KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Western Michigan and #15 Tennessee were in a battle for the second consecutive day, with the Lady Vols eventually emerging victorious in four (25-20, 25-11, 22-25, 25-19) on Friday afternoon.
 
FINAL SCORE: #15 Tennessee 3, Western Michigan 1
LOCATION: Food City Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (4-7) | #15 Tennessee (7-3)
 
Logan Case handed out 38 assists and spread the ball around, with five Broncos recording seven or more kills on the afternoon. Keona Salesman made it 11 double-digit kill performances in 11 matches to start the season as she put down a team-high 10 kills. Mary Clare Brusek, Julia Marr and Madison Merz notched eight kills apiece, and Anna Calcagno posted seven.
 
True freshman Carley Piercefield registered double-digit digs for the second straight day as she picked up a team-high 12. Reeghan Boyer and Andelyn Simkins were right behind with 11 apiece.
 
Western Michigan held an 8-6 edge in the opening frame until Tennessee used a 6-2 surge to move ahead, 12-10. After the Broncos got back even at 15-15, the Lady Vols answered with four of the next five to grab a 19-16 cushion. WMU closed the gap back to one at 19-18, but again the hosts had a response, ripping off six of the final eight to close out the first set.
 
Tennessee continued that momentum into the second as it used a 9-1 surge to open up a 14-5 cushion. UT's lead eventually climbed to 21-7 before the Brown and Gold notched three in a row to get the margin to 21-10. That was as close as WMU could get in the frame as the hosts grabbed a 2-0 match advantage.
 
Western Michigan came out strong in the third set, notching six of the first seven points. After UT trimmed the margin to 7-5, the Broncos put together a 7-2 stretch to increase their lead to 14-7. The Lady Vols countered with the next four to get back to within three, 14-11. At 19-15, Tennessee used a 5-2 spurt to shrink the gap to 21-20. With the difference a point again at 22-21, WMU picked up three of the final four points, with a Merz kill securing the frame for the Brown and Gold.
 
The two teams traded runs back and forth in the early stages of the fourth set, and were even at 14-14 until Tennessee notched four in a row to go up 18-14. A pair of Brusek kills helped WMU get to within three, 19-16, but another three straight brought UT's lead to 22-16. The Lady Vols held off the Broncos from there to take the contest in four for the second consecutive day.
 
Western Michigan returns home next weekend to begin Mid-American Conference play with a two-match series against Buffalo. Friday's series opener against the Bulls is Taylor Swift Night at University Arena, with first serve set for 6 pm. For tickets to any WMU volleyball home match, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.