DEKALB, Ill. – The Western Michigan volleyball team opened Mid-American Conference play with a loss a 3-1 (25-23, 13-25, 15-25, 19-25) at Northern Illinois on Thursday night.

Junior middle blocker Sydney LeMay led the way with 17 kills, while Mikaela Ryshytylo notched her team-best fourth double-double of the season after 10 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Quiana Ware made her collegiate debut with nine kills, while Kathleen Reilly had a game-high 19 digs.

In the first set the two teams went back and forth until a NIU service error sparked 10-2 run by WMU, giving the team a 20-14 lead. The Huskies responded with a 9-2 run to take a 23-22 lead but a kill by LeMay and back-to-back kills by Ware finished off the set for the Broncos.

Western Michigan started off the second set well, jumping out a 4-1 lead but Northern Illinois responded with a 15-3 run to jump out to a 16-7 lead. The Broncos tried to cut into the lead, but the Huskies finished them off 25-13.

After the break, Northern Illinois jumped out to an 8-1 lead to open the third set. WMU cut the lead to 16-10 at one point, but was unable to make progress beyond that, falling 25-15.

NIU jumped out to another big lead to start the fourth set, going up 6-1. WMU responded this time, cutting the lead to 7-6, but would never tie the set. The Broncos came close several times, cutting the lead back to one, but the Huskies used a 9-2 run to open up the set and finish off the match.

Western Michigan hosts MAC East preseason favorites Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m. for its MAC home-opener.