KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team secured its spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament after defeating Toledo, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 24-26, 25-23), at University Arena on Friday night.
 
Four different Broncos reached double-digit kills, led by Sydney LeMay and Rachel Bontrager with 14. Senior middle blocker Olivia Kofie had 12 kills and led the team with a .550 hitting percentage, while Quiana Ware also had 12 kills. Bontrager also had 10 digs for a double-double, while Mary Murphy had 10 digs and 48 assists for her double-double. Kathleen Reilly led the match with 16 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Kaley Smith had 14. WMU also had nine blocks on the night, led by LeMay's four.
 
WMU took the first two sets 25-18. The first set saw the teams trade early leads before a kill by Kofie tied it up at 11-11. That jumpstarted an 8-2 run to take a 17-13 lead. The Broncos extended the lead to 21-14 and finished off the set shortly after, 25-18. In the second set the Rockets jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but WMU turned the tables with a 8-1 run to take a 10-6 lead. From there the Broncos cruised to make it 2-0.
 
Toledo responded to take the third set 26-24. WMU led early but the Rockets used a 4-1 run to take a 12-9 lead and led until WMU battled back to tie it up at 19-19. The Broncos then took a 21-19 lead but UT responded and went up 22-21. A kill by Kofie and an attack error on Toledo gave WMU match point at 24-22. Kills by Emma Swope and Saige Thomas tied it up at 24-24. Following an attack error on the Broncos, Thomas recorded another kill to finish off the set.
 
WMU trailed during the majority of the fourth set. A 4-1 run erased a 19-16 Toledo lead to tie it up at 20-20. After trading points, the Rockets moved ahead 23-21 but kills by Bontrager and LeMay leveled things at 23. An attack error gave WMU the match point and Bontrager finished it off with her 14th kill.
 
Western Michigan hosts Ball State on Saturday night with a chance to improve its seeding for the MAC Tournament. First serve is at 7:05 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN3.com. After the match the Broncos will celebrate the careers of its seniors LeMay, Kofie and Sydney Cheatham.