KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After opening up its 2023 road slate with a victory at Michigan on Tuesday, the 4-0 Western Michigan volleyball team heads to Chicago this weekend for the UIC Invitational. 

TOURNAMENT INFO
Match One: Friday, Sept. 1 | 11 am | WMU vs. UAB | LIVE STATS
Match Two: Friday, Sept. 1 | 6 pm | WMU vs. SIUE | LIVE STATS
Match Three: Saturday, Sept. 2 | 2 pm | WMU at UIC | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUVolleyball

THE FIRST SERVE
Western Michigan continues its stretch of 11 consecutive matches away from home this weekend at the UIC Invitational in Chicago. The Broncos open up with their lone doubleheader of the season on Friday against UAB and SIUE, and follow that up on Saturday with the host, UIC.  

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos are coming off of their first straight-set victory of 2023, as they swept Michigan on Tuesday night. Keona Salesman hit .333 on the way to a match-high 11 kills, while Logan Case handed out 33 assists. Andelyn Simkins (16) and Anna Calcagno (11) both recorded double-digit digs for WMU. It was Western Michigan's second consecutive win over a Big Ten team (Indiana, 2021).

THE OPPONENTS
UAB and SIUE each turned in a 1-2 record during Opening Weekend. The Broncos are 2-0 all-time against the Blazers and 1-0 against the Cougars, having played both most recently in 2018. Like WMU, UIC won all three of its matches last weekend. Western Michigan is 11-1 against the Flames, with the last meeting coming back in 2007.

STARTING FAST
Western Michigan has opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 2019. That season, the Broncos started the campaign with eight straight wins.

AWARDS SWEEP
Western Michigan was rewarded for its 3-0 Opening Weekend by sweeping the MAC West weekly awards. Logan Case was named Setter of the Week, libero Andelyn Simkins was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week and outside hitter Keona Salesman was named Offensive Player of the Week. Case averaged 11.58 assists and 2.33 digs per set on the way to being named the MVP of the Western Michigan Tournament. Simkins posted 3.83 digs/set and had a .983 reception percentage, while Salesman hit .346 with 3.56 kills/set.

LEAGUE LEADERS
Western Michigan is leading the MAC in several categories, including assists/set (12.93) and kills/set (13.87). Individually, Case is atop the league and 14th in the nation with 11.47 assists/set, while Maggie King leads the MAC in kills/set (3.75). Also among the conference leaders in kills/set are Salesman (3rd, 3.58) and Anna Calcagno (7th, 3.33).