ATHENS, Ohio – The Western Michigan volleyball team closed out the regular season with a four-set loss (17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 27-25) at Ohio on Friday evening.  
 
FINAL SCORE: Ohio 3, Western Michigan 1
LOCATION: Convocation Center (Athens, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (16-15, 13-5 MAC) | Ohio (14-16, 12-6)
 
Three Broncos recorded double-digit kills, led by Mia Jurkovic who tallied 14 kills on a .414 hitting percentage. Mary Clare Brusek and Annalise Patchett recorded 11 kills apiece. Leah Richmond just missed out on a double-double, handing out 46 assists and collecting nine digs. Reeghan Boyer spearheaded WMU's defensive efforts with 19 digs, while Carley Piercefield tied her career high with 15.
 
Holding a 7-6 edge in the first set, Western Michigan rattled off six consecutive points to increase the cushion to 13-6. After Ohio got the next two points, the Broncos used a 5-1 spurt to boost the margin to 18-9. The Bobcats could get no closer than seven the rest of the way, with WMU hitting .364 to comfortably take the opening frame.
 
Western Michigan held a 10-8 edge in the second, but the Bobcats then notched four in a row to move ahead, 12-10. The Broncos countered with five of the next six to regain the advantage, 15-13. WMU remained on top until Ohio put together a 6-1 stretch to go back in front, 21-18. The Brown and Gold closed the gap to one on multiple occasions, but OU was able to hold on to take the frame, 25-23, and even the match at 1-1.
 
Ohio built a 6-3 advantage at the start of the third set. At 14-12, the Bobcats reeled off five in a row to increase their lead to 19-12. Again the Broncos tried to put together a rally, but the hosts held them off to take a 2-1 match advantage into the fourth.
 
The Bobcats raced out to an 11-3 lead to begin the fourth. Western Michigan pushed back with the next four points, and kept chipping away at the deficit. With it whittled down to 18-16, the Broncos then rattled off six of the next seven to climb in front, 22-19. With WMU on the verge of sending the contest to a fifth set at 24-21, Ohio responded with a 6-1 run of its own to deny the visitors the frame and seal the match victory.
 
Having already secured the No. 2 seed in next weekend's Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Broncos will now await a semifinal matchup next Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 pm. The MAC will release the full bracket and schedule for next weekend's tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio, following the conclusion of the regular season on Saturday.