OXFORD, Ohio - It is the final week of the regular season for the Miami University volleyball team as it looks to secure its fourth straight Mid-American Conference title. It begins on Thursday when the RedHawks travel to Bowling Green for a 6 p.m. match. That contest will air live on ESPN+. Miami returns home for the regular season finale on Saturday when it hosts Western Michigan at 6 p.m. That will be Senior Night as well as the Myaamia Celebration. Miami Athletics is proud of the partnership with the Myaamia Center, in conjunction with the relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. The match will air live on MiamiRedHawks.com for those who have a subscription.

MAC TITLE IN SIGHT: Despite having their nine-match win streak snapped at Buffalo last Saturday, Miami enters the week in sole possession of first place in the MAC race at 11-3. Central Michigan is in second place at 10-4. Ball State, Akron and Bowling Green are tied for third at 9-5. One more victory will clinch a share of the RedHawks' fourth straight MAC Regular Season championship, as well as the top seed in next week's MAC Tournament. With two victories or one victory and a Central Michigan loss, Miami would earn its first outright MAC title since 1995. This year's five-member senior class of 2020 is looking to join the class of 1999 as the only four-time MAC regular season champions in Miami volleyball history.
  ABOUT BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons are 15-11 overall and currently in a tie for third in the MAC standings at 9-5. Last weekend they dropped a four-set match to red-hot Buffalo on Friday, but rebounded with a sweep of Akron on Saturday. Bowling Green has been led by sophomore outside hitter Katelyn Meyer. She has had a breakout campaign with 332 kills, an average of 3.57 kills per set. Their libero, sophomore Julia Walz has 517 digs on the season, an average of 5.56 digs per set.

SERIES WITH THE FALCONS: Miami holds a 52-31 lead in the all-time series with Bowling Green. The matches have been tight the last few seasons as the teams have shared the last two MAC Championships. The RedHawks used a strong defensive effort to earn a 3-0 (26-24, 25-14, 26-24) win in their first meeting this season on Oct. 10 in Oxford. Sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. Miami held the Falcons to a .097 attack percentage for the match.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos are 13-13 overall and 4-10 in the MAC. They still have an outside chance to earn a spot in the conference tournament with a pair of wins this weekend and some help. Prior to facing Miami, they will travel to Northern Illinois on Thursday. Western Michigan has been led by junior outside hitter Rachel Bontrager. She has 399 kills, an average of 3.76 kills per set. Defensively, senior libero Kathleen Reilly has recorded 570 digs, an average of 5.38 digs per set.

SERIES WITH THE BRONCOS: Western Michigan holds a 35-25 lead in the all-time series with Miami. Last season, the RedHawks dropped a 2-3 (25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 13-15) heartbreaker to the Broncos on Nov. 3, 2018 in Kalamazoo. Miami took a 5-0 lead in set one, but an 8-1 run by WMU allowed it to take control back. With the score tied at 12, a 3-1 run by the Broncos finished off the win. Gaby Harper led the way for the RedHawks with 16 kills and 11 digs.