Milwaukee Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Milwaukee volleyball was swept by host Northern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, with the Norse winning the match, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21.
 
The Norse held the statistical advantage in most categories including kills (45-38), aces (8-4), and blocks (10-7). Northern Kentucky hit .235 on the match, while the Panthers finished at .160.
 
Ava Hoying led NKU with 10 kills, a pair of aces and four blocks. Ivey Stocks added eight kills and five blocks, while Abbigail Pickard recorded 33 assists.
 
Milwaukee was led by Annie Eschenbach with 10 kills, while Milica Tomic had 17 assists and Emma Duffy passed out 15 assists. Josie Noble added nine kills and led the Panthers with five blocks. Ella Schuetz contributed with six kills, three blocks and 12 digs, while Kati Goba led Milwaukee with 10 digs.
 
NKU mounted an early 13-8 lead in the opening set before the Panthers rallied to take a 15-14 advantage following a 7-1 run. Milwaukee kept it close late in the set and tied the score at 23 on a serve by Liv Doerre, but the Norse scored the final two points to close out the set.
 
In the second set, Northern Kentucky built a 22-10 advantage before a kill by Hope Wagner ignited an 8-1 run to get the Panthers within five. However, the deficit proved to be too much to overcome as the Norse finished off the set.
 
Kayla Landerud recorded a kill to tie the third set at 16, but Northern Kentucky did just enough to keep the Panthers from taking a lead and closed out the match.
 
"We must take care of the points we can control and continue to focus on the things that are within our control," Susie Johnson said after the match. "This team works hard and is really together, which is very important, especially as we continue through the season. We have to trust each other, stay disciplined and execute at a higher level when those opportunities come our way," Johnson added. "If we can do that and continue to play with the effort and togetherness we have shown, good things will come."
 
Milwaukee returns home for its longest homestand of 2026, with the first of four-straight home matches beginning on Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. against Green Bay.