CLEVELAND, Ohio – Miami & Central Michigan have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2020-21 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll. The RedHawks garnered 62 total points when it came to picking who would win the East, while the Chippewas received 67 points to take home the West. Bowling Green received five votes to win the conference tournament.
In addition, twelve of the league's top volleyball student-athletes were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions as announced by the league office.
The RedHawks, the four-time defending MAC regular-season champions, received four first-place votes to win the East Division and one vote to win the MAC Tournament. Junior outside hitter Gaby Harper was one of six selected to the All-MAC East Division Preseason Team. Harper earned all-conference honors in her first two years with the RedHawks, including First-Team All-MAC honors as well as MAC Freshman of the Year accolades in 2018. Harper averaged 2.65 kills per set, 3.17 digs per set and 0.52 blocks per set as a sophomore a season ago.
Central Michigan returns nearly every key contributor from its 2019 team that shared the MAC West crown and advanced to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The division crown was CMU's first since 2003 and the postseason berth was the program's first since 2011. The 2019 Chippewas finished 21-9, posting their most victories since 2007. Outside hitter Kalina Smith and middle blocker Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez headline the returnees. Both are seniors and both were First Team All-MAC selections in 2019.
Emily Weigand (Akron), Katelyn Meyer (Bowling Green), Harper (Miami), Vera Giacomazzi (Ohio), Tia Jimerson (Ohio) and Maggie Nedoma (Ohio) complete the Preseason East All-MAC Team.
The Preseason West All-MAC Team includes Marie Plitt (Ball State), Natalie Risi (Ball State), Smith (Central Michigan), Rosario-Martinez (Central Michigan), Franki Strefling (Eastern Michigan) and Rachel Bontrager (Western Michigan).
The 2020-21 season opens Friday, January 22nd. For news, notes and statistics throughout the season, visit GetSomeMACtion.com
2020-21 East Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Miami — 62 points (4 first place votes)
2. Bowling Green — 60 points (5)
3. Ohio — 55 points (3)
4. Akron — 28 points
5. Kent State — 24 points
6. Buffalo — 23 points
2020-21 West Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Michigan - 67 points (7)
2. Ball State — 64 points (5)
3. Western Michigan — 45 points
4. Eastern Michigan — 31 points
5. Toledo — 23 points
6. Northern Illinois — 22 points
Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (5), Ball State (2), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1)
MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Emily Weigand, Akron
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Gaby Harper, Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Maggie Nedoma, Ohio
MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Natalie Risi, Ball State
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Lisbeth Rosario – Martinez, Central Michigan
Franki Strefling, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
