Women's Volleyball

MAC Announces 2023 Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, All-MAC Teams

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Bowling Green & Ball State have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2023 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Falcons received 11 votes to win the East Division, and also received six votes to win the conference tournament. The Cardinals, who were 2022 MAC West Division Champions and earned an at-large NCAA tournament birth, received 11 votes to take the West Division’s regular-season crown and received five votes to walk away as tournament champions. Head coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves in the poll.

In addition, thirteen of the league's top volleyball student-athletes were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions. 

Jessica Andrews (Bowling Green), Lauryn Hovey (Bowling Green), Mandy Leigh (Buffalo), Courtney Okwara (Buffalo), Caroline Clippard (Ohio), and Caitlin O’Farrell complete the Preseason East All-MAC Team.

The Preseason West All-MAC Team includes Marie Plitt (Ball State), Megan Wielonski (Ball State), Claire Ammeraal (Central Michigan), Taylor Alt (Toledo), Logan Case (Western Michigan) and Maggie King (Western Michigan).

The season opens Friday, August 25th and concludes with the MAC Volleyball Championship on Nov. 19-21/20-22 at the home of the No. 1 seed.
 
For news, notes and statistics throughout the season, visit GetSomeMACtion.com or follow @MACSports on Twitter. 
  
2023 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)

2023 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green (11) – 61 points
2. Ohio (1) – 50 points
3. Buffalo – 42 points
4. Kent State – 28 points
5. Miami – 18 points
6. Akron – 17 points
 
2023 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Ball State (11) – 61 points
2. Western Michigan (1) – 43 points
3. Central Michigan – 41 points
4. Toledo – 38 points
5. Northern Illinois – 20 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 13 points
 
Tournament Champion Votes: Bowling Green (6), Ball State (5), Western Michigan (1)
 
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Jessica Andrews, Sophomore, Middle Blocker, Bowling Green
Lauryn Hovey, Sophomore, Opposite Side/Setter, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Junior, Setter, Buffalo
Courtney Okwara, Fifth-Year, Middle Blocker, Buffalo
Caroline Clippard, Junior, Outside Hitter, Ohio
Caitlin O’Farrell, Graduate Student, Middle Blocker, Ohio
 
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Graduate Student, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Junior, Setter, Ball State
Claire Ammeraal, Sophomore, Setter, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Senior, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Logan Case, Senior, Setter, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan