MILWAUKEE – On Thursday, head coach Susie Johnson and the Milwaukee volleyball coaching staff announced the addition of four signees who will be joining the Panthers in 2026.
 
The class features Olivia Doerre of River Falls, Wis., Emma Duffy of Woodland, Mich., Kayla Landerud of McFarland, Wis., and Hope Wagner of Batavia, Ill.
 
"We're excited – we have some big time competitors and a really well-rounded group," commented Johnson. "They're very talented, come from diverse backgrounds across three different states, and we can't wait to add them to our team."
 

Olivia Doerre

"Olivia has a competitive edge that's unique," said Johnson. "As a libero, it's really important to be competitive and outgoing, and we're excited about those traits as we add her to our program."
 
A state qualifier in volleyball and a multiple-time regional champion, Doerre has been a key contributor for River Falls High School. She owns the program record for career digs and has helped the team surpass 100 wins during her varsity career. She's earned several All-Conference honors in addition to All-State recognition in addition to being a team captain.
 
A two-sport athlete, Doerre also excelled on the soccer field, helping River Falls, to multiple state championship appearances. She plays her club volleyball for Kokoro Volleyball out of the Twin Cities.
 
Planning on attend Milwaukee to study business – marketing, Doerre holds a cumulative GPA above 3.9 in high school.

Emma Duffy

"Emma has innate leadership skills as a setter," added Johnson. "She is a hard worker and a true competitor, and we believe she's going to just be a great fit for our offense.
 
Duffy has been a standout at Lakewood High School, where she has helped multiple teams to CAAC League Championships in both volleyball and tennis. On the volleyball court, she's been a multiple-time All-Conference and All-County selection, surpassing 500 assists in each of her last three seasons while helping her team to over 100 wins.
 
At the club level, Duffy played for Far Out Volleyball based in Grand Rapids.
 
A strong student, Duffy has earned Academic All-State and Academic All-Conference honors and has also been a Lakewood Scholar-Athlete and a member of the school's Circle of Excellence. She plans to major in Psychology at Milwaukee.
 

Kayla Landerud

"Kayla is a multi-sport athlete who has competed at the state championships in track," Johnson said. "She brings great power, strength, and speed at the middle positions, and we're looking forward to having her join the team."


A standout at McFarland High School, Landerud was a part of the 2023 WIAA Division II State Runner-Up team for the Spartans. She finished her prep career at McFarland as the program's all-time leader in kills, recording over 250 each of the past three seasons and surpassing 1,000 total
 
A multiple All-State and All-Conference honoree, Landerud was also named her team's Offensive Player of the Year and served as a team captain. At the club level, she played for the Madtown Juniors before joining Madison Sting United.
 
A member of the National Honor Society, Landerud maintains a 3.8 GPA and is enrolled in several AP classes. She plans to major in nursing with a minor in kinesiology at Milwaukee.
 

Hope Wagner

"Hope has size and as an outside hitter, and she's also a passer, so we're excited about the six-rotation potential," noted Johnson. "She plays for a high-level club and a strong high school program, we're eager to add her athleticism to the team."
 
Wagner comes to Milwaukee from Aurora Christian High School in the Chicago suburbs, where she has been an All-Conference selection throughout her career and served as a team captain as a senior. She helped her team to three tournament championship teams in 2025, at the Chicago Christian, Wheaton Academy, and Schaumburg Christian Tournaments.
 
She played her club volleyball for Fusion before joining Chi-City.
 
In addition to her on-court accomplishments, Wagner earned Academic All-Conference honors and plans to major in physical therapy at Milwaukee.
 
Doerre and Duffy are reclassifying and will be joining the Panthers during the spring 2026 semester, while Landerud and Wagner will join the team in advance of the fall 2026 season.