MILWAUKEE, Wisc.  –  For the first time since 1996 the Western Michigan volleyball team begins the season 8-0 after posting victories over Butler (23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12) and Southeast Missouri St. (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) on day one of the Panther Invitational.

On Friday the Broncos had four record double-digit kills in two matches with junior Rachel Bontrager leading the way with 34 kills, averaging 4.25 per set. Bontrager also posted 14 digs and six blocks and is just 11 kills away from reaching 1,000 for her career.

Close behind Bontrager was freshman Maggie King with 31 kills, averaging 3.88 per set. Both King and Bontrager each recorded a .256 attack percentage. Rounding out the double digit kills was senior Willow Martin with 11 and redshirt sophomore Janell Williams with 10.

The setting duo of junior Mary Marzo and freshman Rose Duffy combined for 86 of WMU's 101 assists on the day. Marzo finished with 51 assists in two matches while Duffy had 35. Senior Kathleen Reilly led the Brown & Gold with 50 digs, averaging 6.25 per set.

As a team the Broncos hit just .190 but held their opponents to a .116 attack percentage. WMU was once again dominant from beyond the line, registering 15 service aces, averaging 1.88 per set.

Western Michigan will look to capture its third straight non-conference tournament title on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m. against the host school Milwaukee. The Broncos improve their overall record to 8-0 and with a win can claim their best start to a season since 1983.

Match #1 vs. Butler (W, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12)
In its opening match of the Panther Invitational, Western Michigan went to its fourth fifth-set match of the season and defeated the Butler Bulldogs on Friday morning.

The Broncos were led by Rachel Bontrager with a season-high 22 kills along with 11 digs to record her fourth double-double of the season. Joining Bontrager was Maggie King with her second straight double-double of 17 kills and 10 digs.

Rounding out the trio of double-doubles was freshman Rose Duffy with 17 digs and 19 assists. It's the fourth double-double of the year for Duffy. Junior Mary Marzo led the Broncos overall with 34 assists to go along with one block, one service ace and six digs.

As a team the Broncos hit just .198 but held the Bulldogs to a .137 attack percentage. The WMU defense was led by Kathleen Reilly who posted a team-high 30 digs. From beyond the line, WMU dominated Butler with eight service aces.

The Broncos were cruising along in the first set and jumped out to an early 8-1 lead after a 4-0 run ended with WMU's second service ace of the set. However, midway through Butler battled back to tie the match at 20-20 and ultimately went on a 5-0 run to grab a 23-19 advantage. Near the end, WMU went on a 3-0 run to cut its deficit down to one before a WMU attack error resulted in a set one victory for Butler.

WMU and Butler traded points in the second set as neither team led by more than three until the Brown & Gold went on a dominant run down the stretch to secure the 25-16 set two victory. Leading by one late in the second, the Broncos embarked on a 10-2 run to secure the set two win and tie the match at 1-1.

It was once again back and forth to begin the third set en route to a 14-14 tie at the midway point. WMU extended its lead to 17-14 after three straight kills from Kate Carey, Charley Andrews and Rachel Bontrager. After trading points, WMU once again went on a 3-0 run thanks to kills from Maggie King and Willow Martin followed by a service ace from Andrews to grab a 21-17 advantage. Butler made a 3-0 run of its own to cut the Bronco lead down to one before two kills from Bontrager along with a kill from King gave WMU a 2-01 lead in the match.

In the fourth set after trailing early, WMU embarked on a 5-0 run to regain a 14-13 lead midway through. However, later in the fourth Butler jumped back in front after back-to-back kills gave the Bulldogs a 21-19 lead and forced the Broncos to call a timeout. WMU got to within one after a Bontrager kill before Butler earned a kill and a block to force and fifth and final set.

The two teams traded points to begin the final set prior to WMU taking a 7-5 advantage thanks to a 3-0 run with two kills coming from Bontrager. Butler closed the gap down to one before another 3-0 run by the Broncos extended their lead to 12-8. To end the match, freshman Maggie King recorded her 17th kill to propel the Broncos to the five-set victory.

Match #2 vs. Southeast Missouri St. (25-23, 25-18, 25-18)
For the second time this season Western Michigan volleyball earned a sweep on Friday, defeating Southeast Missouri St. (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) for its second victory at the Panther Invitational.

The freshman outside hitter Maggie King led the Brown & Gold offensively with 14 kills to go along with seven digs and hitting .303. Bontrager ranked second on the team with 12 kills and had three digs and two blocks.

Freshman setter Rose Duffy notched her team-high fifth double-double of the season against the Redhawks, registering 16 assists and 11 digs. Fellow setter Mary Marzo led the team in assists with 17 and nearly had another double-double as well with six digs.

Overall, WMU recorded a .178 attack percentage and held SEMO to a .085 attack percentage in the three-set victory. The Redhawks held the advantage at the net, posting eight blocks to WMU's seven but the Broncos controlled the serve, earning seven service aces.

The Brown & Gold cruised out of the gate in the first set en route to an early 8-4 lead. WMU held its lead until late in the set when the Redhawks went on a 6-0 run to gain a 23-21 lead and forcing WMU to call a timeout. However, the Broncos responded with a 4-0 run of their own to earn the narrow first set victory.

It was all WMU in the second set, trailing for just one point and hitting a staggering .421 to secure the second set, 25-18. Western Michigan used a 7-1 run midway through the set with three kills coming from King to grab a 14-6 advantage. SEMO countered late in the set with a 3-0 run to cut the Bronco lead down to four before a kill from King gave the Broncos a 2-0 lead in the match.

Wrapping up the match the Broncos trailed for just one point once again and recorded three service aces in the third for the sweep. Down the stretch, the Broncos pulled away scoring seven of the final 10 points to secure their eighth victory of the season.