Broncos go the distance in 3-2 loss to Purdue
Sept. 1, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- WMU's volleyball team opened the 2000 campaign with a tough 3-1 loss to Kansas and a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at the hands of host Purdue in the opening games of the Purdue Invitational (Sept. 1).
In the featured, 7 p.m. match with Purdue, the Broncos dropped the first two games, 7-15 and 14-16, but came back for wins in games three and four, 15-3 and 15-10. In the rally-scored fifth game, the Broncos extended the match to extra points before surrendering the contest, 16-18, to the Boilermakers.
Senior Alberta Griffin led all players with 22 kills. Classmate Monyka Paul and junior M'Myia McQuirter added 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Junior middle blocker Zakiya Pope had 10 kills, and sophomore setter Ashley Ritter had 12 kills and 45 assists.
WMU vs Kansas
In Friday's 10 a.m. match versus Kansas, the Broncos lost, 3-1, but were competitive throughout the contest, losing games three and four by two points each (7-15, 15-6, 13-15, 14-16), and pushing Kansas to extra points in the deciding game.
Junior M'Myia McQuirter tied for the match high total of 15 kills. Classmate Zakiya Pope had 11 kills and a .474 attack percentage. Senior Monyka Paul contributed 10 kills in the loss.
Senior setter Jen Nowak had 36 assists and 10 digs. Defensive specialist Kelly Kuharski added nine digs, including the 600th dig of her four-year career.
The Broncos complete play at the Purdue Invitational with a 5 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 2) match versus Eastern Kentucky. Western Michigan is on the road again Sept. 8 and 9, with matches versus Virginia, Xavier and Middle Tennessee at a tournament hosted by Xavier University in Cincinnati.
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web at <wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu