Volleyball team to face CMU in MAC tournament

KALAMAZOO—For the second year in a row, the Western Michigan University volleyball team will open the Mid-American Conference tournament against a familiar in-state rival. The Broncos will face the Central Michigan University Chippewas at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in the opening round of the 2012 MAC Tournament at the Spire Center in Geneva, Ohio.

The Broncos enter the tournament at No. 3 and CMU at No. 6. The teams split this year's matches, with CMU defeating WMU 3-1 in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and the Broncos defeating the Chippewas 3-0 in Kalamazoo.

WMU clinched its program-record eighth consecutive 20-win season as the Broncos defeated the Miami RedHawks 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-21) in their Mid-American Conference finale at University Arena. With the win, the Broncos improve to 20-9 on the season, and finish their MAC schedule with a 13-3 record.

The win represented the sixth in a row and the 20th of the season for the Broncos, extending their program record of consecutive seasons with 20 or more victories, and securing their fourth MAC West division title in the last six years.. The Broncos have never won fewer than 20 matches in a season under head coach Colleen Munson.