MILWAUKEE – Four Panthers reached double figures in kills as the Milwaukee volleyball team earned a four-set win over the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on Friday evening at the Klotsche Center.
 
Natalie Schmitz led the way with 12 kills, while Annie Eschenbach and Josie Noble each added 11. Ella Schuetz had the match-clinching point for her 10th kill of the night. Overall, the Panthers had 59 kills to Purdue Fort Wayne's 49 and finished the match with a .244 hitting percentage.
 
Both Panther setters recorded double-double, as Josie Johnson posted 26 assists and 10 digs, and Milica Tomic added 19 assists, 14 digs, and two of Milwaukee's six service aces. Kara Erdmann turned in her second-straight 30-dig performance, collecting a season-high 36 on the night.
 
Bella Lipski led the blocking effort with four, with Noble adding two, and Eschenbach, Schuetz, and Julia Kellner each contributed one. Kellner also notched nine kills and hit a team-best .350.
 
"For most of the match, we had really good team rhythm," said head coach Susie Johnson. "Offensively, we played well, but I thought we were exceptional defensively with Kara getting 36 digs, and out setters having strong defensive matches as well."
 
Milwaukee opened the night with a 25-22 win in the first set, then rolled to a 25-13 victory in the second set behind 16 kills and a .382 hitting percentage. Purdue Fort Wayne answered with a 25-20 win in the third before the Panthers closed out the match 25-21 in the fourth.
 
The Mastodons started fast in the opening frame, building an early lead, but Milwaukee rallied to go ahead 11-10 and held on for the three-point win. The Panthers raced out to a 6-1 advantage in the second and never looked back to take a 2-0 match lead. Purdue Fort Wayne responded in the third, holding off multiple Milwaukee rallied to extend the contest.
 
In the fourth, Milwaukee used an 8-1 run midway through the set to pull ahead. The Mastodons made a late push to cut the deficit to three before Schuetz sealed the match with her final kill.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne was led by Mya Plemons and Riley Rosneck with 12 kills apiece. Haiden Means registering a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs, while Becky Barrett totaled 22 digs. Jena Medearis posted seven blocks as the Mastodons finished with a season-high 13.
 
The Panthers and Mastodons will meet again Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.