Women's Volleyball

Volleyball Begins Conference Play Today!

Stories courtesy of Athletic Communication Departments

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference volleyball teams will begin their quest for a regular-season title and berth into the 2024 MAC Volleyball Championship tournament this weekend with the start of conference play.

Volleyball Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Eastern Michigan at Kent State, 6:00 PM
Central Michigan at Miami, 6:30 PM, ESPN+

Friday, September 27, 2024
Eastern Michigan at Kent State, 6:00 PM
Buffalo at Western Michigan, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
Bowling Green at Ball State, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
Northern Illinois at Toledo, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
Ohio at Akron, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
Central Michigan at Miami, 6:30 PM, ESPN+

Saturday, September 28, 2024
Buffalo at Western Michigan, 3:00 PM, ESPN+
Ohio at Akron, 4:00 PM, ESPN+
Northern Illinois at Toledo, 4:00 PM, ESPN+
Bowling Green t Ball State, 4:00 PM, ESPN+
 
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, 6:00 PM, ESPN+
Bowling Green at Toledo, 6:00 PM, ESPN+

At the Service Line...
  • Akron enters Mid-American Conference play with a 4-8 overall record. The Zips have won in three sets to record their four wins and have played in four matches that have gone five sets. The Blue and Gold recently fell to Cleveland State 3-1 to conclude non-conference action.
  • It's the first week of Mid-American Conference play for the Ball State women's volleyball team which hosts Bowling Green for a two-match series inside Worthen Arena. After last Friday's win over Wright State, the Cardinals boast a 319-96 (.769) all-time mark inside Worthen Arena. Looking at just opponents from the MAC, Ball State is 235-58 (.802) when battling in Worthen Arena. Overall, no MAC opponent owns a winning record inside Worthen Arena, as the Cardinals have at least a .650 winning percentage against all league schools on its current home floor. In addition, the Cardinals have won its last 27 MAC regular season home matches, with its last regular season MAC home loss coming to Central Michigan on March 20, 2021.
  • Bowling Green will enter MAC play in a similar position to how it has in past seasons. The Falcons are currently 5-6 following their non-conference schedule with similar standings the last three seasons. In 2023, the Falcons entered MAC play 6-5 while being 5-6 in 2022 and 4-6 in 2021. Bowling Green's non-conference schedule often poses various challenges, including top talent opposite BGSU. Going off finishing RPI from last season, seven of BGSU's 10 opponents finished above the Falcons on the list. Additionally, six of the 10 were inside the top 100, while UMBC was inside the Top 50 at 48 and Dayton was inside the Top 20 at 18.
  • The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (4-9, 0-0 MAC) will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face the reigning MAC Champion Western Michigan Broncos (4-7, 0-0 MAC) to open Mid-American Conference play. Buffalo has struggled away from Alumni Arena and is still looking for their first win on the road. The Bulls are coming off a pair of losses at the Sunshine Invitational hosted by Florida. On the weekend, Mandy Leigh passed Scout McLerran (2016-19, 3,887) and Lindsey Schlegel (2007-11, 3,889) for second all-time in assists. Sitting with 3,912 assists, she's 88 away from 4,000 career assists. Amy Brown (2002-05) holds the program record with 4,349 assists. M. Leigh wasn't the only one who moved up the record book, as Maria Futey is now sixth all-time in career digs with 1,354. She is 24 digs away from passing Candie Hurst (1992-95, 1,377) for fifth all-time in career digs.
  • Central Michigan notes coming soon…
  • Eastern Michigan, having already eclipsed its 2023 win total, is set to begin its 45th season of Mid-American Conference (MAC) play and is set to face the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. Eastern ranks in the top 50 in the national standings in six statistical categories, including standing second in the nation (first in the MAC) in total blocks with 147.5. EMU last won a MAC opener in the 2018 season when it topped rivals Central Michigan University on the road in four sets, 3-1 (Sept. 20, 2018).
  • Kent State gets Homecoming weekend started with two matches against Eastern Michigan as Mid-American Conference play begins on Thursday and Friday. Kent State will be in action at the M.A.C. Center for just the second time this season.
  • Miami begins conference play by hosting the Central Michigan Chippewas in a pair of home matches this week. The RedHawks enter this week's matches ranked fourth in the nation in aces per set (2.31) and 21st in team service aces (90). Miami also leads the Mid-American Conference in service aces per set with three RedHawks who rank in the top 10 of the MAC.
  • Ending the month of September on the road, the Northern Illinois Huskies volleyball team (2-8) is set to begin their conference slate of games at the University of Toledo (7-5). The Huskies were road warriors during September, playing seven of their nine games on the road.
  • Ohio volleyball (4-7, 0-0 MAC) opens MAC play this week as well as they hit the road for two matches with Akron. Ohio is coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Green and White Invitational hosted by the Bobcats in Athens. Ohio defeated Liberty before falling to Oakland and Eastern Kentucky, Against Liberty.
  • The Toledo women's volleyball team opens MAC play this weekend as the Rockets welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies to Savage Arena for a pair of matches. Toledo sits at an overall record of 7-5, which ranks fourth overall in the MAC. The Rockets rank first in the MAC and 19th in the country in team service aces, with 90 total. Toledo averages 2.00 aces per set, which is good for second in the league and 23rd in the nation. Taylor Alt powers the Rockets' offense with 166 total kills, which ranks first in the MAC and 52nd in the nation.
  • Western Michigan begins its MAC title defense this weekend as it welcomes Buffalo to town for a two-match series. The reigning regular season and tournament champions, the Broncos, were unanimously picked by the league's 11 other coaches to repeat as regular season champs, while nine picked them to once again win the MAC Tournament. WMU has won 12 straight home conference matches and 19 of its last 20 at home overall. It has also won five consecutive conference openers. The Broncos are coming off of a pair of four-set losses at the hands of #15 Tennessee last week, including a battle on Thursday which saw three of the four sets go to extra points.