CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday, on the eve of the 2019 MAC Volleyball Championship, the All-MAC First and Honorable Mention teams, along with the individual awards for Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Setter of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. The student-athletes receiving the honors were voted on by the league’s twelve head coaches.
For the first time in conference history, two student-athletes share Defensive Player of the Year honors; Western Michigan defensive specialist Kathleen Reilly and Ohio middle blocker Tia Jimerson. Reilly recorded double-digit digs in every match during MAC play and led the conference with 357 digs and 5.58 digs per set. The Overland Park, Kansas native posted nine matches during conference play with over 20 digs including 32 digs at Ball State, vs. Ohio and vs. Ball State. Reilly also recorded a team-high 13 service aces during MAC play. She is the fourth Bronco to receive this title.
Jimerson was also tabbed the 2019 MAC Player of the Year. A native of Sugar Hill, Georgia, Jimerson becomes the 11th Bobcat to receive the league’s top honor. The 6-3 middle blocker sits 2nd in the conference for blocks per set at 1.30, with 78 on the season and holds the 26th spot nationally for the same category. She ranks 10th in the MAC for kills per set at 3.18 and sits 5th in hitting percentage (.349). Jimerson earned MAC Player of the Week honors four times throughout the 2019 season and is the only student-athlete to claim offensive & defensive accolades in the same week. Jimerson also picked up First Team All-MAC honors for the third time in her career.
Ohio junior Vera Giacomazzi was named Setter of the Year for the second time in her career. The San Vendemiano, Italy native is a three-time MAC East Division Setter of the Week and three-time All-MAC First Team member. She leads the conference in assists with 697, averaging 11.62 per set. In the national ranks, Giacomazzi sits third for total assists (1,259) and 12th in assists per set (11.45). She is the second Bobcat to receive the honor twice, joining Abby Gilleland in the record book.
Natalie Risi of Ball State was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year. The 6-0, Michigan native registered double-digit kills in 11 of 16 league matches and double-digit digs in 10. On the season, she recorded six double-double matches. The outside hitter collected 216 kills during conference play and averages 2.97 digs per set. She is the third Ball State student-athlete to receive this honor. Risi also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team and All-Freshman Team.
Central Michigan’s Mike Gawlik has been selected by her peers as the 2019 MAC Volleyball Coach of the Year. This is the first time Gawlik has been voted the top coach in the MAC. In his 4 years with the Chippewas, Gawlik holds a 27-37 MAC record. This season, Gawlik’s squad finished tied for first in the West with an 11-5 record, clinching their first league division title in 16 years.
A total of 12 student-athletes were named to the 2019 All-MAC First Team. Central Michigan received two nods for Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez and Kalina Smith. Akron’s Emily Weigand, Bowling Green’s Katelyn Meyer, Buffalo’s Rachel Sanks, Eastern Michigan’s Cassie Haut, Miami’s Margaret Payne, Ohio’s Maggie Nedoma and Western Michigan’s Rachel Bontrager round out the 2019 squad with Jimerson, Giacomazzi, and Risi.
The six-person All-MAC Honorable Mention Team consists of Akron’s Alexis Adleta, Ball State’s Amber Seaman, Bowling Green’s Julia Walz, Buffalo’s Polina Prokudina, Kent State’s Alex Haffner and Miami’s Gaby Harper.
Ball State’s Marie Plitt and Allison Hamaker unite with their teammate Risi on the 2019 MAC All-Freshman Team. The trio is joined by Eastern Michigan’s Raeven Chase and the Kent State duo of Morgan Copley and Savannah Matthews.
The first round of the 2019 MAC Volleyball tournament begins Thursday, November 21st on the campus of Bowling Green State University. The championship game is slated for Sunday night at 4:30 pm ESPN+. Ticket information and complete tournament details can be found on the Volleyball Championship
page.
2019 MAC Volleyball Player of the Year
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
2019 MAC Volleyball Setter of the Year
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
2019 MAC Volleyball Freshman of the Year
Natalie Risi, Ball State
2019 MAC Co-Defensive Players of the Year
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Kathleen Reilly, Western Michigan
2019 MAC Coach of the Year
Mike Gawlik, Central Michigan
2019 MAC Volleyball All-MAC First Team (12 Members)
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Cassie Haut, Eastern Michigan
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Maggie Nedoma, Ohio
Margaret Payne, Miami
Natalie Risi, Ball State
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan
Rachel Sanks, Buffalo
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Emily Weigand, Akron
2019 MAC Volleyball All-MAC Honorable Mention (6 Members)
Alexis Adleta, Akron
Alex Haffner, Kent State
Gaby Harper, Miami
Polina Prokudina, Buffalo
Amber Seaman, Ball State
Julia Walz, Bowling Green
2019 MAC Volleyball All-Freshman Team (6 Members)
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan
Morgan Copley, Kent State
Allison Hamaker, Ball State
Savannah Matthews, Kent State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Natalie Risi, Ball State
