Volleyball Broncos win 3-0 versus Toledo
Oct. 20, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's volleyball team continued its dominance of the Toledo Rockets with a 3-0 win at University Arena on Friday night (Oct. 20). The Broncos lead the all-time series 27-4 and are undefeated, 15-0, in matches versus the Rockets played in Kalamazoo.
WMU won 15-10, 15-9, 15-9, but Toledo forced the Broncos to earn wins in each of the three games. In game 2, Toledo led, 7-4, before the Broncos rallied for the eventual win. In game 3, the Rockets closed to within a single point at 10-9 before WMU pulled away. The Broncos scored the final four points of the match on serves by senior outside hitter Alberta Griffin.
With the victory, WMU improves to 13-5 overall and 8-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos also extended their winning streaks to seven matches overall and three straight on their home court.
Sophomore setter Ashley Ritter assisted her teammates on kills 35 times in the three-game match, helping the Broncos to an impressive .346 hitting percentage. WMU had 49 kills on 107 attempts with only 12 hitting errors for the entire team.
Ritter also led the team in digs, with nine, and assisted on blocks four times. The Broncos out-blocked Toledo, 10-4, for the match. Defensively, WMU held the Rockets to a .157 hitting percentage.
Junior middle blocker Zakiya Pope led the Broncos with 13 kills. She had only one error in 22 attempts for a .545 attack percentage. Pope also led the team with six total blocks, including one solo effort. Seniors Griffin and Monyka Paul each contributed nine kills, and had six and eight digs, respectively. Junior M'Myia McQuirter recorded eight kills and a .333 hitting percentage.
First-year player Carman Malone from Muncie, Ind., was effective again in limited action. She had two kills on three attempts with no errors for a .667 hitting percentage, playing briefly in only one game.
WMU hosts Akron on Saturday, Oct. 21, in a 5:30 p.m. start at University Arena. Saturday's match is Volleyball Alumnae Night and returning past players will be honored between games 2 and 3 of the match. The first 500 fans to the arena will receive a Bronco Street Sign.
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web <www.wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu