Week of 11/7: MAC Volleyball round-up

Three games.

That is all the 2023 Mid-American Conference volleyball schedule has left, and as the games trickle away, the battle for the MAC Tournament intensifies.

A look at the standings and more in this week’s MAC Volleyball Round-up:

Current MAC Standings (as of 11/7/23, courtesy of getsomemaction.com):

2023 Women’s Volleyball Standings
SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
Western Michigan	15-0	1.000	25-2	.926	12-0	9-1	4-1	W15
Buffalo	12-3	.800	22-5	.815	11-1	6-3	5-1	W3
Ball State	11-4	.733	14-12	.538	9-1	4-7	1-4	L2
Ohio	10-5	.667	15-12	.556	7-5	5-4	3-3	W2
Toledo	10-5	.667	12-14	.462	4-7	7-5	1-2	W2
Bowling Green	8-7	.533	14-12	.538	6-4	7-5	1-3	W2
Central Michigan	8-7	.533	14-13	.519	8-1	4-8	2-4	W6
Akron	6-9	.400	11-15	.423	5-6	4-7	2-2	L3
Northern Illinois	6-9	.400	8-19	.296	4-6	2-9	2-4	L7
Kent State	2-13	.133	6-20	.231	1-8	3-9	2-3	L2
Miami	1-14	.067	5-22	.185	0-10	4-7	1-5	L7
Eastern Michigan	1-14	.067	3-24	.111	1-6	0-12	2-6	L2

STORYLINES:

Race for final quarterfinal spot down to two (realistic) teams: This weekend is going to be fascinating to watch if you are a fan of Bowling Green and Central Michigan. Coming into last weekend, BG, CMU, Akron and Northern Illinois all were at 6-7, fighting for the final spot in the quarterfinal round. However, NIU suffered back to back losses at home against the Toledo Rockets, while Akron got swept on their home floor at the hands of the Falcons. So with that, we see a race between two 8-7 MAC teams i the Falcons and Chippewas. If the tournament started today, CMU would be in, as they hold the head-to-head advantage over the Falcons. However, in the event of a BG win and CMU loss, the Falcons would leap CMU and take the last quarterfinal spot. BG hosts the MAC East Division’s first place Buffalo Bulls this weekend on Friday and Saturday, while CMU, on the same days, host Ohio, who is 10-5 in MAC play.
Another week, another sweep of MAC West awards for Western Michigan: The historic run that the Broncos are on just continues to shine in the stat sheet, the scoreboard, and the weekly awards. For the fifth time this season, the Broncos have swept the MAC West weekly awards, as star setter Logan Case earned MAC West Setter of the Week, Maggie King earned MAC West Offensive Player of the Week, and Andelyn Simkins earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. For Case, this is her ninth award of this category this year, as the senior racked up 98 assists in two wins against Ball State last weekend. King had herself a great weekend, putting up 37 total kills and a 29.7% hitting percentage against the Cardinals, earning her the second offensive player of the week award this year. For Simkins, this is the third straight week and sixth overall nomination for this award, as the libero collected 40 total digs last weekend and was a perfect 36-for-36 in serve-receive.
Miami’s Carolyn Condit announces retirement following 2023 season: Miami has had themselves a tough season this year; 1-14 in MAC play, and just a meager 5-22 overall record. With that being said, the RedHawks announced that following the conclusion of the 2023 season, legendary head coach Carolyn Condit will be stepping down as head coach after 40 seasons at the helm and 44 years overall as a head coach. During her time as the leader of the RedHawks, Condit has compiled a record of 682-551, and is the longest tenured head coach currently in Division I athletics, as well as the winningest head coach in Miami history. Along with the hundreds of wins, Condit has collected nine regular-season MAC championships and made 13 postseason tournament appearances, including advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008, 2017 and 2018. Her program has won five MAC Tournament titles and made 12 MAC Tournament title appearances.

A look now at the upcoming schedule (courtesy of getsomemaction.com):

Friday, November 10, 2023 Women’s Volleyball
Away	Home	Time	Location	Links
Kent State	Eastern Michigan	6:00 P.M.	Ypsilanti, Mich. (Conf.)	TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
Western Michigan	Toledo	6:00 P.M.	Toledo, Ohio (Conf.)	TV: ESPN+ Stats
Northern Illinois	Ball State	6:00 P.M.	Muncie, Ind. (Conf.)	TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
Buffalo	Bowling Green	6:00 P.M.	Bowling Green, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Ohio	Central Michigan	6:00 P.M.	Mount Pleasant, MI (Conf.)	Stats Video

Saturday, November 11, 2023 Women’s Volleyball
Away	Home	Time	Location	Links
Western Michigan	Toledo	2:00 P.M.	Toledo, Ohio (Conf.)	TV: ESPN+ Stats
Buffalo	Bowling Green	4:00 P.M.	Bowling Green, Ohio (Conf.)	Stats
Ohio	Central Michigan	4:00 P.M.	Mount Pleasant, MI (Conf.)	Stats Video
Akron	Miami	5:00 P.M.	Oxford, Ohio (Conf.)
Akron	Miami	5:00 P.M.	Oxford, Ohio (Conf.)
Northern Illinois	Ball State	6:00 P.M.	Muncie, Ind. (Conf.)	Stats
Kent State	Eastern Michigan	6:00 P.M.	Ypsilanti, Mich. (Conf.)	TV: ESPN+ Stats Video