Milwaukee City Wire

South Alabama defeated Milwaukee in four sets during the final match of the 2025 Panther Invitational, held Sunday at the Klotsche Center. The visiting Jaguars capitalized on Milwaukee's 31 attacking errors and posted 16 blocks, which proved to be a deciding factor. South Alabama also delivered nine service aces compared to just one by Milwaukee.

Alexa Strandberg led South Alabama with 11 blocks, five kills, and two aces. Cambria Gaier contributed 17 kills and three aces, while Sarah Gooch added 13 kills for the Jaguars.

Despite the loss, Milwaukee had more kills overall at 53-48. Natalie Schmitz recorded 17 kills and Bella Lipski finished with 11. Sam Vanda added eight kills; Annie Eschenbach had six; Hailey Hutchings chipped in four.

The Panthers tallied 50 assists on their 53 kills, with Josie Johnson leading with 24 assists and Milica Tomic adding another 17.

Defensively, Milwaukee marked a season-best with 11 team blocks. Lipski collected three solo and three assisted blocks; Vanda contributed three assisted blocks as well. Kara Erdmann led all players with 23 digs and scored her fifth career kill when a dig landed on the opposite side of the net.

"We're continuing to make progress in many facets of the game with our young group," said head coach Susie Johnson. "The experiences we have are critical to our growth, both individually and as a team."

Milwaukee won the opening set 25-21 after scoring three unanswered points late in the frame. In the second set, South Alabama built an early lead and held off a Panthers rally for a 25-20 win to even the match at one set apiece.

The third set was closely contested into its final points before South Alabama secured it at 25-23. The fourth followed similarly: Milwaukee narrowed South Alabama's lead late but could not overcome it as a Jaguar kill and block closed out the match.

Looking ahead, Milwaukee will travel to Madison for a matchup against Wisconsin on Tuesday evening at UW Field House.