KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Annalise Patchett recorded a match-high 16 kills and
Leah Richmond posted her fifth double-double of the season (42 assists, 10 digs) to help the Western Michigan volleyball team to a straight-set victory (25-15, 25-18, 25-18) over rival Central Michigan on Tuesday night.
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Central Michigan 0
LOCATION: University Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (9-5, 1-2 MAC) | Central Michigan (0-16, 0-3)
Richmond's distribution helped the Broncos hit .305 as a team for the night, with Patchett's 16 kills coming on a blistering .452 hitting percentage.
Izzy Swiercz just missed out on a double-double of her own after registering nine kills and a career-high 14 digs.
Elana Erickson joined Swiercz and Richmond in double-figures with 10 digs. Western Michigan also tallied eight blocks, helping limit CMU to a .106 hitting percentage.
The Broncos notched the first five points of the night on the way to an 8-2 start. Central Michigan closed the gap to two on several occasions, including 17-15, before WMU reeled off eight consecutive points, the last three of which came on blocks, to take the opening stanza.
With CMU holding a 4-3 edge in the second, Western Michigan ran off nine in a row to build a 12-4 cushion. The Chippewas worked the margin down to four, 15-11, but the Brown and Gold countered with four of the next five to bring their lead back up to seven, 19-12, and kept the visitors at arm's length from there.
Leading 12-11 in the third, WMU used a six-point burst to extend its advantage out to 18-11. At 20-15, a three-point spurt pushed the margin to 23-15, putting the final stanza beyond reach.
The Broncos continue their homestand on Friday night when they welcome Eastern Michigan to University Arena at 6 pm. For tickets to any WMU volleyball home match, visit
wmubroncos.com/tickets.
