TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Western Michigan volleyball team split its first day at the Sycamore Invitational with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-22) victory over Austin Peay and a 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 14-16) loss to host Indiana State.
Maggie King caught fire in the first match against the Governors, tallying a match-high 18 kills in the win. Andelyn Sipkins just missed out on a double-double after posting nine kills and 14 digs. Sophomore setter Logan Case also had a match-high 39 assists.
WMU jumped out to an early lead in the first set, maintaining a two-point lead early on until a kill by APSU's Mikayala Powell brought it down to one, 11-10. King then recorded a kill, followed a block by Abi Wilcoxson and Kennedy Hogan and two attack errors on the Governors opened up WMU's lead to 15-10. A kill by Madison Merz pushed the lead to 18-12, but Austin Peay responded with four of the next five points to cut the lead to 19-16. Western Michigan closed out the match on a 6-4 run.
The Broncos cruised in the second set, hitting .382 and holding the Governors to a .097 attack percentage. WU jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never let APSU get within more than four points the rest of the way.
The third set was a tighter affair, with the Broncos only hitting .089. Austin Peay built the early lead this time and after an attack error on Simkins, went ahead 8-5. Western Michigan scored the next nine points to flip the set, taking a 14-8 lead. WMU never trailed after that, but the Governors battled back to tie it up at 22-22 after a 5-1 run. A kill by Simkins was sandwiched by two from King to seal the match.
King had a match-high 25 kills against the Sycamores, while Case had a career-high 64 assists in the five-set thriller. After just missing her double-double in the opening match, Simkins got it in the night cap after 15 kills and a career-high 23 digs. King also had 16 digs to record a double-double, while libero Mairead Boyle had a match-best 24. The Broncos hit .245 in the match but were held to just .083 in the final set.
Western Michigan took a 2-0 lead after winning the first two sets. Indiana State battled back to take the next two in a close 25-23 decision in the third and a 25-21 win in the fourth. The Broncos held the early lead in the final set. After a service error by Taylor Shelton, WMU went on top 7-5. ISU won the next three points to take an 8-7 lead but kills by Case and Merz put the Broncos back on top, 9-8. Mallory Keller tied it up at 9-9 but Western Michigan rattled off the next three points to push ahead 12-9 thanks to a kill and then back-to-back aces by Merz. The lead disappeared after the Sycamores scored the next five points to get match point at 14-12. King's 25th kill of the match brought the Broncos within one and she tied it up with a block, 14-14. A Bronco service error and a block Karinna Gall gave the match to the Sycamores.
Western Michigan is back at it again on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. against IUPUI.
