Seniors Keona Salesman and Anna Calcagno didn't start their collegiate volleyball careers at Western Michigan University. But the two outside hitters, who transferred to WMU prior to last season, plan on making a lasting impression on the successful program by the time they end their eligibility. Both will be back for their COVID-eligibility season next year.

The outside hitters have helped the Broncos (10-2 overall) develop a balanced attack which will be on display tonight and Friday night in WMU's Mid-American Conference opener at Miami University (4-8).

"It feels like they have been here for a longer time and they both will be coming back next year," WMU head coach Colleen Munson said. "When you jump into the transfer portal, you have to explain what you are all about and what you are looking for.

"They have experience under their belts and they knew what they are looking for."

Salesman spent the first two years at Ferris State, but wanted to transfer to Western Michigan because she is a Biomedical Sciences major and wants to go to med school. Calcagno was at Marshall for two seasons, but being from the Chicago area (St. Charles, Ill.), wanted to be closer to home.

This season, the two have helped Munson have something every coach hopes for…depth. Every Mid-American Conference coach knows about WMU outside hitter Maggie King, a three-time All-MAC selection. While the coaches might have noticed Salesman and Calcagno on the WMU roster, they might not have known much about the two players.

Now they do. Salesman has been named the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week three times already this season. She is hitting .341, fourth in the league and is averaging 3.81 kills per set, which is second.

Calcagno, along with King, setter Logan Case and defensive specialist Reeghan Boyer, has started all 12 of Western Michigan's matches. She is third on the team in total kills with 122 and third in total kill attempts at 320. She has been a double-digit kill machine already this season, getting 10 or more kills in seven of the team's 12 matches. Last year, she had only eight the entire season.

"The big difference between last year and this year is playing time," Calcagno said. "I worked really hard in the spring with more urgency to earn my position on the floor and make the most of it when I can.

"Starting this year, I felt like I had to be more confident and to work hard…just trying to compete and being a physical presence rather than just playing volleyball."

Asked if the transfer from Marshall was hard, Calcagno had a quick response.

"It was the easiest transition I've ever had," she said. "The team, everyone, made me feel welcome."

Being a physical presence on the court isn't a problem for either outside hitter as Calcagno is 6-feet, 2-inches tall and Salesman is 6-1.

"Anna is playing six rotations and both players are taking on more because they are ready for it," Munson said.

Salesman didn't get her first start until the third match of the season. She had nine kills against Milwaukee in the first match, then in the second match, had eight kills in about a set and a half against Northern Iowa. In the team's third match, she started and ripped into Villanova with 15 kills. Since that match, Salesman has had just one match in single-digit kills and that was a 3-0 sweep of UAB. In that match, she had seven kills with no errors in 11 attempts for a gaudy .636 hitting percentage.

It took a little time for the Bronson High School graduate to make the transition from Division II Ferris State to Division I WMU.

"A big item was in the blocking and I felt like I was a step slow, but Colleen help me get it fast," she said. "From last year to this year, the big thing which helped me and all of us was our 10-day trip to Europe this summer.

"It was playing and practicing every day which was tough, but it prepared us for this season."

Added Munson: "Keona and Anna were both outstanding in Europe."

Early last season, Salesman came to Munson, asking how the senior could get more court time.

"We said, if we aren't passing well, the ball is off the net and Logan has to pass the ball to you on the outside, how do you respond to a double block in front of you?" Munson said.

So Salesman has learned how to hit different shots, to keep the blockers off balance.

"In Europe, I worked on moving the ball around, hitting away from where I'm facing, that when I have a solid block on me, to tool off the blockers or even hit over them," she said. "Just being more athletic."

For Calcagno, "when she is on a runway and aggressively approaching the net, she is very physical and a very talented blocker."

Calcagno leads WMU in block assists with 31 and is second in solo blocks with four. Her 0.80 blocks-per-set average is just outside the MAC's top-10.

"Our pins (outside hitters), our middle blockers, our defense and our setters are all working together," Munson said.

Oh, and one more item about Salesman's advancement…she has her old number back.

"I've been jersey No. 8 my whole life, but last year I was No. 6," she said. "Now I'm back to No. 8."

Both will be trying to help WMU get off to a quick start in the MAC. Starting on the road in the league actually plays into Munson's scheduling to start the season. The Broncos have played just three matches at University Arena, and that was at the start of the season. They have played nine straight matches on the road.

"Recruits keep asking when we are going to play at home again because they came to our first tournament and we haven't been back," Munson said. "We had to learn how to win on the road (WMU was 3-9 last season on the road).

"We scheduled better and tougher this year, and every coach we played said we are so much better than they thought."