KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan volleyball team closes out the regular season this weekend with a home tilt against Miami on Friday night and a visit to rival Central Michigan on Saturday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Match One: Friday, Nov. 13 | 6 pm | WMU vs Miami |
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Match Two: Saturday, Nov. 14 | 5:30 pm | WMU at CMU |
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FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUVolleyball
WIN AND YOU'RE IN
Western Michigan enters the final weekend of the regular season in fifth place in the MAC standings and needs just one more win to seal its place in next weekend's MAC Tournament in Muncie, Ind. With the top four teams, Toledo, Bowling Green, Miami and Ball State, already having clinched a spot in the tournament, the Broncos (8-6) are battling for the final two tournament berths with Ohio (7-7) and Buffalo (7-8). WMU can also seal its place with an Ohio loss to Miami on Thursday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Broncos head into Friday's contest with a 43-27 advantage in the all-time series against Miami and have won eight straight against the RedHawks. Western Michigan enters Saturday's matchup against Central Michigan with a 64-44 lead in the all-time series against their rivals. The Brown and Gold swept the Chippewas in Kalamazoo back on Sept. 29.
LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan took home a four-set, Senior Day victory over Bowling Green last Saturday at University Arena. The trio of
Annalise Patchett,
Leah Richmond and
Izzy Swiercz all had double-doubles to help the WMU attack hit .289 for the match.
Gabby Weihe celebrated her Senior Day by nearly collecting a double-double of her own, putting down 12 kills and collecting nine blocks in the contest. Weihe helped the Brown and Gold rack up 14 total blocks, tying the season high they had set during last Tuesday's match at Eastern Michigan.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK DUO
Following its 2-0 week, the Broncos claimed two MAC Player of the Week honors, with
Leah Richmond picking up her third Setter of the Week award and
Gabby Weihe earning her second Defensive Player of the Week honor. Richmond handed out 84 assists (12.00/set) and added 21 digs (3.00/set) to help WMU hit .275 in its wins over EMU and BGSU. Weihe was a force up front, totaling 19 blocks (2.71/set) over the two matches and helping the Brown and Gold record a season-high 14 blocks in each contest. Her career-high 10 blocks on Tuesday helped Western Michigan hold the Eagles to a -.018 hitting percentage, the lowest mark for a WMU opponent since 2021.
BALANCED BRONCOS
Leah Richmond leads the MAC and ranks 38th in NCAA Division I with an average of 10.29 assists per set this season. Behind her distribution, Western Michigan is second in the conference and 51st in the nation with a .250 team hitting percentage. The redshirt sophomore has been spreading the ball around, with six different Broncos having recorded double-digit kills at least once this season. WMU has four players averaging at least 2.15 kills per set, led by
Annalise Patchett's average of 3.22, which ranks eighth in the conference.
Gabby Weihe has been the most efficient hitter for the Brown and Gold, ranking third in the league and 57th nationally with a .371 hitting percentage.
