WMU News

Football, volleyball teams win

October 31, 1998

KALAMAZOO--Benny Clark rushed for 168 yards in the football team's 48-23 win at Kent State, while the volleyball Broncos improved to 8-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The volleyball team is vying to host a first-round contest in the MAC tournament. The hockey team tied and lost at Miami (Ohio) over the weekend.

Football team wins big at Kent State

Benny Clark finally got his chance to shine on Saturday, and he took full advantage. The freshman tailback from Ravenna, Mich., was redshirted last season, then watched Darnell Fields and Robert Sanford average over 5 yards per carry this season. But when he was given an opportunity to carry the workload versus Kent State on Saturday, Clark showed off his jets. Michigan's all-time leading high school rusher, Clark gained 168 yards on 25 carries in leading the Broncos to a 48-23 thrashing of Kent State. Tim Lester threw three touchdowns among his 17 completions in 30 tries. He did not throw an interception and gained 312 through the air. Corey Alston had five receptions for 120 yards and a TD. Steve Neal caught three passes for 87 yards. The Broncos are on the road to face Ball State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Volleyball Broncos eye tournament berth

The Western Michigan University volleyball team posted an important 3-2 victory over Marshall University on Saturday, Oct. 31, at University Arena. The Broncos won 12-15, 15-11, 15-4, 13-15, 15-13. It was the third consecutive Saturday match in which WMU lost the first game and went on to win the match.

The Broncos improved to 16-9 overall and upped their Mid-American Conference mark to 8-4. WMU is trying to finish among the top four in the MAC standings in order to host a first-round tournament match. Marshall fell to 16-11 overall, 8-5 in the league.

Mandy Whitfield came through with a big night. The junior had 26 kills and 20 digs. Whitfield has 20 kills or more in three of Western's last six matches. Stefanie Rotunno also reached the 20-kill and dig mark with 23 kills and 20 digs. She hit .360 (23-5-50) in the victory. Traci Morin had 16 kills and made a team-best eight blocks, including four block solos. Jen Nowak had 70 assists, the third-best total of her career. Monyka Paul dug 12 balls. Andrea Cole had nine kills, hit .438, and made seven blocks.

Western was outblocked by Marshall, ending its seven-match streak of outblocking its foes. The Broncos are now 15-2 when they record more blocks than their opponent.

WMU closes out the season by playing four of its final six matches on the road, beginning with a Friday, Nov. 6, match at Toledo and a Saturday, Nov. 7, contest at Eastern Michigan. Western hosts Central Michigan Nov. 13 and Ball State Nov. 14 in the final two regular-season home matches of the year.

Hockey Broncos get one point at Miami

The hockey Broncos (1-3-2, 1-3-2) tied, 3-3, and lost, 7-4, against Miami (Ohio) on the road. They are home this weekend against Lake Superior State on Friday, Oct. 6, and Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 7. Both matches start at 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena.


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