KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team ran its winning streak up to six in a row with a 3-1 victory (22-25, 27-25, 25-13, 25-20) over Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon at University Arena. The win moves the Broncos to 5-0 in MAC play, their best league start since a 6-0 start during the 2009 season.
 
Western Michigan (12-4, 5-0) hit .309 for the contest, led by Maggie King, who amassed 19 kills on a .333 hitting percentage. Andelyn Simkins registered her third consecutive double-double, tallying 13 kills and a team-high 20 digs.
 
Logan Case handed out a match-high 50 assists for the afternoon, the fifth time this season the sophomore has totaled 50 or more assists in a match. Mairead Boyle and Maddie Arundel contributed 18 and 15 digs, respectively, while Kennedy Hogan picked up a career-high five blocks for the Broncos. WMU held an 8-1 advantage in blocks for the afternoon.
 
Central Michigan grabbed the early lead in the first set, opening up a 6-3 edge. Western Michigan responded with a 9-3 run to move in front, 12-9. After CMU got back even at 16-16, a 3-0 spurt gave the Broncos the advantage once again, 19-16. With WMU on top 21-19, the Chippewas rattled off six of the next seven points to steal the first frame, 25-22.
 
A 4-0 run helped the Broncos take an 8-4 lead in the second set. WMU held the advantage throughout the frame, until a pair of 3-0 runs helped CMU draw even at 21-21. A Simkins kill got Western Michigan to set point at 24-23, but the Chippewas responded with the next two points to turn the lead in their favor, 25-24. An error got WMU level at 25-25, and a Hogan kill followed by a Madison Merz ace sealed the second set for the Broncos, and evened the contest at 1-1.
 
WMU jumped out to a 6-2 advantage in the third set. On top 10-9, Western Michigan went on a 4-0 run to extend the margin to 14-9. Leading 19-13, the Broncos finished off the frame with a 6-0 surge, which included three kills from King.
 
Even at 10-10 in the fourth set, Western Michigan put together a 5-2 stretch to move in front, 15-12. After CMU got within two, 16-14, the Broncos reeled off four consecutive points to extend their lead out to 20-14. WMU's advantage did not dip below four the rest of the way, as the Broncos extended their winning streak to six in a row.
 
Western Michigan hits the road for its next four contests, beginning on Friday, Oct. 8, at Miami. First serve against the Redhawks is slated for 7 pm.