Women's Volleyball | September 01, 2017

FOLLOW THE ACTION
WMU's game Xavier will be streamed live at GoXavier.com. Live stats for all matches this weekend can also be found at GoXavier.com.

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan travels to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Texas State, Xavier and Cincinnati at the Musketeer's home tournament. The Broncos open up against the Bobcats on Friday at 4 p.m. WMU takes on XU on Saturday at 1 p.m. and then later Cincinnati at 4:30 p.m. 

AT THE XAVIER TOURNAMENT
The Broncos enter their second week of action and their second regular-season tournament of the year at Xavier. 

• SCOUTING THE BOBCATS: Texas State split its opening weekend at Texas A&M. The Bobcats lost to VCU 3-0 (25-23, 32-30, 25-12) but followed it up with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-15) win against Sam Houston State. 

Megan Porter had a good opening weekend, averaging 4.0 kills per set. She also averaged 2.50 digs per set, second-best on the team so far this season. Jaliyah Bolden is second on the team in kills per set at 2.83. Mattie Adams leads the team in digs per set at 2.80, while Brooke Johnson leads the team in assists per set at 5.33. Erin Hoppe has also saw significant time at setting, averaging 4.33 assists per set.

This is the first-ever meeting between WMU and Texas State. 

• SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS: Xavier is off to a good start, winning three of its first four matches. The Musketeers recently suffered their first loss of the season against Miami, 3-1 (26-28, 24-26, 25-21, 18-25). Before the loss, XU had only lost one set on the season in a 3-1 win over Illinois-Chicago. Xavier swept Duquense and Bowling Green. 

Kristen Massa has been the team's top attacker so far, averaging 4.50 kills per set. Maya Krause is second on the team with 2.33. Mackenzie Humm has been the primary setter for the Musketeers with 7.50 assists per set in 14 sets this season. Nadia Dieundonne has also spent time setting, averaging 4.73 assists per sets in 11 sets played this season. Xavier have four players that average at least 3.0 digs per set, led by Meredith Klare and her 4.86. Massa averages 3.67, Samantha Foti averages 3.36 and Humm averages 3.14.

The series is tied at 2-2 and the Broncos won the most recent meeting, last season at WMU's Holiday Inn West Invitational, 3-1. Olivia Kofie had a career-high 21 kills in the win for the Broncos. 

• SCOUTING THE BEARCATS: Cincinnati is off to a rough start, losing all three of its matches so far. But the Bearcats have also had a very tough schedule to begin the season. Two of the team's losses have come against nationally ranked opponents in a 3-0 loss to No. 23 Utah and a 3-0 loss at No. 14 Kentucky. 

Carly Nolan has been the top attacker for Cincinnati so far this season, averaging 4.0 kills per set. Erica Kostelac and Elly Ogle average 2.40 and 2.20 kills, respectively. Jade Tinglejoff has averaged 8.90 assists per set in 10 sets this season to lead the team and she is also tied with Ogle for the team lead in digs per set with 2.60. Ogle leads the team with 1.10 blocks per set as well. 

WMU leads the all-time series at 5-1. The two teams last met in 2009, resulting in a 3-1 win for  the Broncos.

QUIANNA KEYED IN
Through the team's first three matches, sophomore right-side hitter Quinna Ware has been an issue for opposing teams. Ware has reached double-digit kills in all three matches this season, a career-best run. She had 14 against Tennessee, 12 against George Washington and 13 against Wofford. 

"She's worked really hard in the off season," said head coach Colleen Munson. "Quianna changed roles to the outside after being recruited as a middle She's worked really hard to be a six-rotation right-side attacker. She's worked on her serving, her passing and her defense and we are really proud of that development."

The overall work has also shown itself in the first three matches. Ware had a career-high 14 digs against the Volunteers for her first collegiate double-double. She also has six aces through the first three matches after having just one last season. 

MAKING THEIR DEBUTS
Freshmen Rachel Bontrager, Cassandra Smigiel and Kaley Smith all made their collegiate debuts last weekend. All three played in all 13 combined sets at the DISH Tennessee Classic. Bontrager recorded 26 kills and 20 digs. Smigiel got it going in the final two matches and ended up with 19 kills on the weekend, while Smith recorded 21 digs.
 
ON THE HORIZON
The Broncos finally return home on Thursday, Sept. 7 to host Oakland at 7 p.m. The match is part of the Holiday Inn West Invitational, hosted by WMU. Oakland will also play Valparaiso on Friday at 5 p.m. WMU closes out the tournament hosting the Crusaders on Saturday at 7 p.m.