MUNCIE, Ind. – Despite posting a season-high 13 blocks the Western Michigan volleyball team fell to Mid-American Conference West division preseason favorite Ball State in four sets (20-25, 15-25, 25-22, 18-25) on Saturday night.

It's the fourth time this season the Broncos have posted double-digit blocks and most since having 11 back on Sept. 20 against IUPUI. It's the most blocks in a single-match for the Brown & Gold since recording 15 last season at Bowling Green.

Redshirt sophomore Janell Williams led the team with eight blocks. It's the third time Williams has posted eight blocks in a match this year and the seventh match eclipsing at least four blocks.

Offensively, WMU had three register double digit kills with Bontrager leading the way with 17. Bontrager earned her team-leading sixth double-double of the season as well with 10 digs. The duo of redshirt sophomore Charley Andrews and freshman Maggie King each had 10 kills against the Cardinals.

Senior Kathleen Reilly posted her third match of the season with over 30 digs, having 32 to go along with three assists. Reilly was four shy of her career-high of 36 set back in 2018 against Northern Arizona.

Freshman Rose Duffy collected 29 assists for her 10^th double-digit assist match of the season. Duffy also earned five digs, two blocks and three kills. The freshman setter now has six matches with over 20 assists this season.

After the first two weeks of conference play, the Broncos have an overall record of 11-5, 2-2 in MAC play. WMU returns home next weekend for two matches beginning on Thursday, Oct. 10 against Northern Illinois. WMU then squares off with Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Set One (WMU – 20, Ball St. – 25)
The two teams went back and forth to begin the first set before the Cardinals embarked on a 3-0 run midway through the set to take a 13-10 lead. After a kill from Bontrager cut the WMU deficit down to two, the Cardinals rallied and extended their lead to 22-17 before a Bronco timeout.

WMU cuts its deficit down to four late in the set before a kill from Ball State's Natalie Risi gave BSU the 25-20 first set victory.

Set Two (WMU – 15, Ball St. – 25)
Western Michigan jumped out to an early lead in the second set thanks to a 3-1 run highlighted by kills from Williams and Bontrager. The Broncos held a 10-9 lead before back-to-back service aces from Ball State gave the Cardinals a slim 11-10 lead.

The Cardinal service aces sparked an 8-0 run by Ball State to extend its lead to 16-10 midway through the set. Ball State edged the Broncos in the second set after scoring five of the final seven points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Set Three (WMU – 25, Ball St. – 22)
The Broncos found their rhythm in the third set, never trailing en route to a 25-22 set victory. WMU jumped out to an early lead thanks in large part to a 9-1 run to gain a 12-5 advantage. During the 9-1 run, the Broncos posted three blocks along with one service ace.

Ball State battled its way back to cut the WMU lead down to two midway through the fourth after a 3-0 run cut the WMU lead down to 15-13. However, WMU rallied back registering three blocks and capitalizing on BSU attack error to win its first set of the match.

Set Four (WMU – 18 , Ball St. – 25)
In the final set the Cardinals never trailed and raced out to a 13-8 lead after a 3-0 run and extended their lead to 21-12 later in the set after a 5-1 run.

Late in the fourth the Broncos looked to mount a comeback, scoring four straight points to cut its deficit down to six before a kill from BSU captured the fourth set and the match.