BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Miami University volleyball team is the number one seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament this week after capturing its fourth-straight regular season crown. The RedHawks received a bye to the semifinal round where they will face either fourth seed Ball State, fifth seed Ohio or eighth seed Kent State Saturday at 4:30 p.m. With a win, Miami will advance to the MAC Championship on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. This year's tournament takes place at the Stroh Center on the campus of Bowling Green. All MAC Tournament matches will air live on ESPN+.

TOURNEY HISTORY: No matter what the seed, Miami has had a history of success in the MAC Tournament. The RedHawks have reached the MAC Championship in four of the past five seasons and won the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Western Michigan in 2017. Last season as the two seed, Miami came from being 0-2 down in its semifinal round against third seed Ball State to win the match in five. However, fifth seed Eastern Michigan came back from being down 1-2 to take the MAC Championship in the fifth set. The Red and White have won the MAC Tournament seven times overall.

OUTRIGHT TITLE: While this is the fourth straight time the RedHawks have won the MAC regular season crown, it is the first time in that stretch that they have won it outright. In fact the last six times before 2019 that Miami won the MAC, it was a shared title. The last outright championship before this season was back in 1995.
  ABOUT BALL STATE: One of the youngest teams in the league, Ball State features 10 freshmen on its 18 player roster. Despite that, the Cardinals have found success as they finished the regular season at 17-12 overall and 11-5 in the MAC. They closed the regular season with six victories in a row, including 3-1 wins over Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan last weekend. Ball State has eight different players averaging more than 1.60 kills per set, led by the MAC Freshman of the Year, outside hitter Natalie Risi. She has 325 kills, an average of 2.95 kills per set.

SERIES WITH THE CARDINALS: Ball State holds a 40-39 lead in the all-time series with Miami. The RedHawks have won the last five in a row against the Cardinals however. That includes a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 26-24) win in Muncie on Oct. 25. After cruising through the first two sets, Miami came back from down 17-21 in the third to earn the sweep. Senior middle hitter Margaret Payne led the way with 13 kills and seven blocks.

ABOUT OHIO: Ohio finished the regular season 17-12 overall and 9-7 in the MAC. The Bobcats have won their past four matches, including sweeping Buffalo and defeating Akron, 3-1, last weekend. Junior middle blocker Tia Jimerson was named MAC Player of the Year and MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She has 253 kills in 21 matches, an average of 3.29 kills per set.

SERIES WITH THE BOBCATS: Miami holds a 52-36 lead in the all-time series with Ohio. The RedHawks have won seven of the past nine against the Bobcats. The teams split their two matches this year with both teams winning at home. On Sept. 28 in Athens the RedHawks dropped a 1-3 (22-25, 25-22, 14-25, 18-25) decision. Miami hit only .108 for the match. Senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs. The RedHawks got their revenge with a 3-1 (30-28, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21) win in Oxford on Nov. 1. Margaret Payne put down a season-high 18 kills and also had seven blocks.

ABOUT KENT STATE: Kent State is 14-14 overall and 7-9 in the MAC. Last weekend it swept Akron, but fell to Buffalo in five sets. The Golden Flashes are led by senior outside hitter Ashley Makruski. She has 283 kills, an average of 2.80 kills per set. It also has one of the league's better liberos in sophomore Erin Gardner. She has 578 digs, an average of 5.35 digs per set.

SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN FLASHES: Miami holds a 66-18 all-time record in the series with Kent State. The RedHawks have won six straight against the Golden Flashes, including both matches this season. On Sept. 27 in Kent, Miami earned a 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-18) sweep. Miami rallied late in each of the first two sets before finishing off the win in the third. Sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper led the way with 12 kills and 18 digs in the victory. It was another 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-18) sweep on Nov. 2 in Oxford. Junior right side hitter Sarah Wojick recorded 10 kills, while the 'Hawks held the Flashes to a .047 attack percentage for the match.