KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team hit .438 over the final three sets to knock off Miami in four (21-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-22) in its home finale on Friday night at University Arena.
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Miami 1
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (17-9, 9-6 MAC) | Miami (19-8, 11-5)
Leah Richmond fueled the WMU attack with 50 assists and added a career-high 26 digs. The redshirt sophomore set up five teammates for double-digit kills, led by
Gabby Weihe's 18, which came on a blistering .531 hitting percentage.
Annalise Patchett (12),
Izzy Swiercz (11),
Mia Jurkovic (10) and
Cassidy Pratley (10), were also in double-figures for the Brown and Gold.
Western Michigan continued its recent run of racking up blocks, totaling 15 to establish a new season high. Pratley led the charge with a career-high eight rejections, while Weihe picked up seven and Richmond and Swiercz contributed five apiece.
Carley Piercefield collected 14 digs, Swiercz notched 11 for her fourth straight double-double and
Elana Erickson recorded 10.
With WMU holding an 8-6 edge in the first, Miami rattled off seven consecutive points to move in front, 13-8. The Broncos fought back, using a 5-1 spurt to close the gap to 15-14, and eventually getting back even at 19-19. The RedHawks responded with the next four and six of the next eight to take the frame, 25-21.
The second set was back and forth most of the way and featured a total of 11 ties. A three-point burst put Miami ahead late, 21-19. At 23-21, Western Michigan rattled off three in a row to get to set point at 24-23. An error tied it back up at 24-24, but Pratley put down a kill to give the Broncos another opportunity, which they took advantage of to even the contest at one set apiece.
Western Michigan tallied seven of the first nine points to seize the early advantage in the third. With the margin at 14-9, the Brown and Gold used a 5-1 run to stretch their lead to 19-10. After the RedHawks notched three in a row, WMU countered with six of the next seven to put the frame away and take a 2-1 edge into the fourth frame.
Miami gained control in the early stages of the fourth, getting out to a 9-4 lead. With the visitors on top 12-7, Western Michigan put together an 8-1 surge to move ahead, 15-13. The RedHawks briefly tied it at 15-15 before the Broncos used a 4-1 burst to regain the advantage, 19-16. MU worked its away to within one a couple of times, including at 23-22, but kills by Weihe and Jurkovic sealed the victory for the Brown and Gold.
Western Michigan wraps up the regular season on Saturday at rival Central Michigan. First serve is set for 5:30 pm on
ESPN+.
