Meitzler had 52 assists and had three blocks. Gracie Gibson led the Hawkeyes with four blocks, and libero Joy Galles had a team-best 22 digs.
 
Milwaukee will return to action on Thursday evening in Chicago to clash with host DePaul as part of the Chicago Cup at McGrath-Phillips Arena. The contest will begin at 7:00 p.m.