MAC Preseason Coaches Poll Places Falcons Second In Conference
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Monday morning (Aug. 26) the MAC Volleyball Preseason Poll and Preseason All-MAC Team for the upcoming 2024 season. Bowling Green was selected to finish second in the MAC, coming in behind Western Michigan. BGSU received one first place vote as well as two votes to win the MAC Tournament. Additionally, Lauryn Hovey was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Team.
As a team, the Falcons received one first place vote with Western Michigan receiving the other 11. BGSU finished with 102 points in the poll, trailing only Western Michigan (121) and followed by Ball State (98) and Buffalo (92) as the other teams to eclipse the 90-point mark. Ohio (84) and Toledo (79) rounded out the top half of the conference. As for the MAC Tournament, BGSU collected two of the votes to be crowned tournament champion with Western Michigan receiving nine and Ball State one.
As for the Preseason All-MAC Team, the Falcons had Lauryn Hovey named to the list. Hovey is coming off her second All-MAC First Team selection in as many collegiate seasons. In 2023, Hovey landed 500 kills, becoming just the seventh player in program history to land 500+ kills in a season. The mark ranked 18th in the country and led the MAC. Hovey also recorded 59 aces, finishing second in program history for aces in a single season, ranking 10th in the country and coming in second in the MAC.
The Falcons will begin the regular season this weekend with a trio of home matches as they host the Best Western Invitational. Bowling Green will open the season on Friday (Aug. 30) at 6 p.m. against Chicago State as well as unveiling the team's new Taraflex court. The weekend will continue on Saturday (Aug. 31) against Illinois at 6 p.m. before concluding on Sunday (Sept. 1) against Cincinnati at 1 p.m.
2024 MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Western Michigan (11) - 121 points
2. Bowling Green (1) - 102 pts.
3. Ball State - 98 pts.
4. Buffalo - 92 pts.
5. Ohio - 84 pts.
6. Toledo - 79 pts.
7. Central Michigan - 50 pts.
8. Northern Illinois - 49 pts.
9. Akron - 48 pts.
10. Miami - 32 pts.
11. Eastern Michigan - 22 pts.
12. Kent State - 15 pts.
Predicted Tournament Champion: Western Michigan (9), Bowling Green (2), Ball State (1)
2024 Preseason All-MAC Team
Logan Case, Fifth-Year, Setter, Western Michigan
Aniya Kennedy, Redshirt-Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Taylor Alt, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite Hitter, Bowling Green
Anna Kharchynska, Junior, opposite Hitter, Ohio
Andelyn Simkins, Fifth-Year, Libero, Western Michigan
Megan Wielonski, Senior, Setter, Ball State
Katrin Trebichavska, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Buffalo
Keona Salesman, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Mandy Leigh, Senior, Setter, Buffalo
Anna Calcagno, Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Abby Leigh, Sixth-Year, Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker, Buffalo
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