KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team wrapped up the 2026 WMU Volleyball Tournament with a straight-set victory (25-15, 25-20, 25-20) over Indiana State on Sunday to capture the tournament title.
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Indiana State 0
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (3-0) | Indiana State (2-1)
Following the match,
Leah Richmond was named Tournament MVP, while
Annalise Patchett and
Carley Piercefield also represented the Brown and Gold on the All-Tournament Team.
Richmond just missed out on a double-double after picking up 26 assists and nine digs. The redshirt sophomore set Patchett up for a team-high 10 kills, while
Izzy Swiercz put down eight kills and
Cassidy Pratley added seven.
Western Michigan tallied 13 blocks for the afternoon and were led up front by
Gabby Weihe's career-high tying eight blocks (2 solo, 6 assists). Swiercz notched a career-high five rejections for the Brown and Gold. The trio of Patchett, Richmond and
Elana Erickson all recorded nine digs for WMU, and Piercefield chipped in eight.
All tied at 13-13 in the first set, Western Michigan broke it open with seven consecutive points. The seven-point burst ignited a 12-2 surge which gave the Brown and Gold the opening frame, 25-15.
After the two teams traded four-point runs, Indiana State held a 10-9 edge in the second set. An 8-3 stretch helped WMU move ahead, 17-13. The visitors closed the gap to two at 20-18 but got no closer, with back-to-back Patchett kills sealing the frame and a 2-0 match advantage for the Broncos.
WMU started fast in set three, taking the first four points on the way to a 7-1 lead. The Sycamores tallied the next three points, only to see Western Michigan answer with three straight of its own to bring the margin back to six, 10-4. The Broncos led by many as seven on multiple occasions, including at 24-17 after a solo rejection by Weihe. Indiana State fended off three straight match points, but Patchett's 10th kill of the contest sealed the win for the Brown and Gold.
Western Michigan begins an eight-match stretch away from home on Thursday with its first contest at the Omaha Tournament. The Broncos take on the host Mavericks at 7:30 pm on
Midco Sports Plus.
