YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State posted a .313 hitting percentage and held Milwaukee to just .095, as the host Penguins defeated the Panther volleyball team in straight sets on Friday afternoon.
 
Led by Gabriela Machin's 13 kills, Youngstown State ended the match with 45 kills against 10 errors. In comparison, the Panthers had 32 kills and 21 errors, including a match-low 12 errors in the second set.
 
Natalie Schmitz led Milwaukee with nine kills, while Bella Lipski added seven. Ella Schuetz contributed with six kills and a team-best two aces. Josie Johnson tallied 15 assists, and fellow setter Milica Tomic chipped in eight.
 
Defensively, Josie Noble led the Panthers with five blocks and Annie Eschenbach added four. Julia Kellner contributed with two blocks in the third set. Kara Erdmann paced Milwaukee with 14 digs, followed by Schuetz with 10 and Johnson with nine.
 
"Youngstown State was really efficient today," said head coach Susie Johnson. "They made it really difficult for us to get into a rhythm at all. We were really hoping to build off the momentum of last Saturday's win at Wright State."
 
YSU controlled much of the play in the opening two sets, using a 6-0 run to take a 21-12 lead in the first before closing it out at 25-16. The Penguins dropped the first two points in the second set before a dominant 19-4 to take command and win, 25-12.
 
The third set proved to be a back-and-forth battle, as Youngstown State built several small leads before Milwaukee fought back to within one 17-16. A 6-1 run put the Penguins on the verge of victory, but a 7-1 response by the Panthers tied the score at 24. Schmitz evened the set again at 25, but YSU scored the final two points to complete the sweep.
 
"Ultimately we need to reset and improve in order to get back in the win column on Saturday," Johnson added.
 
Milwaukee and Youngstown State will meet again on Saturday morning at the Beeghly Center, with first serve set for 10:00 a.m. (CT).