KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Western Michigan volleyball earned its first victory of the season on day two of the UMKC Invitational, defeating South Dakota State in four sets (25-21, 25-20, 24-26, 25-21).

For the third straight game the Broncos were led by sophomore Rachel Bontrager who collected her first double-double of the season with 20 kills and 10 digs. Bontrager was dominant serving the ball as well, earning a team-high three service aces. Over the weekend the Preseason All-MAC West selection registered 48 kills averaging 4.36 kills per set. For his weekend performance, Bontrager was named to the UMKC Invitational All-Tournament team. 

Senior Mary Murphy also earned her first double-double of the season recording 45 assists and 13 digs. Murphy with 91 assists in the three games moved into fourth all-time at Western Michigan in career assists with 3,482.

Against the Jackrabbits, WMU had a .263 attack percentage along with six service aces and 12 blocks. Junior Willow Martin reached double digit kills for the first time in 2018 notching 13 kills while hitting a staggering .444.

Earning their first victory of the season the Broncos now have an overall record of 1-2. WMU hosts Chicago State in its home opener on Tuesday, Aug. 28 with first serve set for 7:00 p.m.

In the first set, the Broncos quickly jumped out to an 8-4 lead highlighted by a 6-0 run with kills from Bontrager, Martin and freshman Sammi Labolle. Later in the set, the Bronco lead was cut to three before Bontrager registered her fourth kill of the set to end the SDSU run. WMU earned the 25-21 set victory after Bontrager collected her fifth and final kill of the first.

It was all Western Michigan in the second set as the Brown & Gold held SDSU to a .077 attack percentage en route to a 25-20 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match. The Jackrabbits held a 12-10 advantage early before the Broncos quickly regained the lead, scoring 10 of the next 11 points. SDSU responded with their own 6-0 run to cut the lead down to two before two kills from Willow Martin and sophomore Jordan White ended the comeback chance.

South Dakota State jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the third set with two points coming off of service aces. In a back and forth affair throughout the entire set the Broncos rallied back late to tie the match at 24-24. However, the Jackrabbits closed out the third with a kill by Sierra Peterson followed by a service ace by Makenzie Hennen.

The Broncos ran away with the fourth set as Bontrager led the charge with seven kills en route to the 25-21 set victory. WMU never trailed in the fourth set and quickly earned a 12-5 advantage after a kill by Martin forced SDSU to call a timeout. The Jackrabbits got to within two late in the set before a 3-0 run by the Broncos ended the set and the match.