KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Redshirt sophomore setter
Leah Richmond surpassed 2,000 career assists in Western Michigan's five-set loss (28-26, 13-25, 25-18, 13-25, 15-12) to Buffalo on Saturday.
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo 3, Western Michigan 2
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (14-7, 6-4 MAC) | Buffalo (12-9, 4-6)
Richmond reached the milestone in the second set of the contest, and went on to pick up her team-leading 11th double-double of the campaign, posting 40 assists and a team-leading 20 digs.
Annalise Patchett and
Gabby Weihe notched 14 kills apiece to pace the WMU attack, with
Cassidy Pratley adding 10 kills. Joining Richmond in double-figure digs were
Elana Erickson (16), Patchett (12) and
Carley Piercefield (11).
Western Michigan started fast, getting out to a 7-2 lead in the opening stanza. At 17-13, Buffalo ran off five straight points to move in front, 18-17. The two teams proceeded to go back and forth, with WMU having set point opportunities at both 24-23 and 25-24 that were turned away. The Bulls eventually took four of the final five points to eke out the frame, 28-26.
The Broncos were out of the blocks quickly again in the second, grabbing seven of the first eight points on the way to an 11-3 advantage. With the margin at 20-12, Western Michigan used a 5-1 spurt to close out the frame and even the contest at one set apiece.
After the Bulls grabbed the early edge in the third, WMU used a 5-1 run to move ahead, 10-8. Western Michigan pushed the margin to 13-10, but Buffalo then countered with an 11-2 surge wrestle the lead back, 21-15, and held off the Broncos from there to regain the match advantage.
In front 6-5 early in the fourth, Western Michigan unleashed a 12-2 run to race out to an 18-7 lead. A four-point burst later increased the cushion to 23-9, which put the set away and pushed the match into a decisive fifth frame.
The Bulls grabbed an 8-5 edge early in the fifth, but WMU countered with five of the next six to take a 10-9 lead. The visitors responded with a 5-1 burst, getting to match point at 14-11. Western Michigan fended off one set point, but Buffalo took the next one to claim the victory.
The Broncos hit the road for their next three matches, starting next Friday, Oct. 30, at Ohio. First serve is scheduled for 6 pm.
