As the regular season winds down and the race for the MAC Tournament intensifies, these teams are battling to keep their season alive with just one week remaining until the tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Bowling Green (14-14 Overall, 8-8 MAC)
The Falcons this season have faced their share of highs and lows. Looking at this season, they are a stronger team at home, with a 7-3 record, compared to a 3-8 record on the road. Whether this is due to injuries, such as star opposite hitter Lauryn Hovey going down with an injury, remains to be seen. However, watching this team, it seems like they have the chemistry to be a force in the MAC, but they make self-inflicted errors that cause them to lose.
Junior outside hitter Avery Hobson has been the standout player for the Falcons this season, and I expect her to be a part of the first-team all-MAC, along with Jessica Andrews, to help in the fight for the tournament. First-year Head Coach Alex DelPiombo will look to improve the team’s performance as they prepare for their next matchup on the road against a team in a similar position, Buffalo.
Buffalo Bulls (9-16 Overall, 6-10 MAC)
The Bulls hold the keys for them to enter the Mac tournament. If they beat Bowling Green this upcoming week, they should see themselves in the tournament. This team has seen success with many talented players like Maddie Mitchell, Manoela Forlina, and Emerson Matthews. However, the team struggles in transition. They will have big wins against good opponents this season, but then lose matches people think they should win. They struggle with consistency and finishing matches.
In this upcoming matchup with the Falcons, look for Head Coach Scott Smith to improve team stability, reduce unforced errors, and convert more close sets into wins as they take on a Falcons team that split against Akron in week 10.
Akron Zips (15-12 Overall, 8-8 MAC)
The Zips this season were projected to be one of the worst teams in the conference, but they have shown some breakout stars that have boosted their current record. Sophomore Delaney Gash had a career year in points and kills, leading her team, with UA relying on her to deliver big numbers on any given day and demonstrating she can carry the load. But she is not the only one with a defensive anchor; Vanessa Del Real and middle blocker Chidera Ozoh are proving to the rest of the MAC that even with a strong offensive player, they can play tough defense.
But that’s just it—they need to find offensive threats beyond Gash. Look for Head Coach Tyson Norton to adapt to the opponents’ tendencies as they prepare to face Toledo at home, as they are a stronger team on their home turf, so expect a competitive matchup against the Rockets.
Miami RedHawks (15-13 overall, 9-7 MAC)
The RedHawks are similar to Akron at the start of the season, as they were not expected to contend for the MAC tournament. Now, they seem ready to qualify after winning two games against Bowling Green in week 9 and two against Central Michigan in week 10. They are heating up at the right time, currently in week 11, and will face the second-worst team in the MAC, Eastern Michigan, this upcoming week. You might think they are a sure thing, but Miami has shown they have the tools and moments of high performance; they just need to fix the little things, and they can be a balanced team with Gentry Warrick leading the MAC in blocks, Chelsea Williams’ offensive ability, and Molly Creech’s dig defense.
Head coach Dan Gwitt, in his second season, is looking to make a statement that he belongs in the MAC tournament with an all-around team that one of the top seeds might not want to play.
Teams locked in for spots in the MAC tournament are, in order: Ball State, Western Michigan, Ohio, and Toledo. Seeding could change from their current positions, as Western Michigan plays Ohio this weekend.
The MAC tournament is set to start on Friday, November 21, and run through Sunday, Nov. 23.
