WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Western Michigan volleyball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss (25-21, 25-23, 25-22) at No. 4 Purdue in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship on Thursday evening.
 
FINAL SCORE: Purdue 3, Western Michigan 0
LOCATION: Holloway Gymnasium (West Lafayette, Ind.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (20-13) | No. 4 Purdue (26-6)
 
Logan Case handed out 42 assists to fuel the Western Michigan attack, which was led for the evening by Anna Calcagno's 14 kills. Julia Marr was also in double-figures with 10, while Madison Merz and Keona Salesman each put down nine kills. Carley Piercefield tallied three service aces, and Andelyn Simkins anchored the defensive effort with 15 digs.
 
The first frame featured 15 ties and nine lead changes, and was back and forth until a 4-1 run put Purdue on top, 16-13. With the margin at 18-15, Western Michigan rattled off four consecutive points to move ahead, 19-18. With the set back to even at 21-21, the Boilermakers rattled off four in a row to take the frame, 25-21.  
 
Things played out similarly in the second. Purdue used a four-point spurt to break a 12-12 deadlock and grab a 16-12 edge. Trailing 20-16, Western Michigan used a 5-1 run to get even, 21-21, and then took a 23-21 lead on back-to-back Piercefield aces. The Boilermakers again had an answer, and notched the final four points to take a 2-0 advantage into the break.
 
An early four-point burst helped the Broncos grab a 6-4 edge in the third. Purdue countered with a 5-1 run to move ahead, 11-9. WMU briefly wrestled the lead away, 14-13, but the Boilermakers rattled off five in a row to build an 18-14 margin. The Brown and Gold fought back to get even at 21-21 and again at 22-22, but the hosts broke the deadlock with three straight points to seal the victory.