Foti posts double-double in 3-1 win at Milwaukee

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – Ella Foti and Aubrey Hamilton had 15 and 14 kills, respectively, as the Marquette University women's volleyball team downed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 25-14, 25-18, 17-25, 25-17, on Thursday night at the Klotsche Center.

"I was really impressed with our early execution but in sets three and four I could really see fatigue setting in," Marquette head coach Ryan Theis said. We weren't generating big swings and we weren't as good defensively. Milwaukee at this gym has it going, in-system, and they've got options all over the place with their 6-2. We're happy about a win – we needed one. And we'll move on to the next one."

Foti hit .448 to lead the Golden Eagles (3-6), who hit a combined .252, including a team-best .353 in the fourth set. The redshirt sophomore also added 10 digs four her third double-double of the year.

MU libero Sarah Kushner posted a career-high 22 digs in the victory as one of four players in double figures in the category.

"It's really about trying to maintain consistent play and I think Sarah Kushner is doing a good job learning the libero position and evolving," Theis said.."You can see her progress over the last week. I think Nastya (Svetnik) and some really good moments and came in the fourth with a number of blocks and a couple of kills."

The Panthers (6-6) were led by 11 kills from Madi Malone.

NOTABLE:

Marquette has won 13-straight meetings in the series, dating back to a five-set win at the Al McGuire Center during the 2008 campaign.
MU swept MKE in last season's matchup at the Al on Sept. 11, 2022. The Golden Eagles hit .418 at that meeting and had 10 aces in just three sets, with Ella Foti leading the way with a career-best four.
MU head coach RyanTheis was a men's club volleyball player at Milwaukee and a student assistant on the women's volleyball team. Current MKE head coach Susie Johnson was a member of the coaching staff at the time.
Susie Johnson is in her 27th season at Milwaukee and 16th as head coach. Johnson is the aunt of MU director of volleyball operations, Ellie Adams.
Milwaukee swept DePaul on Tuesday evening at the Klotsche Center and also owns a four-set home win over DePaul.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles return to the Al McGuire Center this weekend to host Air Force on Saturday afternoon and No. 7 Oregon on Sunday. Both matches are slated for 1 p.m. Central time and Sunday's contest airs on FS1.

Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).