YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Milwaukee volleyball team dropped a three-set match in Horizon League play on Saturday morning, falling to Youngstown State at the Beeghly Center, 25-17, 28-26, and 25-17
 
The host Penguins had another strong offensive performance, committing just seven errors and hitting .365. Milwaukee, meanwhile, tallied 20 attacking miscues and hit.196.
 
Ella Schuetz led the Panthers with 11 kills and a season-best four service aces. Milica Tomic notched a double-double with 14 assists and 11 digs. Bella Lipski and Josie Noble each recorded eight kills, with Lipski leading the team with a .357 hitting percentage.
 
Josie Johnson also added 14 assists, while Kara Erdmann added three assists, one service ace, and nine digs. Kati Goba tallied seven digs and a kill, while Lipski, Noble, and Julia Kellner each registered two blocks.
 
"The theme of our season, unfortunately, has been our need to get more kills," commented head coach Susie Johnson.
 
"We continue to push to get more kills … and our hitters have all the tools they need to do this, and we all have their back to go for it," Johnson added. "This will allow space for us to develop our in-game match strategy."
 
Youngstown State was led by Abbie Householder's 14 and Layne Graffice's 10, as the pair combined for 24 of the team's 42 kills. Gabriela Machin added nine kills, while Kameron Blizniak dished out 39 assists. Householder also served four aces.
 
Defensively, Householder led the Penguins with 13 digs, followed by Graffice with 10. Taya Nordmann anchored the front line with a match-high six blocks.
 
Kills were nearly even, with Youngstown State totaling 42 to Milwaukee's 41. However, the Panthers' errors, both forced and unforced, proved costly. The Penguins did not commit an error in the opening set, earning a 25-17 win.
 
Milwaukee battled in the second set, pulling even 11 times, including ties at 24, 25, and 26, before Youngstown State closed with a kill and a block to take the frame, 28-26.
 
The third set featured eight more ties and three lead changes, but the Penguins used a late 6-2 run to complete the sweep, 25-17.
 
Milwaukee has a quick turnaround, returning to action Tuesday evening at Green Bay. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Kress Center.