BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The No. 2 seed Western Michigan volleyball team eliminated the No. 6 seed and tournament host Bowling Green in four sets (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20) in the MAC Tournament semifinals on Saturday night. With the win, the Broncos advance to Sunday's championship match against No. 4 seed Toledo.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 3, Bowling Green 1
LOCATION: Stroh Center (Bowling Green, Ohio)
RECORDS: No. 2 Western Michigan (17-15) | No. 6 Bowling Green (17-15)
 
Fueled by their defense all season long, the Broncos totaled a season-high 17 blocks, with Amanda Glanton's eight rejections leading the charge. Molly Brown contributed seven blocks, Mary Clare Brusek notched six and Leah Richmond contributed five. Reeghan Boyer led the back line with 16 digs, and was joined in double-figures by Elana Erickson (14), Richmond (13) and Maddie Kmetz (10).
 
Richmond racked up 38 assists and 13 digs to notch her 25th double-double of the season. The redshirt freshman set up Annalise Patchett for a team-leading 15 kills and Mia Jurkovic for 11.
 
Bowling Green started quickly, tallying six of the match's first seven points. WMU came right back with seven of the next eight to take an 8-7 edge. Even at 13-13, Western Michigan used a 5-1 spurt to move back in front, 18-14. BGSU closed the gap to one at 19-18, but the Broncos notched the next three to increase their lead back to four, 22-18, and held on from there to take the opening frame.
 
With WMU holding a 13-12 edge in the second, the Falcons rattled off four straight points to move ahead, 16-13. At 18-16, Bowling Green put together a 4-1 run to stretch the margin to 22-17, and then kept the Broncos at bay to even the contest at one set apiece.
 
Bowling Green took a 9-6 lead early in the third set. Western Michigan answered with an 8-2 run to go in front, 17-14. BGSU closed the gap to one, 18-17, but the Broncos countered with four straight to stretch the margin to 22-17 and put the frame beyond reach.
 
Trailing 9-7 in the fourth, WMU tallied four consecutive points to move in front, 11-9. Tied at 12-12 a few points later, the Broncos used a three-point burst to regain the advantage, 15-12. With the margin at 19-16, Western Michigan notched another three in a row to stretch the cushion to 22-16, and BGSU drew no closer than three the rest of the way.
 
The victory sends Western Michigan to the MAC Tournament Championship Match for the third consecutive year. The Broncos are set to take on No. 4 seed Toledo on Sunday at 4 pm on ESPN+, with the winner earning the MAC's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship.