MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.  – Despite three players recording double-digit kills the Western Michigan volleyball team was unable to topple the Mid-American Conference West Division leaders, falling to Central Michigan in four sets (25-22, 14-25, 19-25, 22-25) on Thursday night.

Leading the trio of players with double digit kills was redshirt sophomore Charley Andrews who matched her career-high with 13 kills against the Chippewas. Andrews also collected a staggering .522 attack percentage, the highest by any Bronco this season.

The duo of sophomore Meredith Phillips and junior Rachel Bontrager each had 12 kills on the night. Phillips nearly posted her fourth straight double-double with 12 kills and seven digs while Bontrager notched her 14th straight match with double-digit kills.

Freshman Rose Duffy recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 44 assists to go along with 10 digs. Duffy is tied for the team lead in double-doubles and has registered four straight matches of over 40 assists.

Defensively, WMU was led by senior Kathleen Reilly with 11 digs to go with one assist and one service ace. Andrews led the Brown & Gold at the net, finishing the match with three blocks. As a team the Broncos registered just six blocks on the night along with three service aces while hitting .211.

Western Michigan stay in-state for a road match-up with Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 6:00 p.m. The Broncos swept EMU to begin conference play. WMU now has an overall record of 12-11 and 3-8 in conference play.

First Set (WMU – 25, CMU – 22)
For the third consecutive match the Broncos won the first set, recording a .500 attack percentage for the 25-22 set one victory. However, CMU got off to a fast start early on, scoring seven of the first eight points to force WMU to call a timeout.

The Broncos responded out of the timeout and after trading points with the Chippewas went on a 5-2 run to cut its deficit down to one at 11-10. After the two teams went back and forth, the Brown & Gold embarked on a 4-0 run to gain its first lead of the match at 19-17.

Down the stretch Meredith Phillips took over offensively, scoring three of the final six points for WMU to secure a 1-0 lead in the match.

Second Set (WMU – 14, CMU – 25)
Central Michigan responded in the second set, hitting .458 to tie the match at 1-1. CMU got off to a fast start once again in the second and after a 6-1 run held a 14-6 advantage midway through the set.

WMU cut its lead down to single digits after a kill from Phillips but a 4-2 run to end it gave the Chippewas the 25-14 set victory.

Third Set (WMU – 19, CMU – 25)
It was a hot start once again for CMU who embarked on an 8-0 early on in the first to grab an 11-1 lead.

The Broncos cut into the CMU led at 15-8 after back-to-back kills from freshman Maggie King before the two teams traded points en route to the Chippewas holding a 20-13 lead. Ultimately, CMU went on a 4-0 run to end the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.  

Fourth Set (WMU – 22, CMU – 25)
The fourth set was a back and forth battle between the Broncos and Chippewas as both teams recorded an attack percentage over .200. CMU grabbed a 5-1 lead early on before the Broncos clawed their way back to trail 18-17 after a 3-0 run.

After a kill from Andrews and Bontrager WMU cut its deficit down to one at 20-19 late in the fourth set. That was the closest the Broncos got near the end as CMU scored five of the final eight points to win 25-22 and secure the four-set victory.