KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team won its fifth straight contest on Friday night, knocking off Central Michigan 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-23) at University Arena. The win moves WMU to 4-0 in Mid-American Conference play, its first 4-0 start in the MAC since 2017.
 
The Broncos (11-4, 4-0) were led by a freshman in kills for the second straight match, as Madison Merz paced the attack with 12 kills on a career-high .579 hitting percentage. Andelyn Simkins notched her second straight double-double, collecting 10 kills and 11 digs.
 
Logan Case handed out a match-high 32 assists for the Broncos, while Mairead Boyle led the team with 18 digs. Maddie Arundel added 16 digs for Western Michigan.
 
WMU broke a 7-7 deadlock in the first set with a 5-0 run to jump ahead, 12-7. Central Michigan (7-8, 1-2) answered, working it back to a tie at 14-14. Three straight from the Broncos put the home team back on top, 17-14, but again the Chippewas responded, getting the frame even once again at 21-21. Western Michigan's Kennedy Hogan broke the tie with a kill, and WMU hung on from there, with a Simkins kill sealing the set for the Broncos.
 
Leading 9-8 in the second frame, Western Michigan used a 5-1 spurt to extend its advantage to 16-11. Later, a 4-0 run pushed WMU's edge out to 22-15. Central Michigan closed the gap to three on a pair of occasions, but drew no closer, and the Broncos headed into the break up 2-0.
 
The third set was tied 6-6 early, but Central Michigan moved out ahead with a 9-3 surge to go in front, 15-9. Trailing 20-15, WMU notched three in a row to ignite an 8-1 run, which put the Broncos on top, 23-21. CMU got back within a point twice, but Merz finished off the contest with her fifth kill of the frame, and 12th of the night, to send the Broncos to 4-0 in MAC play for the first time since 2017.
 
WMU and CMU meet again at 3 pm on Saturday afternoon at University Arena. To purchase tickets, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.