CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference Volleyball Coaches submitted their predictions as to which team will take the regular season crown and tournament title for the upcoming 2024 Volleyball season, with Western Michigan as the favorite. Head Coaches were not allowed to vote for their team or student-athletes in the poll.
The reigning 2023 MAC Champion Broncos received 121 team points and 11 of the 12 head coaches first-place votes, including nine to win the tournament. The gold and brown ended its historic 2023 season with 31 wins, the most since a 32-win campaign in 1983 and the fourth 30-plus win season in program history, after falling to No.2 seed Louisville in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Volleyball Championship.
Bowling Green was slotted second in the poll with 102 team points with one first-place votes, and two votes as the tournament favorite. Ball State collected 98 points to round out the top 3 teams, including one vote for the tournament title.
Twelve of the league’s top student-athletes were also named to the 2024 Preseason All-MAC Team. Those selections include 2023 MAC Player of the Year and MAC Setter of the Year, Logan Case (Western Michigan), 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, Andelyn Simkins (Western Michigan), 2023 Freshman of the Year, Aniya Kennedy (Ball State), and four-time all-MAC honoree Taylor Alt (Toledo).
The MAC Volleyball season begins this Friday, Aug. 30, while conference play is set for Thursday, Sept. 26. The 2024 MAC Volleyball Championship will occur on November 22-24 or 23-25 at campus sites.
For more MAC Volleyball news, notes, and statistics throughout the season, visit GetSomeMaction.com and follow @MACSports on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
2024 MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll
First Place Votes in ()
1. Western Michigan (11) - 121 pts.
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.
Tournament Champion Votes: Western Michigan (9), Bowling Green (2), and 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
