WMU wins two of three in Cincinnati
Sept. 9, 2000
CINCINNATI -- WMU's volleyball team improved to 3-3 on the season with a two-win, one-loss outing at the Xavier Tournament, Friday and Saturday (Sept. 8-9) in Cincinnati.
The Broncos carded a convincing 3-1 victory over Virginia in Friday's opening contest of the tournament. The match was the first athletic competition of any kind at Xavier's new Cintas Center. [Click for match details].
On Saturday, Western Michigan fell to host Xavier, 3-0, in a 10 a.m. match, but rebounded in an evening contest to defeat Middle Tennessee State, 3-0.
Against Xavier, the Broncos suffered their worst performance of the season, losing 10-15, 1-15, 13-15. Senior outside hitter Alberta Griffin was the only Bronco in double figures for kills, and the team had an abysmal .040 hitting percentage.
Griffin had 11 kills and nine digs. Senior Monyka Paul and junior Zakiya Pope each had seven kills. Paul also had 11 digs and four block assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Cindy Kizer contributed nine digs in the losing effort.
In the evening match against Middle Tennessee State, WMU won 15-6, 15-2, 15-11. Junior outside hitter M'Myia McQuirter had 13 kills and a .476 hitting percent. Pope, a middle blocker, had eight kills and hit .467. Paul contributed 10 kills and nine digs.
Senior transfer Heather Murphy, in her first significant action as a Bronco, had five kills and 11 digs. Setter Jen Nowak assisted her teammates 29 times in the three-game match.
The Broncos are home Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15-16, when they host Liberty, Big East power Connecticut, and No. 18-ranked Ohio State at the Ameritech Invitational in University Arena.
The Friday night (Sept. 15) match versus Connecticut, which begins at 7:30 p.m., has been designated Premiere Night by Bronco athletics. A Hollywood-style premiere event, it will officially kick off the 2000 seasons for all Bronco teams. Following the 1 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 16) match with Ohio State, a "Meet-the-Team" tailgate party will be held outside University Arena.
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web at <wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu