KALAMAZOO, Mich.  –  In Mid-American Conference action on Friday night the Western Michigan volleyball team fell to undefeated Bowling Green in three sets (23-25, 16-25, 24-26) inside University Arena.

The Broncos were guided by senior Rachel Bontrager who registered double-digit kills for the third time this season with a game-high 14. Bontrager had a .225 attack percentage against the Falcons while also having three service aces and seven digs.

Behind Bontrager was sophomore Maggie King with seven kills and a .222 attack percentage. Freshman Andelyn Simkins ranked third on the team with five kills to go along with one assist, four service aces, eight digs and one block.

Reigning MAC West Defensive Player of the Week Kaley Smith led WMU defensively with 16 digs while freshman setter Logan Case nearly had a double-double with 29 assists and eight digs.

As a team the Broncos hit .076 compared to BGSU's .255. At the net, BGSU recorded eight blocks to the Broncos' three with WMU earning eight service aces compared to the Falcons' five. On the weekend the Broncos registered a .119 attack percentage and had 62 assists, 91 digs, nine blocks and a staggering 12 service aces.

Western Michigan is back on the road next week as the Broncos travel to Ypsilanti for a showdown with in-state foe Eastern Michigan, Feb. 4-5. WMU returns home Feb. 11-12 against in-state rival Central Michigan.

First Set (WMU – 23, BGSU – 25)
It was a tightly contested first set as neither team led by more than three with WMU and BGSU being tied 12 times and registering six lead changes. Bowling Green grabbed a 13-12 advantage before WMU countered with a 4-0 run to take its biggest lead of the set at 16-13.

BGSU stormed back and gained a 20-18 lead after a 4-0 run before a kill from sophomore Maggie King brought WMU to within one. After a kill from senior Rachel Bontrager the Broncos and Falcons were tied at 21 before BGSU won four of the final six points to earn a 1-0 lead in the match.

Second Set (WMU – 16, BGSU – 25)
In the second set it was all BGSU as the Falcons recorded a .324 attack percentage to WMU's .088. The Falcons raced out of the gate and grabbed a 12-4 lead thanks in large part to a 9-2 run. WMU inched closer late in the second set as a BGSU attack error followed by a kill from King cut the Bronco deficit down to 17-10.

Down the stretch the Broncos got service aces from freshman Andelyn Simkins and junior Sammi Labolle but it wasn't enough to slow down the Falcons. BGSU embarked on a 4-2 run late in the second to propel its lead in the match to 2-0.

Third Set (WMU – 24, BGSU – 26)
The third set proved to be a back and forth set as well as BGSU jumped out to an 8-4 lead before Western Michigan responded with a 4-0 run to tie the set at eight. The two teams traded points midway through the set before a media timeout saw BGSU on top 15-12.

The Falcons cruised to a 20-14 lead late in the third before the Brown & Gold scored five of the next six points to trim its deficit down to two. The 5-1 run for WMU was highlighted by kills from Abi Wilcoxson, Bontrager and Simkins.

Out of a Western Michigan timeout and trailing 24-22 the Broncos got back-to-back blocks from Abi Wilcoxson and Sammi Labolle to gain momentum and tie the set at 24.  However the Broncos were unable to keep their momentum as kills from BGSU's Katie Kidwell and Katelyn Meyer ended the set and the match.