KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Returning to the fall season the defending Mid-American Conference West Division Champion Western Michigan volleyball team released its 2021 schedule on Friday.   

The Broncos will host 12 matches inside University Arena this season including nine in conference play. Western Michigan will also play in four non-conference tournaments including hosting its own on Sept. 3-4. WMU will square off with two NCAA tournament teams from the spring season in defending MAC Champion Bowling Green and Horizon League champion Wright State.

After a home exhibition on Aug. 20 against Valparaiso, the Broncos kick off the regular season in East Lansing, Mich. on Aug. 27 against tournament host Michigan State at 7:00 p.m. WMU concludes the Michigan State tournament the following day against Wright State and Canisius.

Western Michigan returns home the following weekend for its annual home tournament, Sept. 3-4 inside University Arena. WMU begins the tournament with a doubleheader on Sept. 3, squaring off with Southeast Missouri State at 11:00 a.m. before challenging Big Ten Conference foe Indiana at 7:00 p.m. The Broncos wrap up the tournament with a showdown with Purdue Fort-Wayne on Sept. 4 at 7:00 p.m.

WMU travels to Terre Haute, Ind., for a two-day tournament at Indiana State University, Sept. 10-11. The Broncos take on IUPUI on Sept. 10 before playing against Austin Peay and tournament host Indiana State on Sept. 11. Western Michigan wraps up non-conference play the following weekend at the Butler University tournament against Butler and Milwaukee.

The MAC West title defense begins Sept. 24-25 on the road against in-state foe Eastern Michigan. The Broncos will play two matches against the Eagles before returning home to square off with NIU in the MAC home opener Sept. 28.

In the month of October, the Broncos host six matches inside University Arena. Starting off the month WMU hosts in-state rival Central Michigan, Oct. 1-2 before hitting the road for four matches against Miami, Toledo and defending MAC Champion Bowling Green.

Following its four-game road stint the Broncos begin a season-long four-game homestand, Oct. 22-23 against Ball State. WMU then faces Ohio (Oct. 29) and Kent State (Oct. 30) at home before going on the road for two matches at Buffalo.

Western Michigan hosts Akron in the final two home matches of the regular season, Nov. 12-13 before concluding the regular season on Nov. 17 at Northern Illinois. The 2021 MAC Championship will be played Nov. 21-23 or Nov. 22-24 and hosted by the MAC regular season champion.