Milwaukee’s volleyball team faced a challenging non-conference match against the UIC Flames, resulting in a four-set loss at the McGrath-Phillips Arena. Despite winning the first set 25-21, Milwaukee struggled to maintain momentum, with UIC claiming the subsequent sets 25-22, 25-16, and 25-15.
The Panthers’ offense encountered difficulties throughout the match, registering 34 attacking errors and achieving a .076 hitting percentage. “UIC had a response for our offense with a really strong blocking effort, and that just led to too many hitting errors for us today,” commented head coach Susie Johnson.
Milwaukee managed to lead in kills at 47-44, with Madi Malone securing 14 kills and Bri Geurts matching her season-best of 11 kills. Malone also achieved a double-double with 12 digs and shared the team lead in blocks with Rachel Scott. Kara Erdmann topped the team’s dig count with 25.
In contrast, UIC excelled defensively, amassing 17 blocks compared to Milwaukee’s seven. Za’Niya Boyles contributed ten kills for UIC, while Zahria Woodard recorded nine blocks. Francesca Venturini provided substantial support with 20 assists and ten digs.
After taking an early lead in the first set, Milwaukee faced setbacks in maintaining their performance across later sets. The Panthers attempted comebacks but ultimately fell short as UIC closed out each set strongly.
As Milwaukee prepares for Horizon League play, they aim to refine their strategies starting with an away game against Oakland on Friday evening at the Athletics Center O’Rena.
