CLEVELAND – The Western Michigan volleyball team claimed two of the Mid-American Conference's weekly awards following the Opening Weekend of the 2025 season, with sophomore Elana Erickson being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week and redshirt freshman Leah Richmond earning the MAC Setter of the Week award.
 
Erickson racked up 63 digs (5.73/set) and went a perfect 27-for-27 in serve receive to earn a spot on the Western Michigan All-Tournament Team over the weekend. In her debut as WMU's libero on Friday night against Oakland, she racked up a career-high 33 digs as the Broncos opened their season with a victory over the Golden Grizzlies. The sophomore followed that up with double-digit digs in each of the next two contests as well, collecting 12 against Illinois State and 18 against DePaul.
 
Richmond handed out 123 assists (11.18/set) and added 29 digs (2.64/set) to pick up a pair of double-doubles over the weekend for Western Michigan. In her collegiate debut on Friday night, she tallied 49 assists and 14 digs to help WMU begin the season with a win over Oakland. She followed that up 30 assists on Saturday against Illinois State, and then registered her second double-double of the weekend (44 assists, 10 digs) on Sunday against DePaul.
 
The Broncos hit the road for the first time in 2025 later this week as they head to Bloomington, Ind., for the Indiana Invitational. Western Michigan begins tournament play on Thursday at 4 pm against Northern Kentucky.