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Volleyball Broncos among nation's top teams

Dec. 28, 2008

KALAMAZOO--Of the 329 Division I women's volleyball programs in the United States, the Western Michigan University Broncos placed among the top teams in 2008, ending the year 25th in one national ranking, 26th in another, and among the top 16 teams in actual competition in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

WMU received 67 points to place 26th in the season's final American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, which is generally considered the definitive poll in collegiate volleyball. The Broncos were 25th in the final NCAA Ratings Percentage Index or RPI, which ranks teams based on strength of schedule and actual record. WMU was 28-7 overall, including an NCAA Tournament victory over Tulane University, which was 13th in RPI, but garnered only 23 points to finish 29th in the AVCA poll.

In the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the Broncos defeated Dayton University, 45th in RPI, and the tournament's No. 16 seed, Tulane, to advance to the Sweet 16. WMU lost in the tournament's regional semifinal round to eventual national champion Penn State, which was undefeated, 38-0, and lost only two sets all season.

WMU earned its 10th Mid-American Conference championship with a regular-season record of 14-2 against league opponents. The 10 MAC volleyball titles, coming in 2008, 2000 and eight straight in the 1980s, are the most by any school in conference history.

In 2009, the Broncos will return all seven starters: MAC Setter of the Year Jillian Mitchell; two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year Caitlin Strimel; two-time First Team All-MAC outside hitter Michelle Moore; Second Team All-MAC middle blocker Jaime Gotham, a sophomore; junior outside hitter Katie Eberling; and sophomores Kate Corbett and Allyson Doyle. Two key reserves, sophomore Courtney Seiler and freshman Ashley Turnage, redshirt sophomore setter Sam Viox and a talented four-player recruiting class will complete the 2009 roster.

Visit wmubroncos.com for more information.

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Volleyball Broncos fall to No. 1 Penn State
Broncos advance to NCAA volleyball Sweet 16
Broncos get NCAA volleyball tourney bid
Volleyball Broncos win MAC championship

Media contact: Matt Holmes, (269) 387-3168, matt.holmes@wmich.edu

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