Week of 10/3: MAC Volleyball Round-up

Steve Iwanek, Falcon Media Sports Network

October 3, 2023

We have hit the halfway point of the 2023 volleyball season, and now is the time when teams begin to hit and settle into their peak of performance.

The question now is- can some teams keep up their fast pace? Can others regain their footing and start putting together wins at the right time?

Those are questions that this week for sure can start to answer for us, so let’s dive into what the Mid-American Conference looks like as the month of October is underway.

STANDINGS (courtesy of getsomemaction.com)

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
EAST DIVISION
Buffalo	3-1	.750	13-3	.812	4-1	4-1	5-1	W1
Akron	3-1	.750	8-7	.533	3-2	3-3	2-2	W2
Ohio	3-2	.600	8-9	.471	3-3	2-3	3-3	L1
Bowling Green	1-3	.250	7-8	.467	4-2	2-3	1-3	L3
Miami	0-4	.000	4-12	.250	0-5	3-2	1-5	L5
Kent State	0-5	.000	4-12	.250	0-3	2-6	2-3	L6
WEST DIVISION
Western Michigan	4-0	1.000	14-2	.875	5-0	5-1	4-1	W4
Ball State	4-0	1.000	7-8	.467	4-1	2-3	1-4	W5
Toledo	3-1	.750	5-10	.333	3-4	1-4	1-2	L1
Northern Illinois	3-1	.750	5-11	.312	2-2	1-5	2-4	W3
Central Michigan	2-3	.400	8-9	.471	4-1	2-4	2-4	W1
Eastern Michigan	0-5	.000	2-15	.118	0-3	0-6	2-6	L9

STORYLINES:

Defending division champions Ball State and Bowling Green are not having the type of season the majority of fans expected, at least in terms of overall record. The Cardinals and Falcons both hold a 7-8 overall record, but Ball State does have a perfect 4-0 record so far in conference, having beat both Central and Eastern Michigan in straight sets. Meanwhile for BGSU, the defending MAC Champions have a 1-3 start in conference play, splitting a series with Northern Illinois before losing in straight sets last weekend to Western Michigan.
Speaking of Western Michigan, the Broncos once again swept the weekly division awards in the MAC West, with Maggie King taking home the offensive player of the week award, Andelyn Simkins the defensive player of the week award, and Logan Case the setter of the week award. This is the third time this season that WMU has swept the weekly awards list.
While the top teams from last year are still finding their footing, some of last year’s bottom-feeders have risen towards the top, in particular, the Akron Zips. After an abysmal 6-23 record last year, the Zips have gotten off to a start that includes an 8-7 overall record and a 3-1 MAC record. This week, Eliska Vytiskova earned MAC East Setter of the Week, while Faith Johnson earned MAC East Offensive Player of the Week. The Zips host Eastern Michigan this weekend as they continue to battle for sole possession of first place in the MAC East.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (courtesy of getsomemaction.com)

Thursday, October 5, 2023 Women’s Volleyball
Away	Home	Time	Location	Links
Eastern Michigan	Akron	6:00 P.M.	Akron, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Western Michigan	Kent State	6:00 P.M.	Kent, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Central Michigan	Buffalo	6:00 P.M.	Buffalo, N.Y. (Conf.)	Stats
Northern Illinois	Ohio	7:00 P.M.	Athens, OH (Conf.)
Toledo	Miami	7:00 P.M.	Oxford, Ohio (Conf.)

Friday, October 6, 2023 Women’s Volleyball
Away	Home	Time	Location	Links
Northern Illinois	Kent State	6:00 P.M.	Kent, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Central Michigan	Akron	6:00 P.M.	Akron, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Eastern Michigan	Buffalo	6:00 P.M.	Buffalo, N.Y. (Conf.)	Stats
Toledo	Bowling Green	6:00 P.M.	Bowling Green, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Western Michigan	Ohio	7:00 P.M.	Athens, OH (Conf.)
Ball State	Miami	7:00 P.M.	Oxford, Ohio (Conf.)