BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The No. 4 seed Western Michigan volleyball team was crowned Mid-American Conference Tournament champions for the second consecutive season on Sunday as it dispatched No. 3 seed Ball State in straight sets (25-21, 25-12, 25-13). The victory punches WMU's ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.
 
Additionally, Sunday's victory was the 400th at the helm of the Broncos for head coach Colleen Munson. Munson becomes the sixth head coach in the history of WMU Athletics to earn at least 400 career wins for the Brown and Gold.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Ball State 0
LOCATION: Stroh Center (Bowling Green, Ohio)
RECORDS: No. 4 Western Michigan (20-12) | No. 3 Ball State (22-10)
 
Following the match, the Mid-American Conference announced the All-Tournament Team, which was headlined by WMU fifth-year setter Logan Case, who was named the Tournament MVP for the second consecutive season. Case was joined on the All-Tournament Team by fifth-year libero Andelyn Simkins and senior middle blocker Madison Merz.
 
Case picked up a double-double for the second straight contest, as she racked up 43 assists and 13 digs. In the second set, the Maineville, Ohio, native became the MAC's all-time leader in career assists, surpassing Ball State's Emily Sallee's (1997-2000) old record of 6,408. Case now has 6,434 helpers in her collegiate career.
 
Julia Marr paced the Western Michigan attack with 14 kills on a .382 hitting percentage. Mary Clare Brusek hit .471 and put down 11 kills, while Merz (.400) and Keona Salesman (.350) tallied eight kills apiece.
 
Three Broncos recorded double-digit digs, led by Carley Piercefield's 14. Case and Simkins added 13 digs apiece to WMU's defensive effort. Marr had a team-leading five blocks, matching a career high which she established in Saturday's semifinal match.
 
Five straight points helped Western Michigan grab an early 5-3 advantage. The Broncos maintained a slim lead until five consecutive points put Ball State on top, 17-15. Trailing 19-17, WMU reeled off seven straight points to spark an 8-2 surge which closed out the first frame, 25-19.  
 
The Broncos kicked things up a notch over the final two sets of the contest. Three separate four-point bursts helped WMU get out to a 15-5 start in the second, and the lead never dipped below nine for the remainder of the middle frame.
 
It was more of the same in the third, as Western Michigan roared out to a 9-1 lead. Ball State whittled its way back to within six, 12-6, but the Brown and Gold countered with four straight points to push the margin to ten, 16-6. WMU cruised from there to complete its championship-clinching sweep.
 
With their spot in the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship secured, the Broncos now await their NCAA Tournament first round matchup. The 2024 NCAA Volleyball Selection Show is set for Sunday, December 1, at 6 pm on ESPN.