KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Having won four straight matches the Western Michigan volleyball team begins a season-long five match road swing beginning this weekend at Akron.
Friday, March 12: Western Michigan at Akron | 7:00 p.m. |
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Saturday, March 13: Western Michigan at Akron | 5:00 p.m. |
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Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan has won four straight matches and heads into the weekend with an overall and Mid-American Conference record of 10-3. The Broncos are 25-12 all-time against Akron but haven't defeated the Zips in Akron since 2017.
Hot Start
It's the third straight season WMU has started off with a 10-3 record. With its MAC record at 10-3, Western Michigan is off to its best conference start since going 11-2 during the 2011 campaign.
MAC Awards Sweep
After perfect 3-0 week last weekend the Broncos swept the MAC West weekly awards. Senior
Rachel Bontrager was named Offensive Player of the Week while fellow senior
Kaley Smith was named Defensive Player of the Week. Rounding out the sweep was freshman
Logan Case who earned MAC West Setter of the Week honors.
The 1,500 Club
Senior outside hitter
Rachel Bontrager is just 18 kills away from becoming the third player in school history to reach 1,500 career kills.
The Only Bronco
Bontrager needs just 18 kills to eclipse 1,500 career kills and just 53 digs to have 1,000 for her career. If done, Bontrager can become the only player in school history to have 1,500 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Amongst the MAC's Best Offense
Western Michigan has shown it has one of the MAC's top offenses this season ranking first in the conference in hitting percentage (.244) and kills per set (14.32).
Inside the Numbers
Seven of WMU's first 13 matches have been decided in three sets with WMU recording a 5-2 record … WMU is 9-0 this season when winning the first set … when registering a .200 to .400 hitting percentage, WMU is 9-0.
What Lies Ahead?
Following this weekend's matches at Akron, the Broncos gear up for a midweek road trip on Tuesday, March 16 at Northern Illinois. WMU then travels to Athens, Ohio to square off with Ohio, March 19-20.
