Broncos Rally, But Fall Short at Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Western Michigan volleyball team rallied for a third-set win and nearly forced a fifth, but a comeback effort fell just short as the Broncos lost to Northwestern 3-1 (13-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23) in the final match of the Northwestern Wildcat Classic in Evanston. With the loss, the Broncos will enter Mid-American Conference play next week with a 7-5 record.

The Broncos dropped the first two sets to the Wildcats, but promptly came back after the intermission and controlled the third set for the victory. WMU led for much of the fourth set before the Wildcats rallied for the victory. After the match, it was announced that the Broncos' Jessica Brown and Terin Norris were each named to the All-Tournament team.

Ali Gossen led the Broncos with 14 kills while also recording eight digs, three assists, and two blocks. Brown also broke double-digits in kills, recording 12 successful attempts. Kaycee Acree shattered her previous career-high in digs by posting a match-high 25 digs, while Lena Oliver posted 17 digs on the day.

After dropping the first two sets to the Wildcats, the Broncos came out reinvigorated in the third set and began taking it to their hosts. After starting the set trailing 3-1, the Broncos scored four straight points, with Norris and Brown combining for a block to give the Broncos a lead and Caroline Rose tacking on another point with an ace. The teams traded points until Gossen and Brown notched a block to give the Broncos a 13-12 advantage and force a Northwestern timeout; Brown would record a kill on the first point after the break to expand the WMU lead.

The Wildcats would re-take the lead to put themselves up 19-17, but the Broncos would go on a 7-0 tear to turn the tables. Carlee Berland recorded kill to start the run, and would force three straight Northwestern attack errors to take the 22-19 lead. Gossen and Richelle Ranney would record a block on the next point, and Norris would make it set point with a service ace. Ranney and Berland would combine for the dagger three points later, recording the block to take the 25-21 win.

The Broncos would take an early edge on the Wildcats in the fourth set, holding a 13-9 lead after a 5-1 WMU run put the Wildcats on their heels. The Broncos would lead by as many as five points, reaching the advantage when Norris recorded a kill to make it 15-10, but Northwestern stormed back and took the lead at 21-20 and held on for the victory.