KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Juniors
Annalise Patchett and
Izzy Swiercz each recorded double-doubles to help the Western Michigan volleyball team open up the 2026 season with a 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-27, 25-11, 27-25) over Green Bay on Friday night.
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Green Bay 1
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (1-0) | Green Bay (0-1)
Patchett and Swiercz recorded 13 kills and 10 digs apiece, with Patchett also tying for the team lead with four blocks. The 10 digs were a career high for Patchett, who notched her first collegiate double-double. Swiercz's double-double was her first as a Bronco.
Joining Swiercz with a strong debut for the Brown and Gold was fellow transfer
Gabby Weihe, who put down eight kills on a .353 hitting percentage.
Leah Richmond handed out 42 assists to help Western Michigan hit .262 for the evening and also served up a career-high four of WMU's 11 aces. Patchett, Swiercz and
Cassidy Pratley all added two aces apiece for the Broncos.
Carley Piercefield collected a career-high 21 digs in the contest, while
Elana Erickson chipped in 10.
Western Michigan had three service aces in the early stages of the opening frame to race out to a 9-3 advantage. With the margin at 13-8, the Broncos used a 4-1 spurt to stretch their edge to 17-9, and kept Green Bay at arm's length the rest of the way to take the set, 25-18.
The Phoenix held the early edge in the second set and built a 15-10 cushion. Following a timeout, WMU rattled off six consecutive points to move in front, 16-15. The two teams battled back and forth down the stretch, and the Broncos had a chance to put the set away at 24-23, but the visitors grabbed four of the last five points to wrestle the frame away, 27-25, and even the contest at one set apiece.
The Brown and Gold were out of the gates quickly again in the third, starting with six of the first seven points on the way to an 11-4 advantage. With the gap at five, 12-7, WMU ripped off five in a row to ignite a 13-4 surge which put the frame away.
Green Bay bounced back again in the fourth, grabbing a 12-9 edge. A 5-1 run briefly put the Broncos on top, 14-13. At 19-18, the Phoenix put together a four-point burst to wrestle the lead away, 22-19. The visitors had three set-point opportunities, but Western Michigan reeled off five of the night's final six points to secure the Opening Night victory.
The Broncos continue their Opening Weekend tournament on Saturday evening, as they take on Navy at 6 pm. For tickets to any WMU volleyball home match, visit
wmubroncos.com/tickets.
