KALAMAZOO, Mich.  –  Fresh off its 3-0 weekend at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational the Western Michigan volleyball team hits the road once again for three matches at the Rambler Challenge, hosted by Loyola-Chicago, Sept. 6-7.

Rambler Challenge | Gentile Arena | Chicago, Ill.   
Friday, Sept. 6: Western Michigan vs. Montana State | 11:00 am | LIVE STATS
Friday, Sept. 6: Western Michigan vs. Loyola-Maryland | 6:00 pm | LIVE STATS
Saturday, Sept. 7: Western Michigan at Loyola-Chicago | 3:00 pm | LIVE STATS | VIDEO

Scouting the Broncos
The Broncos have begun the season 3-0 for the first time since 2011 after defeating South Alabama, Purdue Fort Wayne and Northern Kentucky last weekend to claim the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational title. Western Michigan has won with offense, ranking first in the conference in hitting percentage (.286) and assists per set (13.23).

Win One for the Program
Western Michigan volleyball needs just one more win to secure it's 1,000th victory in program history. With one win, WMU will become the only MAC school to eclipse 1,000 wins and just the 26^th in NCAA Division I.

MAC West Weekly Awards Sweep
On Tuesday, Western Michigan swept the Mid-American Conference West Division weekly awards. Junior Rachel Bontrager earned offensive player of the week, senior Kathleen Reilly earned defensive player of the week honors and freshman Rose Duffy and junior Mary Marzo shared setter of the week.

Bontrager Nearing 1,000
Bontrager needs just 93 kills to become a member of WMU's 1,000-kill club. Last weekend the Valparaiso, Ind., native registered 52 kills in three matches.

What's on Deck?
Following the weekend, WMU will hit the road for its final non-conference road tournament, Sept. 13-14 at the Panther Invitational in Milwaukee, Wisc. WMU will square off with Butler, Southeast Missouri State and Milwaukee.

Scouting the Competition
Montana State – The Bobcats head into the weekend with a 1-2 record after competing at the University of Arkansas Tournament last weekend. In Fayetteville, Ark., Montana State defeated Arkansas Little-Rock before falling to Northwestern State and Arkansas.

Loyola-Maryland – The Greyhounds have an overall record of 1-2 this season, defeating Furman and falling to Coastal Carolina and Virginia last weekend at the Cavalier Classic. Loyola-Maryland as a team is hitting .153 and averaged 13.1 kills per set.

Loyola-Chicago -  The Ramblers are 1-2 on the season, competing last weekend in Toledo, Ohio at the Blue & Gold Tournament. Loyola-Chicago fell to Western Kentucky and Toledo in five sets before defeating North Dakota State in four sets.

Bronco Ticket Information
For information on how to purchase season or single-game tickets for Western Michigan volleyball, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets or call the Bronco Ticket Office at 1-888-4-WMU-Tix.