UW-Milwaukee volleyball completed a rare reverse sweep on Friday night against previously-undefeated Wright State at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers played a total of five sets to take over with an impressive comeback win.
They then dropped their Saturday contest with the Raiders by two points in the fifth set. The Raiders lead the Horizon League by one game at 8-1 compared to Milwaukee’s 7-2.
The Panthers fell short in the first two sets 25-20 and 25-22.
“We just knew we had to come out hard and come out fighting and there was no holding back,” said outside hitter Natalie Schmitz. “Wright State is a really good team, we had to come out fighting no matter what.”
Schmitz had 12 kills in Friday night’s game. Alongside Schmitz, outside hitter Madi Malone with an outstanding 18 kills and 1 block after the first match, and was able to secure a set win after a spectacular kill to leave the Panthers victorious in the third set, 25-22.
Middle blocker Alexis Lewis with 3 blocks and 8 kills, and a combination of 8 blocks and 15 kills between middle blocker Lakyn Graves and middle/right side Czhen Beneby.
“Studying really helps, just knowing what the hitters are going to do,” said Schmitz. “Being prepared in that sense, just resting and keeping our bodies alive, knowing we have to fight even if it’s a five set match.”
Following the third set win, there were a few net violations that ended in Wright State’s favor. Regardless, the Panthers responded with two more secured wins in final fifth set. The fourth set was 25-17 and the fifth set was 17-15.
Saturday’s match up which consisted of back and forth scoring, but the Panthers fell short.
With outstanding effort from the Panthers, they were able to secure a first set win 25-13. Throughout the sets there were three challenges called – two out of three ended in favor of the Panthers.
Malone recorded a block and 20 kills, Schmitz had four blocks and 13 kills and a combination of eight blocks and 19 kills from middle blocker Alexis Lewis and right side Rachel Scott.
Following the second set the Panthers were leading 19-14 but were unsuccessful and Wright State won the set 25-23. Wright State was also able to secure the third set with the advantage of errors the Panthers made during that set. The Panthers were able to refocus and reset and win the fourth set 25-15.
Wright State then secured the final fifth set 15-13 after a back to back point scoring.
“I think honestly we played really well,” said Schmitz. “Wright State just had a really good game, but next time, keep fighting and keep going, it was a really hard five set match.”