KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Over 400 days later it is finally happening! The Western Michigan volleyball team will begin its 2021 spring season on the road this weekend, Jan. 22-23 at Toledo. Both games will be streamed on ESPN3.
Game Information
Friday, Jan. 22:
Western Michigan at Toledo | 6:00 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Saturday, Jan. 23:
Western Michigan at Toledo | 5:00 p.m. |
LIVE STATS |
VIDEO
Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan enters the 2021 spring campaign after going 14-14 and 5-11 in Mid-American Conference play last season. Since 2010, WMU holds a 13-7 advantage over Toledo and has won six of the last 10 matches on the road against the Rockets.
Returning for more
All five of WMU's top scorers from a year ago return in senior
Rachel Bontrager, sophomore
Maggie King, junior
Meredith Phillips, redshirt juniors
Janell Williams and
Charley Andrews. The five combined for 1,207 of WMU's 1,427 total kills last year.
Bontrager Named Preseason All-MAC
Senior outside hitter
Rachel Bontrager was named preseason All-MAC after leading the MAC last season with 414 kills. Bontrager recorded double digit kills in 25 of WMU's 28 matches en route to earning First Team All-MAC honors for the second straight season.
Bontrager Etched in the Record Books
Entering her senior campaign,
Rachel Bontrager ranks 10
th at WMU in career kills (1,269) and fifth in both career attack attempts (3,662) and career digs & kills double-doubles (34).
Schedule Changes
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 spring schedule has the Broncos playing on back-to-back night, facing the same opponent at the same site. WMU will play 22 regular season conference games with the top four teams at the end of the regular season heading to the MAC Tournament. The tournament will take place at the site of the highest seed (best overall conference record) on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3.
Andrews Named Recipient of 2020 AVCA Diversity Award
Redshirt junior
Charley Andrews was named a recipient of the 2020 AVCA Diversity Award. Andrews is one of 26 recipients who will participate in a series of educational, developmental, and relationship building experiences in conjunction with the 2020 AVCA Virtual Convention.
Newcomers with High Praise
The Western Michigan volleyball recruiting class of
Mairead Boyle,
Logan Case,
Andelyn Simkins and
Barakat Adekola earned
PrepVolleyball.com honorable mention honors for one of the best recruiting classes in the country. The rankings of the 2020 recruiting class are put together by a panel of college coaches from across the country.
Scouting the Opponent
Toledo last season had an overall record of 9-19 and 2-14 in conference play. The Rockets were just 1-10 at home and lost the final two matches of the season to Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. The Rockets are led by senior Rhyen Neal who led the team with 4.31 digs per set and 0.28 service aces per set.
