MILWAUKEE – Natalie Schmitz had a team-best eight kills, including the 1,000th of her career, but it was not enough as the Milwaukee volleyball team fell in three sets to the Iowa State Cyclones in their home opener.
 
Schmitz hit .318 on the evening while Sam Vanda connected on a team-high .357 and had seven kills. Ella Schuetz tallied six kills and ended the night hitting .333.
 
Milwaukee's defensive unit was unable to contain the high-octane Iowa State offense, as the Cyclones had 49 kills over three sets and hit .457 on the night. Morgan Brandt dished out 44 assists for the Cyclones, while Amiree Hendricks-Walker and Alea Goolsby each led the way with 12 kills each.
 
After dropping the first two sets 25-18 and 25-14, the Panthers kept it close throughout an evenly matched third set, ultimately falling 25-20. Milwaukee was within one at 21-20 late in the frame before Iowa State closed out the match with four unanswered points.
 
"We showed a ton of fight late as the match went on," commented head coach Susie Johnson. "Iowa State put together a great match and made it difficult for us to get any momentum going throughout the night."
 
Iowa State registered eight service aces, including three from Brandt, while libero Rachel Van Gorp picking up 10 kills on defense.
 
The Panthers led at the net with five blocks to Iowa State's two. Josie Noble had a hand in all five blocks, while Schuetz had three assisted blocks and Vanda contributed with two.
 
"We are putting a lot of pieces together and just need to do it on a more consistent basis," Johnson added.
 
Josie Johnson had 10 assists and Milica Tomic picked up nine. Johnson and Kara Erdmann each had four digs. Vanda and Kati Goba picked up one service ace each for Milwaukee.
 
The Panthers have a quick turnaround to day two of the 2025 Panther Invitational. Milwaukee will host Central Michigan at 4:00 p.m. at the Klotsche Center in game two of a doubleheader, Iowa State and South Alabama will meet in the opener at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Earlier in the day at the Klotsche Center, Iowa State knocked off Central Michigan in straight sets, while South Alabama needed four sets to pick up a win over the Chippewas.