Box Score ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (11-12, 6-5 HL) defeated Milwaukee (10-13, 5-6 HL) 3-0 on Friday, taking the sets 25-22, 25-21, 27-25, for their first win over the Panthers in seven years. Oakland used an 8-0 run in the first set to move from a 5-4 edge to a 13-4 advantage, as they finished with 48 kills, 72 digs and a .233 hitting percentage, while the visitors had 34 kills, 60 digs and hit .116.

Outside hitter Olivia Rust led Oakland with a new career-high 18 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Setter Delaney Stern led the offense finishing with 38 assists, 15 digs, and three blocks. Outside hitter Molly Reck recorded 12 kills, 16 digs and two service aces as libero Kalli Cook collected 16 digs, six assists and two service aces.

Oakland created the decisive early separation in the first set with an eight-point run from 5-4 to 13-4, a stretch that included Reck's service ace, a block by middle blocker Lillian Frias and Stern, and kills from Stern and Frias. Earlier, Oakland answered MKE's opening point with kills from Rust and outside hitter Liv Hosford, plus a Cook service ace, to move in front 4-2. After the Panthers worked back into the set later, Oakland continued to get sideout kills from Hosford and Rust, with Stern repeatedly involved as a setter on key points. MKE trimmed the margin to 23-22 late, but Rust put Oakland at set point and Reck finished the 25-22 set win off a feed from Cook.

Oakland won the second set 25-21, closing it on a Panthers attack error after a block by middle blocker Grace Cooney and Rust. The Golden Grizzlies built an early 7-2 lead as Cooney and Rust opened with kills before Reck put down three straight kills during Kiley Gallagher's service turn. MKE worked back within 16-13, but Rust answered with a kill, Frias added three late kills, and Reck served an ace as Oakland moved ahead 20-15. Cooney was involved in three Oakland blocks in the second half of the set, including the closing point, while Rust finished with six kills in the set.

The Black and Gold came back late in the third set, turning a 22-20 deficit into a 23-22 lead on a Rust kill, a Reck kill and a Frias kill. Earlier, the set stayed tight through the opening points as Reck scored twice from Stern assists and Cooney and Rust added kills, but the Panthers moved ahead 13-9 before Oakland cut back into the margin behind a Cook service ace and another Rust finish. Oakland continued to answer MKE points down the stretch, with Hosford, Reck and Rust each producing kills as the set reached 22-22. After the Panthers tied the set at 25-25, Oakland earned the final two points on Panther attacking errors, closing out the set 27-25.

The Golden Grizzlies and the Panthers square up again on the Blacktop to wrap up the series Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at the OU Credit Union O'rena. Neal Ruhl will have the call on ESPN+.


How to Follow Oakland Volleyball: For complete information on Oakland Volleyball, follow the team on X at @OaklandWVB and head coach Krista Rice at @KKg1007. The team is also on Instagram.