BUFFALO, N.Y. – Western Michigan University sophomore setter Logan Case handed out 60 assists on Friday evening to surpass 2000 for her collegiate career. The Broncos could not withstand a Buffalo rally, however, and fell to the Bulls 3-2 (19-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-10) at UB's Alumni Arena.
 
Case became the first Bronco to reach 2000 career assists since Mary Murphy (2015-18) eclipsed the 2000-assist mark in 2016. The 60 assists tied the second-highest single-match total in Case's career, and it marked the third time she has had at least 60 helpers in a match. In addition to her 60 assists, the sophomore collected 12 digs to register her team-leading 13th double-double of the season.
 
Meredith Phillips (12 kills, 15 digs) also recorded a double-double for Western Michigan (15-10, 8-6), her first of the season. Maggie King came just shy of a double-double, posting a match-high 21 kills and nine digs. Both Madison Merz (14) and Kennedy Hogan (11) tallied career-bests in kills for WMU. Maddie Arundel led the Broncos with 21 digs, while Andelyn Simkins added 16.
 
The match was tight all evening, with a total of 34 ties across the five frames, including 10 in the first stanza. With the first set even at 18-18, Western Michigan rattled off six in a row to reach set point, and finished the frame off on a Julia Marr kill.
 
The Broncos got off to a fast start in the second set, jumping ahead, 5-1. Buffalo (12-14, 5-9) answered, and got back even at 8-8. Tied at 11-11, WMU tallied three straight points to regain the edge, 14-11. The Bulls drew within a point twice, including at 19-18, but a 4-0 spurt helped WMU pull away and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
 
Buffalo took the first six points of the third frame, and held the lead throughout the set. Western Michigan cut a 19-12 deficit all the way down to one with a 6-0 run, but the Bulls staved off the rally to force the contest to a fourth set.
 
With UB in front, 5-2, in the fourth stanza, WMU ripped off five in a row to take a 7-5 edge. After Buffalo leveled it back up at 7-7, neither team led by more than one until a 3-0 spurt nudged the Broncos back on top, 18-16. After the two teams traded 3-0 runs, Western Michigan held a 23-21 advantage, but the Bulls tallied the next four points to send the match into a decisive fifth frame.
 
A 3-0 spurt by the Bulls gave the hosts a 6-4 edge in the final frame. WMU tied it up at 6-6, but UB countered with four in a row and seven of the next eight to take control, 13-7, and sealed the comeback from there.
 
The Broncos and Bulls conclude their weekend series on Saturday at 4 pm. The match will be carried live on ESPN3.