KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan hit .310 and served up 10 aces to roll to a straight-set victory (25-17, 27-25, 25-15) over Northern Illinois on Tuesday evening to extend its winning streak to five in a row.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Northern Illinois 0
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (12-13, 9-3 MAC) | NIU (10-11, 3-9)
 
Leah Richmond collected her 19th double-double of the season (31 assists, 10 digs) to help Western Michigan reach the .310 mark, its second-highest team hitting percentage this season. Annalise Patchett produced a team-leading 12 kills on a .370 hitting percentage, while Mary Clare Brusek put down nine kills and hit .571.
 
Aiding WMU's scoring efforts were 10 service aces, which included six in the opening frame. Molly Brown served up five aces, while Maddie Kmetz and Carley Piercefield tallied two apiece.
 
On the defensive end, Reeghan Boyer dug up a match-high 21 balls, with Piercefield chipping in 11. Amanda Glanton spearheaded the defense at the net, recording six blocks (2 solo, 4 assists).
 
After Northern Illinois tallied the first three points of the night, the Broncos answered with nine of the next 10 to open up a 9-4 advantage. With the margin at 10-5, the Huskies used a 5-1 run to close the gap to 11-10. NIU got to within one again at 12-11, but Western Michigan then put together a 10-4 stretch to extend the cushion to 22-15 and put the frame beyond reach.
 
The Huskies built an 11-6 edge in the early stages of the second set. The Brown and Gold countered with seven of the next eight to move in front, 13-12. After trading the lead back and back forth, Western Michigan regained the lead at 22-20. NIU proceeded to notch four straight to reach set point at 24-22. A Glanton kill and Brown ace got the Broncos back even, 24-24. Northern Illinois had another chance to close it out at 25-24, but WMU again had an answer, tying the frame back up with a block and then putting it away on back-to-back kills by Brusek and Patchett.
 
With the third set even at 11-11, the Broncos picked up four straight points to begin a 9-2 surge which put the home team in front, 20-13. NIU got to within 20-15, but WMU then claimed the final five points of the night to complete the sweep.
 
Western Michigan hits the road this weekend for a two-match series at Toledo. First serve for the series opener against the Rockets is set for Friday at 6 pm on ESPN+.