Women's Volleyball | September 08, 2016

THIS WEEKEND
After two consecutive weekend tournaments on the road, the Western Michigan volleyball team hosts one of its own with the Holiday Inn West Invitational this weekend. WMU welcomes Tennessee, Xavier and Milwaukee to University Arena for six games spread out over Friday and Saturday. 

LAST WEEKEND
The Broncos went down to Southern Illinois for the Saluki Invitational to take on Northern Arizona, hosts SIU and Central Florida. WMU came away winless, falling the NAU 3-1 and 3-0 to both the Salukis and UCF. 

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

TENNESSEE // 5-1
The Volunteers head into this weekend fresh off a 2-1 performance at the Cleveland State Tournament. It was the team's first foray away from home, suffering its only loss of the season to the host Vikings. 

Senior outside hitter Bri Holmes is one of the team's top attacking threats with 3.13 kills per set so far this season. Freshman Tessa Grubbs actually leads the team in kills per set with 3.65 but has played in 17 of the team's 23 sets. Raina Hembry (2.29) and Alyssa Andreno (2.45) each average above 2.0 per set. Hembry leads the team in blocks with 28, while Andreno sits just behind her at 27. Freshman Sedona Hansen is the team's primary setter and averages 10.60 assists per set. Senior Bridgette Villano leads the team in digs with 84 overall and 4.20 per set. 

XAVIER // 3-4
After starting off the season 2-1 with wins over Missouri State and Arkansas, Xavier has gone 1-3 in its last four games. Last weekend the Musketeers went 1-2 at the Dayton Invitational with losses to the host Flyers and Chattanooga. The Musketeers did defeat Northwestern 3-0. On Tuesday they traveled to Mid-American Conference preseason favorites Miami, losing 3-1.

Senior outside hitter Abbey Bessler has racked up 119 total kills so far this season and leads the team with 4.25 kills per set. Sofia Peterson (2.39) and Kristen Massa (2.11) also average over 2.0 per set. Xavier has used two main setters through the first seven matches. Junior Mackenzi Humm leads the team with 166 total assists and averages 5.93 per set, while sophomore McKena Estes has racked up 146 at 5.21 per set. Defensively Alexis Newson is the team's top blocker with 32 total blocks (five solo, 27 assists) and averages 1.14 per game. Sophomore libero Meredith Klare has averaged 4.21 digs per set so far this season to lead the team with 118, while Bessler is averaging 2.25. 

MILWAUKEE // 5-1
Milwaukee opened its season by winning its own tournament, the Pepsi Panther Invitational. UWM beat Bradley, Akron and Western Illinois to start off the year 3-0. The Panthers also have wins over Sacred Heart and George Mason. Two of Milwaukee's wins have come in five sets.

The Panthers boast a balanced attack with five different players averaging at least 2.0 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Schultz leads the team in kills per set with 3.72 but has only played in 11 of the possible 22 sets this season. Freshman middle blocker Bridget Wallenberger leads the team in total kills with 47 and averages 2.14 per set. Freshman setter Jenn Dore has racked up 234 assists on the season and averages 10.64 per set. Senior libero Myanna Ruize averages 4.55 digs per set so far this season, totaling 100. 

AMONGST THE BEST OF THE MAC
As a team, the Broncos rank in the top four of the Mid-American Conference in four statistical categories. WMU is fourth in hitting percentage at .210, second in assists at 12.72 per set, second in kills at 13.28 per set, and lead the MAC in digs at 16.12 per set. 

The Broncos have an individual in the top four in three categories. Junior Sydney LeMay is second in the MAC in kills per set at 3.64, sophomore Mary Murphy is second in assists per set at 10.62, and freshman libero Kathleen Reilly is fourth in the MAC in digs per set at 4.68.

AMONGST THE BEST IN THE NCAA
WMU ranks in the top third in the country in eight statistical categories. The team's highest ranking comes in team attacks per set, in which the Broncos average 37.04 and rank in at 53rd. WMU is in the top 75 in digs per set (57th, 16.12), team digs (61st, 403), team assists (64th, 318), and assists per set (59, 12.72).

Individually Mary Murphy ranks the highest of any Bronco, coming in at 38th in total assists with 255 and 53rd in assists per set at 10.63.

PREGAME RECOGNITION
Prior to Friday night's game against Xavier, the WMU volleyball team will honor senior outside hitter Alysia Baznik for her 1,000th career kill. The kill came in a crucial moment in the fifth and final set of Western Michigan's 3-2 win over Fort Wayne on Aug. 30. 

Baznik is the 21st player in Bronco volleyball history to reach the marker.