CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday, the league’s 12 volleyball head coaches have selected the Miami RedHawks to claim the regular season title, as well as win the 2019 MAC Volleyball Championship crown.
Last season the RedHawks finished with an overall record of 23-9 and finished conference play at 13-3, tied with Bowling Green for the top spot. Miami clinched the #2 seed in the 2018 MAC Tournament before falling in five-sets to Eastern Michigan. Miami collected eight votes from the coaches to win the MAC regular season, while Bowling Green garnered two and Ohio and Western Michigan each picked up one.
In the MAC Tournament predictions, Miami garnered six nods to claim the 2019 title. Bowling Green received four votes to win the Championship, while Buffalo and Western Michigan each tallied one vote.
Within the divisions, Miami picked up 9 of 12 votes to claim the MAC East title. Bowling Green was tabbed to finish second, receiving two first place votes. Ohio, Buffalo, Kent State and Akron respectively round out the East Division.
Ball State grabbed 10 of the possible 12 votes in the West, placing them atop the division. Following the Cardinals are Western Michigan who was picked to place second and received one first place vote. Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan placed 3rd and 4th in the division respectively, with EMU earning one first place vote. Northern Illinois and Toledo complete the West side of the table in the 5-6 slots.
The head coaches also named a 12-member Preseason All-MAC Team with six members from each division.
Polina Prokudina (Buffalo), Gaby Harper (Miami), Margaret Payne (Miami), Vera Giacomazzi (Ohio), Tia Jimerson (Ohio), and Lizzie Stephens (Ohio) complete the Preseason East All-MAC Team.
The Preseason West All-MAC Team includes Amber Seaman (Ball State), Sydnee VanBeek (Ball State), Kalina Smith (Central Michigan), Cassie Haut (Eastern Michigan), and Zoe Birnbrich (Toledo), and Rachel Bontrager (Western Michigan).
The 2019 season opens Friday, August 30th with all 12 programs hitting the court in nonconference tournaments. MAC play begins Thursday, September 26th with two matches on ESPN+. Throughout the season a total of 77 matches will be broadcast between ESPN3 (25) and ESPN+ (52). The complete 2019 MAC Volleyball schedule can be viewed
here.
(first place votes) – points
EAST Division
1. Miami (9) - 68
2. Bowling Green (2) - 57
3. Ohio (1) - 52
4. Buffalo - 33
5. Kent State - 28
6. Akron - 14
WEST Division
1. Ball State (10) - 68
2. Western Michigan (1) - 57
3. Eastern Michigan (1) - 43
4. Central Michigan - 39
5. Northern Illinois - 24
6. Toledo - 21
Regular Season Champions: Miami (8), Bowling Green (2), Ohio (1), Western Michigan (1)
Tournament Champions: Miami (6), Bowling Green (4), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
Preseason East All-MAC Team
Polina Prokudina, Buffalo
Gaby Harper, Miami
Margaret Payne, Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio
Preseason West All-MAC Team
Amber Seaman, Ball State
Sydnee VanBeek, Ball State
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Cassie Haut, Eastern Michigan
Zoe Birnbrich, Toledo
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
