CHICAGO – The Western Michigan volleyball team won a pair of matches on Friday, knocking off UAB, 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-16), and SIUE, 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 25-20), during the first day of the UIC Invitational.
 
FINAL SCORE (M1): Western Michigan 3, UAB 0
LOCATION: Credit Union 1 Arena (Chicago, Ill.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (5-0) | UAB (1-3)
 
FINAL SCORE (M2): Western Michigan 3, SIUE 1
LOCATION: Credit Union 1 Arena (Chicago, Ill.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (6-0) | SIUE (1-4)
 
Logan Case served up 29 assists to help Western Michigan hit a season-best .337 in the first contest of the day against UAB. Anna Calcagno led the Broncos with 10 kills, while Maggie King had eight and Keona Salesman hit a blistering .636 to add seven kills.
 
Defensively, Andelyn Simkins posted a team-high nine digs, with Calcagno registering eight and Case pitching in with seven.
 
In the first set against UAB, Western Michigan used an 8-2 run to jump out to a 12-4 advantage. With the margin at 18-12, the Broncos rattled off five consecutive points to put the first frame beyond reach from the Blazers.
 
Five straight points helped the Brown & Gold to an 8-2 to start in the second set. UAB posted a four-point run to climb back to within three, 13-10. With their advantage at 17-13, the Broncos notched five consecutive points to begin an 8-1 set-sealing stretch to grab a 2-0 lead in the contest.
 
A 9-3 stretch turned a slight deficit into an 11-6 cushion for WMU in the third frame. Leading 16-11, the Broncos went on a 6-1 run to extend their margin out to 22-12 and essentially put the match away. Western Michigan hit .385 in the final set to help seal the victory.
In the nightcap, it was Salesman leading the WMU attack with 19 kills on a .317 hitting percentage. The senior was joined in double-figures by King (13 kills) and Amanda Glanton (10). King also added 10 digs for her first double-double of the campaign.
 
Case handed out 47 assists and came just shy of a double-double, posting eight digs. Simkins once again led the Broncos in digs with 13.
 
A 5-1 run put Western Michigan ahead, 11-8, in the first set. SIUE whittled its way back to within two, 15-13, but the Broncos countered with four in a row to boost their advantage to 19-13. The Cougars drew no closer than four the rest of the way as the Brown & Gold grabbed the opening frame.
 
WMU broke a 4-4 deadlock in the second set with a 7-1 spurt to open up an 11-5 lead. SIUE immediately responded with six of the next seven to close the gap to one, 12-11. The Broncos hit back, using a 10-1 surge to make it 22-12. The Cougars worked the margin back down to six, 24-18, before a Salesman kill ended the set in favor of the Broncos and put Western Michigan ahead in the match, 2-0.
 
SIUE was quick out of the gate in the third set, as it notched the first four points. WMU got back even at 8-8, but a pair of 4-0 runs helped the Cougars build a 17-10 advantage. The Broncos got as close as two, including at 22-20, but SIUE closed it out from there with three consecutive points to extend the contest into a fourth frame.
 
A three-point run in a closely contested third set gave Western Michigan a little bit of breathing room at 13-9. Holding a 15-13 edge, the Broncos rattled off four straight points to begin an 8-2 surge which increased the margin to 23-15. SIUE staved off three match points, but WMU then closed it out to remain undefeated at 6-0.  
 
The Broncos close out play at the UIC Invitational on Saturday afternoon as they take on the tournament host, UIC. First serve is slated for 2 pm on ESPN+.