KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team had four players tally double-digit kills, and Logan Case recorded her first double-double of the season in Saturday night's 3-1 victory (25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 25-15) over Loyola Chicago at University Arena. The win was WMU's 19th in a row on its home floor.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Loyola Chicago 1
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (2-0) | Loyola Chicago (0-2)
 
Case's double-double came via 48 assists and 10 digs, the first double-double by a WMU player in 2024. Her distribution set up four teammates for double-digit kills, led by Mary Clare Brusek's 17, which came on a .552 hitting percentage (17-1-29). Julia Marr (12), Anna Calcagno (11) and Keona Salesman (11) joined Brusek in double-figures for the Brown and Gold.
 
Western Michigan's serving proved to be a weapon as well, as the team recorded 10 service aces to just one for the Ramblers. Reeghan Boyer delivered a career-high six aces, while Elana Erickson tallied three.
 
On the defensive side, Andelyn Simkins collected a team-high 24 digs, while Boyer also racked up double-digit digs for the second straight match, totaling 14. Brusek and Calcagno tied for the team lead with four blocks apiece.
 
The two teams traded runs back and forth in the opening frame. A 4-0 spurt put the Broncos in front 11-9, but a short while later, Loyola Chicago notched four straight of its own to nudge in front, 16-15. With the set even at 20-20, Western Michigan tallied three straight points on consecutive kills by Salesman, Brusek and Calcagno. The Ramblers closed the gap to 23-22, before another Brusek kill and an error gave the first set to the Brown and Gold.
 
Western Michigan got out to an 8-4 start in the second set, only to see the Ramblers bounce back and draw level at 12-12. With WMU ahead 18-16, Loyola Chicago tallied four straight points to move in front, 20-18. The Broncos countered with three in a row to wrestle the lead back, 21-20. The visitors came right back with five of the next seven to take the set, 25-23, and even the contest at one apiece.  
 
The third frame featured 16 ties and was back and forth until the latter stages. Loyola Chicago used a 5-2 spurt to grab a 17-15 edge, just the second time a team had held a lead of more than one to that point in the set. Western Michigan registered the next three points, and then broke an 18-18 tie by tallying the final seven points of the stanza to take a 2-1 advantage on the night.
 
The Broncos made it 10 straight points overall as they notched the first three of the fourth frame. Loyola Chicago countered with five in a row to take a 5-3 edge. Trailing 7-6, Western Michigan rattled off six consecutive points to jump start a 15-3 surge which put the Brown and Gold on top, 21-10. WMU did not look back from there, as it maintained a margin of nine or more the rest of the way.
 
The 2024 Western Michigan Volleyball Tournament wraps up on Sunday, with the Broncos set to take on Clemson at 2 pm. For tickets to any home WMU volleyball match, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.