Women's Volleyball | October 06, 2016

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan starts a four-game homestand hosting Toledo on Friday at 7 p.m. and Ball State on Saturday at 3 p.m. Next week WMU welcomes Akron on Friday and Buffalo on Saturday, both 7 p.m. starts.

LAST WEEK
The Broncos went on the road and fell to 3-1 (24-26, 25-21, 19-25, 23-25) to Eastern Michigan and 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 11-25, 25-9, 13-15) to Central Michigan.

Against the Eagles, WMU was held to a .163 hitting percentage. Nicole Kinser and Sydney LeMay each recorded double-digit kills with 15 and 10. Kinser also led the way with six blocks on the night. Kathleen Reilly recorded 18 digs, while Alysia Baznik finished with 15. WMU bounced back after dropping the first set to win the second set 25-21 but was unable to get over the hump in the final two.

Against the Chippewas, WMU got out to a good start after winning the first set 25-18. CMU won the next two before the Broncos turned in a dominant performance in the fourth set, winning 25-9. Western Michigan had the lead in the fifth and final set, ahead 13-11 near the end. Central Michigan then scored the final four points to seal the match. 

WATCH LIVE
Western Michigan's game against Toledo will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com. With the exception of the Ball State game on Saturday, the remainder of WMU's home games will be avaialble on ESPN3.com or the WatchESPN App.

TOLEDO AT A GLANCE // 10-6, 3-1
The Rockets come into Friday's match winners of four of their last five, including the last three. After dropping the conference opener, 3-2, against Eastern Michigan, they have rattled off wins against Central Michigan, Ball State and Akron. Toledo is 7-4 away from home this season and 2-0 on the road in MAC play. UT sits tied with the Cardinals for second in the MAC West. 

A key to Toledo's success this season has been its defense. The Rockets are third in the MAC in opponent hitting percentage at .186 and are second in blocks at 2.29 per set. Freshman Zoe Birnbrich ranks fifth in conference in blocks per set at 1.07. Rachel Vidourek (0.79), Annie Beasley (0.77) and Carley Townsend (0.73) all average at least 0.7 blocks per set. 

Offensively, Toledo is led by junior Saige Thomas. Thomas is one of five Rockets that average at least 2.0 kills per set, leading the team with 3.12. Gracey Tuifua is second on the team with 2.64, while Vidourek ranks third at 2.21. Townsend is the team's primary setter, averaging 10.88 assists per set. 

Maurissa Leonard leads the team in digs at 4.83 per set, while Maggie Johnston is second at 1.98.

BALL STATE AT A GLANCE // 7-11, 3-1 MAC
Ball State had a rough start to the season, losing its first nine matches. Since then the Cardinals have gone 7-2 and are off to a solid start in MAC play at 3-1. BSU opened conference play sweeping Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan in a pair of 3-2 wins. Last weekend Ball State fell at home to Toledo and then lost 3-0 at Buffalo. The Cardinals are 3-7 away from home this season and 0-1 on the road in the MAC. Prior to Saturday's date with the Broncos, BSU plays MAC West leaders Northern Illinois on Friday night. 

Ball State is one of only two teams in the MAC to boast two attackers that average at least 3.0 kills per set, joining Bowling Green. BSU's two-pronged attack is made up of sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn Goodsel and junior outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora. Both average 3.06 kills per set, with Mangapora holding the slight edge of 220 total kills thanks to five more sets played. Freshman Amber Seaman has been the team's primary setter, averaging 9.69 per set. 

Sophomore middle hitter Avery Devoe is the team's top blocker, averaging 0.85 per set. The Cardinals also have four players averaging at least 2.0 digs per set, led by freshman defensive specialist Kate Avila at 4.12. Seaman is second on the team at 2.59, while Hanna Smith has averaged 2.52 digs per set so far this season. 

CAREER NIGHT FOR KINSER
Nicole Kinser had a new career-best performance in the team's loss to Eastern Michigan, recording 15 kills. Against Central Michigan she notched another 12 kills for back-to-back matches with double-digit kills for the first time this season. Kinser had tallied nine kills twice this season prior to last Friday's breakthrough performance. The Hugoton, Kan., native was also very efficient in her attacking over the weekend. Against the Eagles she finished with a .424 attacking percentage and bumped it up to .455 against the Chippewas. 

NEAR THE TOP
Sydney LeMay and Mary Murphy are still maintaining their positions amongst the MAC's best this season. LeMay ranks third in kills per set at 3.35 and Murphy ranks third in assists per set at 10.45.

As a team WMU ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.215) and assists per set (11.97).