Women's Volleyball | September 19, 2017

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan opens Mid-American Conference play hosting the reigning MAC West Champions Northern Illinois on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Broncos then head out on the road for the first time in MAC play to take on the reigning MAC East Champions Miami on Saturday at 5 p.m. Thursday's match can be seen live on ESPN3.com.

3-2-1 DEAL
For the NIU game, Bronco fans can get a general admission ticket for $3, a hot dog for $2 and a box of popcorn for $1.

LAST WEEK
WMU went on the road to UNC-Wilmington for the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament. Western Michigan finished in second place after beating Morgan State and Liberty 3-0, but falling to the host Seahawks 3-2 in Saturday night's title match. Kathleen Reilly and Rachel Bontrager were both named to the All-Tournament team. The two pushed WMU's non-conference record to 7-4. 

WMU made quick work of both the Bears and the Flames. Against Liberty the Broncos tied the third-highest attack percentage in program history after hitting .519. WMU and UNCW battled to the end in the title match but the Broncos were unable to overcome an early lead by the Seahawks and fell in the final set 15-12. 

BACK-TO-BACK
Sophomore libero Kathleen Reilly has now earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week two weeks in a row after her performance at the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament. Reilly earned a spot on the All-Tournament team after helping WMU to second place in the tournament, going 2-1 on the weekend. She averaged 5.12 digs per set and had a receive percentage of .952. She had 13 digs in a 3-0 win over Morgan State and another 13 in a 3-0 win over Liberty. The two wins pushed Western Michigan's match win streak to five and its set win streak to 15. In a hard-fought 3-2 loss against UNCW she had a career-high 31 digs.

The week before Reilly helped the Broncos win the Holiday Inn West Invitational over the weekend, sweeping both Oakland and Southern Illinois 3-0 and averaging 5.50 digs per set. Against the Golden Grizzlies she had a game-high 22 digs and was a perfect 21-for-21 on serve receipts. She helped hold OU to a .129 hitting percentage as the Broncos picked up their fourth win of the season. Against SIU she had 11 digs and was a perfect 22-for-22 on serve receipts and helped hold the Salukis to a .140 hitting percentage.

INSIDE THE STREAK
WMU recently saw its five-match win streak come to an end with the loss to UNC-Wilmington. It's the team's longest streak since a six-match run in 2014 that resulted in a MAC Tournament Championship. Through the five matches the Broncos lost just one set, the opening set in a 3-1 win over Cincinnati. 

Western Michigan had four players average at least 2.50 kills per set during the stretch, led by Quiana Ware's 3.98. Freshman Rachel Bontrager averaged 2.94, while seniors Sydney LeMay and Olivia Kofie averaged 2.81 and 2.62. As a team the Broncos hit .324 and held opponents to an attack percentage of just .118. Junior setter Mary Murphy averaged 11.06 assists per set, while Kathleen Reilly had 4.94 digs per set. Western Michigan also stepped up its blocking game, averaging 1.69 per set in the five matches. 

HUSKIES AT A GLANCE // 1-14, 0-0 MAC
The defending MAC West Champions  have had a rough go of it so far this season. After finishing last year with a record of 25-6, a very young Northern Illinois team comes to Kalamazoo with just one win.  The Huskies currently have eight underclassmen, six freshmen and two sophomores, on their roster.

Freshman outside hitter Kaylee Martin leads an attack that has hit .124 this season. Martin averages 3.10 kills per set so far this season. No other player averages above 2.0, with junior middle blocker Meg Wolowicz coming the closest at 1.89. Senior setter Chandler Kinley averages 5.90 assists per set to lead the team, followed by Samantha Boever at 3.13. Senior libero Anna Brereton averages 4.12 digs per set to lead the team. The Huskies defense has held opponents to a .287 attacking percentage on the season. 

REDHAWKS AT A GLANCE // 8-4, 0-MAC
The defending MAC Tournament Champions wrapped up the non-conference season going 1-1 at the Stacey Clark Classic last weekend, falling to No. 15 Purdue and beating Loyola (Chi.). The RedHawks will battle Bowling Green on Thursday prior to hosting the Broncos.

MU has a balanced attack with four players averaging over 2.0 kills per set, led by sophomore right side hitter Margaret Payne and her 2.66. Senior outside hitter Katie Tomasic sits behind her at 2.43, while junior outside hitter Stela Kukoc averages 2.35. Junior Mackenzie Zielinski and freshman Megan Seaman have split time at setter this season. The two have both played in 51 sets, with Zielinski leading the team with 6.27 assists per set, while Seaman averages 4.47. Senior libero Maeve McDonald leads the team with 5.06 digs per sets.

AMONGST THE NATION'S BEST
Kathleen Reilly and Mary Murphy both rank amongst the nation and conference's best. Murphy is first in the MAC and 48th in the country in assists per set at 10.56. She also ranks second in the conference and 64th nationally in total assists with 454. Reilly ranks fifth in the MAC and 67th in the nation in digs per set at 4.67. 

TIME CHANGE
WMU's game next Saturday, Sept. 30., against Eastern Michigan has been moved to 3:30 p.m. due to a conflict with the home football game scheduled for 7 p.m. 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan welcomes in-state rivals Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan next Friday and Saturday. The Broncos and the Chippewas battle on Friday night at 7 p.m., while WMU and EMU will play at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.