KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan volleyball team takes its half-game lead in the MAC West division on the road this weekend with a two-match series at second-place Toledo. The Broncos face the Rockets on Friday at 6 pm on ESPN+, and again on Saturday at 3 pm on ESPN3.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Western Michigan continues its four-match road swing this weekend with a trip to Toledo. The Broncos are 8-4 away from home this season, including a 4-3 mark in true road contests. WMU enters the weekend half a game ahead of both Toledo and Ball State in the MAC West standings. 

LAST TIME OUT
After beginning their road trip with a four-set win at Miami last Friday night, the Broncos suffered their first MAC loss of the season on Saturday, falling in three sets to Bowling Green. The setback against the Falcons also snapped Western Michigan's seven-match winning streak.

SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
After dropping its first conference match at Ohio in late September, Toledo has won five in a row, including road wins at Buffalo and Akron last weekend. The Rockets have largely done it with defense, as they currently lead the MAC in opponents' hitting percentage (.159) and blocks/set (2.40). UT also tops the league in service aces/set (1.79), led by Taylor Alt's 25 aces (0.41/set).

ALL-TIME SERIES
WMU owns a 57-15 advantage in the all-time series against Toledo. The Broncos beat the Rockets in Toledo in both spring meetings, and have won each of their last three trips to Savage Arena.

LEAGUE LEADERS
Logan Case and Maggie King enter the weekend sitting atop the MAC leaderboards. Case leads the conference, and ranks third nationally, in assists/set at 11.54. The sophomore's 727 total assists are also the most so far this season in the MAC. King is averaging a conference-leading 3.83 kills/set. The duo has combined to place Western Michigan third in the MAC in hitting percentage at .238. 

DIGGING IN DEFENSIVELY
Western Michigan libero Mairead Boyle has recorded double-digit digs in 11 consecutive contests. During her current streak, the sophomore has tallied 20 or more digs on five occasions, including a career-high 27 in WMU's win at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 23. Overall, Boyle ranks fourth in the MAC in digs/set at 4.58. The Palos Heights, Ill., native is averaging 5.56 digs/set in league play.

ON THE HORIZON 
Western Michigan returns to University Arena next Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22-23, for a home series against Ball State. Friday's series opener is slated for 6 pm. Fans can purchase tickets for any WMU home volleyball match here.