MILWAUKEE – Behind another strong all-around effort, the Milwaukee volleyball team knocked off visiting Oakland in straight sets to sweep the weekend series from the Golden Grizzlies at the Klotsche Center.
 
Milwaukee's offense was firing once again, hitting .302 on the afternoon with 39 kills against just 10 errors. The Panthers also recorded a season-best nine service aces, including three each from Josie Noble and Milica Tomic.
 
Defensively Emily Hansen and Bella Lipski each tallied three blocks as the team finished with six overall. Kara Erdmann led the way with 10 digs, while Ella Schuetz added eight.
 
Schuetz paced the Panthers offensively with 11 kills on 26 attempts, while Natalie Schmitz had 10 kills on 23 swings. Schmitz had six of her 10 kills in the second set, while Noble had five in the same frame and finished the match with nine.
 
"It was great to see our team put it all together and play well for the second-straight match," said head coach Susie Johnson. "We were realty balanced once again and found success in all facets of the game."
 
The Panthers took the opening set 25-18, jumping out to an early 11-5 lead and never letting Oakland close the gap. Schuetz had five kills in the first set, including the 20th Milwaukee point, which sparked a 6-1 run to close it out.
 
Despite committing seven attacking errors in the second set, the Panthers still built a 23-18 lead. Oakland responded with six straight points to earn a set point, by Schmitz tied it with a clutch kill. Two Oakland errors then sealed the 26-24 second-set win for Milwaukee.
 
"Oakland really made us work as they pushed back late in that second set, and throughout the match, really," added Johnson. "But we were able to hold off their efforts and responded well to finish strong."
 
Milwaukee showed its dominance in the third set with 10 kills on 17 attempts with just one error. Oakland hit a match-low .000 with seven kills and as many errors, allowing the Panthers to cruise to a 25-14 victory.
 
Milwaukee returns to action on Tuesday evening, hosting in-state Horizon League foe Green Bay at 6:00 p.m. inside the Klotsche Center.