WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS

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Western Michigan University advances in MAC Tournament

by Paul Morgan, Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday November 21, 2008, 6:24 PM

Western Michigan University's volleyball team defeated Toledo, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15, Friday in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament, being played in the SeaGate Centre in Toledo.

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WMU wins second set in MAC Tournament

by Paul Morgan, Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday November 21, 2008, 5:20 PM

Western Michigan University wins the first two sets, 25-17, 25-22, against the University of Toledo in the Mid-American Conference tournament quarterfinals on Friday at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo.

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WMU wins first set at MAC Tournament

by Paul Morgan, Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday November 21, 2008, 4:57 PM

Western Michigan University defeated Toledo, 25-17, in the first set of the Mid-American Conference quarterfinal match, being played at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo.

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Ball State offers Western Michigan title shot, showcase

by Graham Couch | Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday November 21, 2008, 2:18 AM

KALAMAZOO -- A home-cooked meal, a little homework and a football game on the tube -- most nights, this would have been Phil Swanson's idea of a relaxing time.

Not Wednesday, though. The nerves churning in his gut made it difficult for Western Michigan University's sophomore offensive lineman to do anything but sweat through the final minutes of Central Michigan vs. Ball State.

So much at stake and so little Swanson could do about it -- like when Central Michigan's last-minute drive was given new life by an interception ruled incomplete after video review.

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Broncos 'shutting down' Andre Ricks with ailing wrist

by Graham Couch | Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday November 21, 2008, 2:17 AM

Western Michigan senior guard could be lost for season

KALAMAZOO -- Three years ago at an early season tournament in Hawaii, Andre Ricks knew only one way to remedy a decaying tooth -- remove it with a steak knife.

"I didn't know it until afterward, but he didn't have any insurance," Western Michigan University men's basketball coach Steve Hawkins said of his then freshman guard. " ... Over the course of two or three days, he worked it and worked it and worked it."

So when Ricks telephoned Hawkins Wednesday night to say his ailing left wrist was too much to bear, Hawkins knew the 5-foot-9 senior's pain was legit.

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Pittsburgh overwhelms Western Michigan women

by Jayson Bussa | Kalamazoo Gazette

Friday November 21, 2008, 2:10 AM

Mike Farrell | Special to the GazetteWMU's Miame Giden, left, collides with Pittsburgh's Shavonte Zellous (1) as she drives for a shot. WMU's Sarah Dreher (3) approaches to help on the play.

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University women's basketball coach Tasha McDowell said her Broncos did everything they could in practice to prepare for Thursday's home game with against Pittsburgh.

She highlighted one rather large problem.

In practice, the Broncos couldn't simulate two towering, athletic post players or a prospective All-American point guard whose mid-range jump shot caught fire.
Those tools, along with a frustrating array of defensive presses, were what the Panthers (1-1), who started the season ranked No. 23 in the nation, used to score a convincing 88-60 victory over WMU (0-2) at University Arena, their first win of the season.

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Trio of Broncos make Mid-American Conference first team

by Paul Morgan | Kalamazoo Gazette

Thursday November 20, 2008, 11:50 PM

KALAMAZOO -- Three seems to be Western Michigan University's magic number this weekend in Toledo, Ohio.

The No. 1-seeded Broncos will need to win three matches at the Mid-American Conference tournament to take the title.

And WMU had three players named to the All-MAC first team for the first time in 21 years. The honor squad was announced Thursday night. The quarterfinals run all day today at the SeaGate Center in Toledo. The semifinals are Saturday, and the championship match is Sunday.

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Western Michigan's season finale at Ball State picked up by ESPN2

by Graham Couch | Kalamazoo Gazette

Thursday November 20, 2008, 11:20 AM

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's football game next Tuesday at No. 14 Ball State will be televised on ESPN2, with the kickoff moving to 7 p.m.

The game was originally slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN360.com.

It's the first time this season WMU (9-2, 6-1 MAC) has been on national television and the fourth straight week for Ball State (11-0, 7-0), which is vying to finish the regular season unbeaten.

With a win, the Broncos would earn a share of the Mid-American Conference West Division title. They would also need Central Michigan to lose its finale at Eastern Michigan to garner a trip to the MAC championship game.

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