KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team returns to Kalamazoo this week for a two-match series against Akron. Friday is WMU's annual Dig Pink match, with all fans in attendance encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

WMU (6-12, 3-2 MAC) vs Akron (8-8, 1-4)
Match One: Thursday, Oct. 9 | 5 pm | TICKETS | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
Match Two: Friday, Oct. 10 | 5 pm | TICKETS | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUVolleyball

HOME SWEET HOME
Following its three-match road trip, Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo for a two-match series against Akron. The Broncos have turned University Arena into one of the top home advantages in the conference, and enter this week having won nine consecutive MAC matches on their home floor. 

LAST TIME OUT
WMU is coming off of a three-set loss at Northern Illinois on Tuesday night which saw all three sets decided by either two or three points. Leah Richmond collected her ninth straight double-double for the Brown and Gold, posting 34 assists and 11 digs. Mary Clare Brusek had double-digit kills for the fifth straight match, putting down 12 while hitting .375. Amanda Glanton added 10 kills on a blistering .529 hitting percentage.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Leah Richmond continues to rack up the double-doubles for the Broncos, adding her ninth in a row and 14th of the season on Tuesday at NIU. For the year, Richmond is atop the MAC in both total assists (660) and assists per set (9.71), with her assist total ranking as the third-highest in NCAA Division I. She also ranks eighth in the conference in total digs (220), and is just outside of the top-10 in the league in digs per set at 3.24.

LEAGUE-LEADING LIBERO
Elana Erickson has flourished as WMU's new libero this season. The sophomore has won a pair of MAC Defensive Player of the Week awards and currently sits atop the conference in both total digs (322) and digs per set (4.74). Erickson's 322 digs rank eighth in all of NCAA Division I, while her 4.74 digs per set are 26th nationally. Led by their new libero, the Broncos rank fourth in the nation in total digs (1,174) and ninth in digs per set (17.26).

BRONCO BLOCK PARTY
Western Michigan has recorded double-digit blocks in each of its first five conference matches. Amanda Glanton has led the way for the Broncos up front, tallying a team-high five blocks on Tuesday at NIU and at least four in all five league contests. In MAC play, the senior leads the conference in both total blocks (33) and blocks per set (1.65). Glanton has also been a major threat offensively, owning the best hitting percentage in league matches at .476.

SERIES HISTORY
Western Michigan owns a 33-13 all-time mark against Akron and has won four consecutive meetings with the Zips. The Broncos have won 12 straight over Akron in Kalamazoo, having not lost at home to the Zips since 2002.