ATHENS, Ohio – The Western Michigan volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision (25-23, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22) at Ohio on Friday evening.    
 
FINAL SCORE: Ohio 3, Western Michigan 1
LOCATION: Convocation Center (Athens, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (13-11, 5-7 MAC) | Ohio (15-8, 9-3 MAC)
 
Maggie King posted her 10th double-double of the season for Western Michigan, as the senior tallied a team-high 16 kills and registered 11 digs in the contest. The 10 double-doubles ties King with Logan Case for the team lead. King's 16 kills put her into double-figures for the seventh consecutive match. Abi Wilcoxson (12) and Amanda Glanton (10) joined King in double-figures.
 
Case racked up a match-high 48 assists on the evening to extend her streak of matches with 30 or more helpers to 37 in a row. Andelyn Simkins led the WMU defensive effort with a match-high 20 digs, her third consecutive match with 20 or more digs and 14th straight in which she's tallied double-digits. Mairead Boyle chipped in 13 digs for Western Michigan.
 
The Broncos zoomed out to an 8-3 advantage in the first set, but five straight helped the Bobcats draw level, 8-8. Western Michigan moved back in front at 18-16, but six of the next seven went to Ohio, putting the hosts on top, 22-19. After OU got it to 24-20, WMU fought off three set points before the hosts put the first frame away, 25-23.
 
A 5-2 stretch helped the Broncos open up a 15-11 advantage in the second set, but a 7-3 response brought the Bobcats back even at 18-18. Western Michigan answered with the next four to regain a four-point lead, 22-18. Ohio closed the gap to 22-20, but WMU picked up the next three, with a Keona Salesman kill finishing off the set and evening the match at one set apiece.
 
Ohio notched the first four points of the third frame on the way to a 7-3 start. With OU on top 16-12, WMU rattled off four straight of its own to get back even, 16-16. The Broncos briefly nudged ahead, 23-22, but four of the next five went to the Bobcats to give OU a 2-1 match edge heading into the fourth frame.
 
In the fourth set, the Bobcats again tallied seven of the first 10 points to get out to a 7-3 advantage. The Broncos then used an 8-1 surge to overtake Ohio and move in front, 17-14. Four of the ensuing five points went to OU, evening the set at 18-18. A King kill and a solo block by Wilcoxson restored WMU's edge, 21-19. However, the Bobcats tallied the next five to rally past the Broncos and secure the four-set victory.  
 
The Broncos conclude their four-match road trip on Saturday as they tangle with Kent State at 4 pm. The contest will be streamed on ESPN3.