YPSILANTI, Mich. – With an overall and conference record at 4-2 the Western Michigan volleyball team is off to its best Mid-American Conference start since 2017 after a four-set victory (25-16, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23) over Eastern Michigan on Friday night.

The Broncos were guided by the duo of senior Rachel Bontrager and sophomore Maggie King who combined to register 40 of WMU's 65 kills against the Eagles. Bontrager posted her second double-double of the season with 21 kills and 12 digs. The Valparaiso, Ind., native registered a staggering .432 attack percentage with one block and one service ace.

It was a career night for sophomore Maggie King who collected a career-high 19 kills to go along a .366 attack percentage and three digs. It's the third time this season King has registered double-digit kills.

The duo of redshirt junior Janell Williams and junior Meredith Phillips each registered a season-high with eight kills. Phillips ranked fourth on the team with a .240 attack percentage while Williams had a .208 attack percentage to go along with one block.

Along with Bontrager, freshman Logan Case earned her first career double-double with a career-high 59 assists and career-high 11 digs. The 59 assists were the most in a match this season for Western Michigan and the first 50-plus assist match for the Broncos since Nov. 2, 2019.

The Broncos had five players with double digit digs led by senior Kaley Smith with 31. Following Smith was freshman Mairead Boyle with 13 followed by Bontrager with 12 and the duo of freshman Andelyn Simkins and Case with 11.

As a team on Friday night the Broncos hit .292 and had a 72.8 percent side-out percentage. WMU had four blocks against the Eagles to go along with four service aces. In two matches against EMU the Broncos hit. 287 and held EMU to a .135 attack percentage. WMU also recorded seven service aces to EMU's three.

With the two-game sweep the Broncos now have an overall and conference record of 4-2. WMU is off to its best start in conference play since 2017. WMU returns home for two matches against in-state rival Central Michigan, Feb. 11-12.

First Set (WMU – 25, EMU – 16)
It was as good of a start as you could have for Western Michigan as the Broncos scored the first six points in the first set. Midway through the set Eastern Michigan clawed its way back to trail 15-10 before WMU embarked on a 6-0 run to extend its lead.

The 6-0 run for the Broncos was aided by three EMU attack errors along with a service ace from freshman Logan Case. Down the stretch WMU opened up a double digit lead and never looked back to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Second Set (WMU – 22, EMU – 25)
WMU dropped its first set of the weekend in the second despite recording a .200 attack percentage. EMU stormed out of the gate with a 6-1 run to take a 9-7 lead before WMU embarked on a 3-0 run to earn an 11-10 advantage after a kill from Rachel Bontrager.

Midway through the set the Broncos and Eagles went back and forth as both teams traded eight straight points en route to a 17-16 lead for EMU. Late in the second, Eastern Michigan scored four of the final six points to tie the match at 1-1.

Third Set (WMU – 25, EMU – 16)
It was a dominant third set for WMU, registering a 295 attack percentage to earn a 2-1 lead in the match. The Broncos gained an early 12-6 lead after back-to-back kills from Bontrager gave WMU a 12-6 advantage.  The kills from Bontrager highlighted a 5-1 run for the Brown & Gold.

Later in the third WMU went on a 6-2 run after kills from Janell Williams and Maggie King. EMU cut its deficit down to seven late before WMU pulled away for the 2-1 match lead. The Broncos ended the set thanks to Meredith Phillips who recorded the final three kills for WMU.

Fourth Set (WMU – 25, EMU – 23)
The fourth set was a tight battle between the Broncos and Eagles as neither team led by more than three through the first 24 points. Thanks to three-straight kills from Bontrager, Western Michigan tied the set at 12-12. Once again the two teams went back and forth prior to a kill from Maggie King tied the set at 21.

The Broncos were led by King late in fourth as the sophomore outside hitter tallied the final five kills for the Broncos to secure the fourth set and match win.