KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team battled the Mid-American Conference West Division leaders Northern Illinois, but fell to the Huskies 3-1 (25-19, 24-26, 19-25, 20-25) at University Arena on Thursday night.

Senior Nicole Kinser, sophomore Bailey Schnell and freshman Quiana Ware all recorded 12 kills to lead the Broncos, with Ware reaching a new career high. Alysia Baznik and Kathleen Reilly both recorded 12 digs, while Mary Murphy had 48 assists.

WMU (8-16, 3-8 MAC) recovered from a slow start in the opening set to chip away at NIU's early lead. The Broncos used a 4-1 run to close the gap to one point. Although the Huskies would push the lead back to three at 10-7, Western Michigan responded with an 11-2 run to build an 18-12 lead. With some breathing room, the Broncos held Northern Illinois at bay and finished off the set with kills by Oliva Kofie and Schnell and an ace from Reilly.

In the second set it was WMU that took the early lead. Northern Illinois was able to chip away at it and took an 8-7 lead on a kill by Taylor Krage. The Broncos responded with a 3-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. WMU kept the Huskies down by two, 14-12, after an attacking error. However, NIU came back at Western Michigan with a 4-0 run to take a 16-14 lead. Kills by Schnell, Sydney LeMay and Ware retook the lead for WMU, 17-16. The team extended its lead to 19-17 but a 5-1 run from the West leaders gave the Huskies a 22-20 lead. The Broncos once again retook the lead, 23-22, after a kill by Ware and back-to-back attacking on the Huskies. NIU then went on a 4-1 run to close out the set, 26-24.

Western Michigan found itself in an 8-2 hole to open the third set, with NIU extending it to as big as 12-4. WMU tried chipping away at it but soon faced a 10-point deficit at 20-10, but responded with a 9-2 run to bring the set closer at 22-19. However, the Huskies finished off the set on a 3-0 run.

The fourth set opened with the two teams going back-and-forth, with neither taking more than two-point lead. The Broncos led 12-11 after a kill by Kofie, but Northern Illinois broke the set open with a 6-1 run to build a 17-13 lead.  The Broncos closed the gap to 20-19 but NIU finished off the match with a 5-1 run.

Western Michigan now heads to Bowling Green on Saturday night before returning home next weekend to host Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan on Nov. 4 and 5.