KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team opened up its home weekend with a thrilling five-set victory over Ohio (25-23, 19-25, 25-16, 12-25, 15-10) on Friday night inside University Arena.

The Broncos got another stellar performance from sophomore Meredith Phillips who captured her second straight double-double with 15 kills to go along with 12 digs. Phillips has recorded 49 kills, averaging 3.26 per set in the last three matches.

Leading the way for WMU was junior Rachel Bontrager with 19 kills against the Bobcats. Bontrager has now matched her career-high with 12 straight matches earning double digit kills. The Valparaiso, Ind., native leads the Broncos and the MAC with 311 kills this season.

Defensively senior Kathleen Reilly led the way with 32 digs, marking the fourth match this season with over 30 digs. Reilly who entered the weekend ranking 13th in the NCAA in total digs now has 454 on the season.

Freshman Rose Duffy earned her third straight match with over 40 assists, recording 47 to go along with nine digs and five kills. Duffy's 47 assists were one shy of her career-high as the freshman setter has now posted over 40 assists in five matches this season.

As a team the Broncos recorded a .165 attack percentage with Bontrager and Phillips the lone Broncos with double digit kills. From behind the line WMU recorded two service aces to Ohio's one while having seven blocks.

The five-set victory snapped WMU's five match losing streak and improved its overall record to 12-9 and 3-6 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos return home on Saturday, Oct. 26 for a match-up with Kent State at 5:00 p.m.

Set One (WMU – 25, Ohio – 23)
It was a back and forth battle to begin the first set as neither team led by more than three through the first 27 points. Ohio had a four-point advantage midway through the set thanks to a 3-0 run to give the Bobcats an 18-14 lead.

However, WMU battled its way back and tied the set at 22-22 after a block from redshirt sophomore Janell Williams followed by a kill from Phillips. Down the stretch the Brown & Gold used a 5-1 run to regain the lead and win the first set, 25-23.

Set Two (WMU – 19, Ohio – 25)
In the second set the two teams traded points early on en route to a slim 8-6 lead for the Broncos. Ohio rallied back later in the set and took a 12-8 lead before WMU went on a 4-1 run to cut its deficit down to one.

Down the stretch the Bobcats pulled away from the Broncos, ending the second set on an 8-2 run to win 25-19 and tie the match at 1-1. In the second set, Ohio recorded a .385 attack percentage to WMU's .154.

Set Three (WMU – 25, Ohio – 16)
The Bronco defense held Ohio in check in the third set as WMU held the Bobcats to a .000 attack percentage to claim the 25-16 set victory. WMU trailed for just three points in the second set.

Late in the third set the Broncos rattled off a 7-1 run to gain a 23-12 advantage. During its 7-1 run WMU got two kills from Phillips along with kills from Bontrager and freshman Maggie King.

Ohio looked to mount a comeback after calling a timeout, embarking on a 4-0 run to cut WMU's lead down to 23-16 before back-to-back kills from Bontrager and redshirt sophomore Charley Andrews ended the set.

Set Four (WMU – 12, Ohio – 25)
Ohio tied the match at 2-2 after never trailing in the fourth set and registered a staggering .429 attack percentage. The Bobcats cruised out of the gate to begin the fourth, going on a 5-0 run to earn a 12-4 lead.

The Bobcats posted a 4-0 run midway through the set to take a 17-6 lead and ultimately cruised to the 25-12 set four victory. Ohio capitalized on Bronco mistakes as the Brown & Gold committed 13 attack errors in the fourth set.

Set Five (WMU – 15, Ohio – 10)
Western Michigan got off to a fast start to begin the fifth and final set, gaining an early 4-0 lead with two kills from Bontrager along with two Ohio attack errors.

Ohio cut its deficit down to two at 6-4 before Phillips got the Broncos back on track with a kill to widen their lead to three. Late in the fifth, WMU embarked on a 3-0 run highlighted by a block from Bontrager and Williams to push the WMU lead to 13-7.

After the two teams traded points, Charley Andrews delivered with her seventh kill of the match to propel the Broncos to the 15-10 set victory.