KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team opens up the 2023 season this weekend as it welcomes Milwaukee, Northern Iowa and Villanova to University Arena for its annual non-conference tournament.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 25
Northern Iowa vs. Villanova - 3 pm
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Western Michigan vs Milwaukee - 6 pm
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Saturday, Aug. 26
Milwaukee vs. Northern Iowa - 10 am
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Villanova vs. Milwaukee - 4 pm
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Western Michigan vs Northern Iowa - 6 pm
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Sunday, Aug. 27
Western Michigan vs Villanova - 12 pm
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FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUVolleyball
THE FIRST SERVE
Western Michigan begins the 2023 season by hosting its annual non-conference tournament. This season, the Broncos welcome Milwaukee, Northern Iowa and Villanova to Kalamazoo, with one match on each day of the three-day event for WMU.
THE OPPONENTS
The Broncos are 8-5 all-time against Milwaukee, with the Panthers taking the most recent meeting in five sets during the 2021 campaign in Indianapolis. Milwaukee went 10-20 and was fifth in the Horizon League in 2022. UNI is 5-0 all-time against Western Michigan, including a four-set win last season. The Panthers won the MVC and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between WMU and Villanova. The Wildcats were 10-20 in 2022 and tied for seventh in the Big East.
PRESEASON ALL-MAC HONOREES
Graduate student outside hitter
Maggie King and senior setter
Logan Case were named to the Preseason All-MAC West Team for the third straight year on Thursday, after both received First Team All-MAC honors following the 2022 campaign. King led the conference with 458 kills a season ago, and was second in kills/set (3.98). Case, who was named a College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-American, paced the MAC and ranked fourth nationally with 11.66 assists/set. Case enters the season third in program history with 3,676 career assists, and is 826 helpers away from becoming WMU's all-time record holder.
BRONCOS PICKED SECOND IN THE WEST
Also coming out on Thursday was the annual MAC preseason coaches poll. The league's coaches picked Western Michigan to finish second in the West Division behind Ball State. The Broncos were one of four programs picked to win a division (BSU, Bowling Green, Ohio) and one of three schools (BGSU, BSU) to receive at least one vote to win the MAC Tournament in November.
HOME SWEET HOME
Under head coach
Colleen Munson, Western Michigan has built a strong home advantage at University Arena. In her 18 seasons, WMU is 148-57 (.722) at home, including a 9-3 mark last year.
