KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team opens up the 2022 season on Friday and Saturday out at the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colo. The Broncos begin the campaign on Friday with a doubleheader against Denver and Colorado, and then wrap up the weekend with a Saturday afternoon contest against Green Bay.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Match One: Friday, August 26 | 12 pm | WMU vs. Denver |
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Match Two: Friday, August 26 | 9 pm | WMU at Colorado |
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Match Three: Saturday, August 27 | 2 pm | WMU vs. Green Bay |
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FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUVolleyball
THE FIRST SERVE
Western Michigan begins its 2022 campaign on Friday and Saturday at the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colo., against Denver, Colorado and Green Bay. The Broncos are 2-0 all-time against Green Bay, having defeated the Phoenix in Kalamazoo in 1996 and 1998. WMU is 0-2 against Denver, with the most recent meeting coming in 2015. The Broncos have never faced off with the Buffaloes.
LAST TIME OUT
WMU saw its 2021 season come to an end in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship, falling to top seed and eventual tournament champion Ball State, 3-1.
Julia Marr and
Meredith Phillips tallied 15 kills apiece, while
Logan Case had 47 assists and 13 digs to collect her team-leading 16th double-double of the season.
BRONCOS ARE BACK
The Broncos bring back seven letterwinners from last season's 19-win team, including Preseason All-MAC West honorees
Logan Case and
Maggie King. Other returning letterwinners for WMU include
Madison Merz,
Mairead Boyle,
Andelyn Simkins,
Kennedy Hogan and
Julia Marr.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
In addition to the returners, WMU brought six newcomers into the fold for 2022. The Broncos welcomed a pair of transfer outside hitters in
Anna Calcagno (Marshall) and
Keona Salesman (Ferris State). Western Michigan also brought in four freshmen, in defensive specialist
Reeghan Boyer, setter
Maddie Kmetz and middle blockers
Mary Clare Brusek and
Amanda Glanton.
CLOSING IN ON 1000
In her first three seasons as a Bronco,
Maggie King has amassed 971 kills, leaving her just 29 shy of reaching 1000 for her collegiate career. King is looking to become the 24th member of WMU's 1000-kill club. The last Bronco to reach 1000 career kills was Rachel Bontrager (2017-20), who eclipsed the 1000-mark during her junior season (2019).
MARR COMES ON STRONG
Julia Marr came on strong down the final stretch of her freshman campaign for the Broncos, tallying double-digit kills in each of WMU's final seven matches. She averaged 2.83 kills/set and hit .268 for the season, but took that up a notch in MAC play, averaging 3.04 kills/set and hitting .270.
