KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Villanova volleyball ended its stay in Michigan with a four-set loss (28-26, 18-25, 19-25, 23-25) to the host Western Michigan Broncos on Sunday afternoon at University Arena. 

"We played hard but we just need to find ways to execute for long stretches," head coach Josh Steinbach said. "We played three good matches against really strong teams, so this is a step in the right direction."

Madeline Barber and Skylar Gerhardt were both named to the All-Tournament Team after strong weekends, with Gerhardt totaling 47 kills and 33 digs while Barber put up 28 kills and 10 total blocks.

With her 49 kills at the Western Michigan Tournament, Abby Harrell put up the most kills by a Villanova freshman in an opening weekend, previously set by Krista Andersen's 38 in 2009.

Gerhardt and Harrell once again led Villanova (2-1) in kills with 15 each, while Barber totaled 12 kills and a .478 hitting percentage. 

Elizabeth Feczko contributed a match-high 21 digs, Andrea Campos led all players with 52 assists and Riley Homer added a season-high nine kills.

The two sides mostly traded scores throughout the first 13 points of the match, then it was a 3-0 run from the Broncos to establish a bit of distance. WMU eventually moved the tally to 15-10 and 19-15, prompting a pair of Wildcat timeouts, then continued to a 24-21 advantage. 

But Villanova was not done yet, staving off three straight set points and using a 3-0 stretch to win the first frame 28-26.

After an early 7-4 lead for the 'Cats, Western Michigan got out to an eight-point edge in the second stanza, stringing together a 10-3 run to go up 19-11 and then cruise to a 25-18 set victory.

The third period once again saw WMU expanding its advantage in the middle of the set, using a 4-0 stretch to go up 16-11 and continuing to a 25-19 win.

Neither side could establish a lead in the fourth frame until runs of 5-0 and 3-0 put Western up 14-9 to prompt a VU timeout. The Wildcats got it to 15-14 and then the teams exchanged runs for a 19-19 tie. The teams traded scores from that time up until WMU strung together two points to deliver a set and match victory.

UP NEXT: The Wildcats now prepare for three straight home contests, hosting Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday night before squaring off against Notre Dame and Santa Clara in the Catholic Challenge at the weekend.