Volleyball Broncos notch first win
Sept. 2, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- WMU's volleyball team improved to 1-2 on the young season with a 3-1 victory over Eastern Kentucky to close out play at the Purdue Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 2) in West Lafayette, Ind.
In Friday's action at the tournament, the Broncos dropped close matches to Kansas, 3-1, and to host Purdue, 3-2 [Friday match summaries].
Western Michigan is on the road again Sept. 8 and 9, with three matches at a tournament hosted by Xavier University in Cincinnati. The Broncos play Virginia at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. On Saturday, Sept. 9, WMU will meet host Xavier at 10:30 a.m. and Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. All matches will be held at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
WMU's senior class led the way in the 3-1 victory over Eastern Kentucky. Senior setter Jen Nowak had 66 assists for a 16.5 assists-per-game average and helped the Broncos to a .356 team hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Monyka Paul led five Broncos in double figures for kills, with 17, and had a .519 hitting percentage. Alberta Griffin, another senior outside hitter, was second on the team with 16 kills and hit .345 for the match. Leading the team in digs, with eight, was senior defensive specialist Kelly Kuharski.
Juniors M'Myia McQuirter and Zakiya Pope each contributed 15 kills in the win. Sophomore Angela Sillmon was also in double figures, with 11 kills. Sillmon and Paul each contributed six digs to the Broncos' defensive effort.
The Broncos, coming off a 25-7 record in 1999, were ranked among the top 50 teams in the nation going into the 2000 season. They open their home schedule Sept. 15-16, when they host Liberty, Connecticut and No. 18-ranked Ohio State at the Ameritech Invitational. Those are the only home matches for WMU during September.
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web at <wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu