Women's Volleyball | September 16, 2016
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team heads on the road for the final time in the non-conference season, taking on Bradley at 11 a.m. on Saturday and then Indiana State at 4 p.m. that evening at ISU's tournament.
The Broncos (3-8) are looking to end the non-conference season on a high note but face two tough Missouri Valley Conference teams before beginning Mid-American Conference play next Thursday at Northern Illinois. Both games on Saturday can be seen live on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN App.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
BRADLEY // 5-5
The Braves have won three of their last five matches, with two of them being 3-0 sweeps at St. Dakota State and over Cornell at UMKC's Kangaroo Klassic.
Sophomore outside hitter Erica Haslag averages 3.68 kills per set for an attack that has averaged 12.06 per set through the first 10 matches. She ranks 17th in the nation in attacks per set at 11.76. Senior middle blocker Kesley Cave is the only other player to average more than 2.0 at 2.71. Cave is also the top blocker on the team, averaging 0.97 per set.
Sophomore libero Abby Ihrke averages a team-best 3.82 digs per set, while Haslag is second on the team at 2.68. Freshman Erin Olson and junior Afton Sobasky have split time as Bradley's primary setters. Olson has played three more sets than Sobasky but Sobasky has the edge on assists per sets at 5.54 to Olson's 5.34.
INDIANA STATE // 5-5
The Sycamores are 2-3 in their last five matches with wins over Marshall and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Senior right-side hitter Kynedi Nalls averages 3.10 kills per set to lead the attack, while Bree Spangler sits behind her at 2.51 and Melody Burdette boasts 2.33. As a team the Sycamores have a hitting percentage of .230 that ranks 93rd amongst the NCAA's 329 Division I volleyball teams. ISU averages 2.28 blocks per set, led by Damadj Johnson and her 1.10. Cassie Kawa nearly averages over a block per set at 0.97.
Senior defensive specialist Shannon Murphy averages a team-best 3.54 digs per set. Stephanie Bindernagel averages 2.69 and Spangler averages 2.28. Junior Rachel Griffin is the team's primary setter and averages 9.49 assists per set.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Junior setter Mary Murphy ranks among the best in the nation this season. In total assists she ranks 15th overall with 433, also tops in the Mid-American Conference. In assists per set she ranks 34th in the nation and second in the MAC at 10.83.
I CAN DIG IT
Freshman Kathleen Reilly has also found herself amongst the nation's best. The libero ranks 48th in the nation in total digs and fourth in the MAC with 180. She is just one of five freshmen in the NCAA to rank in the top 50 in the category. Reilly also sits just outside the top 100 in digs per set at 4.39, placing 101st.
