Women's Volleyball | October 18, 2017

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan returns home after a four-game road trip to Ball State, Toledo, Akron and Buffalo. The Broncos host Kent State on Friday at 7 p.m. and Ohio on Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday's match is "Blackout Night" and fans are encouraged to show up wearing black to support the Broncos. Both games can be seen live on ESPN3.com. 

LAST WEEK
WMU went on the road and a split against Akron and Buffalo. The Broncos defeated the Zips, 3-1, last Friday and then fell by the same score at Buffalo. Freshman Rachel Bontrager had back-to-back double-doubles on the weekend. Against UA she had 11 kills and 12 digs and against UB she had 13 kills and 12 digs. 

HOME SWEET HOME
Western Michigan is a perfect 5-0 this season at University Arena. Attacking efficiency is a big reason for the success. WMU hits .267 on its home court and three players, Rachel Bontrager, Sydney LeMay and Quiana Ware, average over 3.0 kills per set. Bontrager leads the trio at 3.44, followed by LeMay at 3.39 and Ware at 3.33. LeMay has a team-high .346 hitting percentage at home for the Broncos, who average 14.78 kills per set compared to their opponents' 10.17. 

It's not all offense that has led to WMU's 5-0 record, the Broncos have held opponents to a .150 hitting percentage and helped create 97 attack errors. Sophomore libero Kathleen Reilly averages 5.50 digs per set, while Bontrager averages 2.17. Western Michigan also averages 2.06 blocks per set with LeMay leading the way at 0.83. With five total home games left, WMU is just two wins away from matching its win total at University Arena from last season.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freshman Rachel Bontrager has had a run of three-straight matches with double-doubles, a career long streak. Against Toledo she had 10 kills and 10 digs, following that up with 11 kills and 12 digs at Akron and then 13 kills and 12 digs against Buffalo. The Valparaiso, Ind., native leads the team with seven double-doubles so far on the season. Sophomore Quiana Ware comes closest to challenging her with four. 

AMONGST THE BEST
Nationally the Broncos rank in the top 50 in one category, opponent hitting percentage. WMU's defense has held its opponents .162, which also ranks top in the MAC. Two individuals rank in the top 50 in the nation. Junior setter Mary Murphy is 50th in assists per set at 10.59, while sophomore libero Kathleen Reilly ranks 36th in digs per set at 5.09.

SCOUTING KENT STATE // 4-15, 2-6 MAC
The Golden Flashes enter the weekend having dropped its last two matches at home against Ball State and Toledo. In conference play, KSU has wins at home against Ohio and on the road at Central Michigan. 

Kent State's offense averages 11.62 kills per set and is led by senior outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger and her 3.86. Heather Younkin is the only other player to average 2.0 or higher at 2.05. Natalie Tagala has been the main setter this season, averaging 8.31 assists per set. Senior libero Challen Geraghty averages 5.88 digs per set to lead the team, with Bittinger right behind her at 3.12 Lexi Mantas also averages 2.43 digs per set. 

SCOUTING OHIO // 10-12, 4-4 MAC
The Bobcats travel to Northern Illinois on Friday before coming to Western Michigan for Saturday's match. Last weekend OU split with Toledo and Ball State at home. Ohio fell to the Rockets, 3-2, and then swept the MAC West leading Cardinals, 3-0. The Bobcats are 1-1 on the road so far in MAC play and 3-5 on the road overall. 

Ohio's offense averages 12.44 kills per set, led by sophomore outside hitter Lizzie Stephens and her 3.62. Freshman middle blocker Tia Jimerson averages 3.32 kills per set and leads the team with 0.84 blocks per set on 73 total blocks (15 solo, 58 assists). Freshman setter Vera Giacomazzi leads the team with 10.36 assists. OU has five players that average 2.0 digs per set or more, led by freshman libero Macy Reihing and her 3.96. Stephens is second on the team at 2.61, followed by Giacomazzi at 2.45. Sophomore libero Meredith Howe averages 2.34. 

ON THE HORIZON 
WMU heads to Northern Illinois next Wednesday before hosting Bowling Green on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday's match at NIU can be seen live on ESPN3.com.