KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After spending the last month on the road, the Western Michigan volleyball team finally returns home this week for a two-match conference series against Bowling Green.
Friday night is Rally at Read, with a $2 ticket deal, rally towels, concession specials and free pizza and prizes for students.
WMU (12-2, 2-0 MAC) vs Bowling Green (7-6, 1-1)
Match One: Thursday, Sept. 28 | 6 pm |
TICKETS |
WATCH LIVE |
LIVE STATS
Match Two: Friday, Sept. 29 | 6 pm |
TICKETS |
WATCH LIVE |
LIVE STATS
FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUVolleyball
THE FIRST SERVE
After 11 consecutive matches away from home, Western Michigan finally returns to the friendly confines of University Arena this week for a two-match series against Bowling Green.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos opened up Mid-American Conference play with back-to-back straight-set victories over Miami in Oxford last week to begin MAC play 2-0 for the fourth straight season.
Logan Case handed out 11.33 assists per set as WMU hit a combined .299 for the series.
Maggie King was the main beneficiary of Case's distribution, as she put down double-digit kills in both contests and averaged 3.67 kills per set against the RedHawks.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bowling Green arrives in Kalamazoo 1-1 in conference play after splitting a pair of matches against Northern Illinois last weekend. The Falcons had a pair of players earn MAC East Player of the Week honors for their play against the Huskies, as outside hitter Lauryn Hovey (Offensive) and libero Benedetta Marcon (Defensive) claimed the honors.
SERIES HISTORY
WMU owns a 42-28-1 record in the all-time series against BGSU. The Falcons have had the upperhand as of late, claiming each of the last six meetings, including a five-set win in Kalamazoo last season.
SETTING THE TABLE
Senior setter
Logan Case has kept the Broncos at the top of the MAC in several categories, including kills/set (13.80, 25th nationally) and assists/set (12.82, 26th DI). Western Michigan is also second in the conference with a .253 team hitting percentage. Individually, Case is atop the league in assists/set (11.35, 3rd DI) and total assists (579, 6th in DI).
KILLER TRIO
Fueled by Case's assists, the Western Michigan attack boasts three of the top-13 in the MAC in kills/set in
Keona Salesman (2nd, 3.64),
Maggie King (3.46, 7th) and
Anna Calcagno (2.86, 13th).
DIGGING IN DEFENSIVELY
The Broncos boast the second-best opposing hitting percentage in the conference at .180. Libero
Andelyn Simkins has led WMU's defensive efforts with 4.45 digs/set, fourth-most in the league.
