KENT, Ohio – Despite having four Broncos record double-digit kills Western Michigan volleyball fell in four sets to Kent State (22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 19-25) on Saturday night inside the M.A.C.  Center.

Four Broncos registered double digit kills against the Golden Flashes led by sophomore Rachel Bontrager with 15 kills. It's the 22^nd time this season that Bontrager has recorded double digit kills.

The duo of freshman Sammi Labolle and redshirt freshman Janell Williams each ranked second on the team with 12 kills. Labolle led the Broncos with a staggering .435 attack percentage while Williams ranked third with a .300 attack percentage. On the weekend, Labolle hit .323 with 19 kills.

Rounding out the double digit kill quartet was junior Kate Carey with 11 kills with a .409 attack percentage that ranked second on the team. Senior Mary Murphy posted a team-high 46 assists, marking the tenth time this season Murphy has had at least 40 assists.

WMU had two players record double-digit digs as sophomore Kaley Smith led the way with a match-high 29 digs. Junior Kathleen Reilly joined Smith in the double digit digs department with 14.

Despite having more kills than Kent State, 55-53, the Broncos had just a .185 attack percentage compared to KSU's, .223. At the net the two teams were even, each recording 10 blocks on the night.

The Broncos have now dropped two straight and four of their last five matches en route to an overall record of 13-11 and 3-7 in Mid-American Conference play. WMU hits the road for the final time in the regular season next weekend, traveling to Toledo on Friday, Oct. 26 followed by at Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 27.

First Set (WMU – 22, Kent State – 25)
The Broncos never led in the first set as WMU hit just .102 as Kent State won the first set, 25-22. Kent State jumped out to an early 14-7 lead after a 5-0 run by the Golden Flashes that forced WMU to call a timeout. The Broncos inched their way back to get to within four after a 3-0 run cut the KSU lead to 18-14. Late in the set, WMU got to within two before KSU's Amy Kober got a kill to end the set. 

Second Set (WMU – 21, Kent State – 25)
WMU grabbed its first lead of the match after a Labolle kill to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead before Kent State embarked on a 5-1 run to regain the lead. Midway through the second the Broncos tied the match at 12-12 thanks to a 3-0 run highlighted by a kill from junior Kate Carey. Down the stretch the Broncos took a 20-18 lead before KSU scored seven of the final eight points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Third Set (WMU – 25, Kent State – 20)
It was a dominant third set for the Broncos, registering a staggering .429 attack percentage en route to a 25-20 set victory. It was tied at 6-6 early in the set before the Bronco offense came to life to take a 16-11 lead midway through. From that point on the closest Kent State got was three as kills from Labolle and Williams ended the set.

Fourth Set (WMU – 19, Kent State – 25)
Kent State jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set before the Broncos battled back thanks to back-to-back kills from Labolle and Bontrager to take a 5-4 lead. However, KSU battled back and held a 15-10 lead at the media timeout. Late in the stretch, WMU went on a 4-0 run to cut the KSU lead to two before the Golden Flashes finished the fourth with a 3-0 run for the four-set victory.