Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Favorites to Repeat as MAC West Champions
August 12, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team has been tabbed the preseason favorite to repeat as the Mid-American Conference West Division Champions, as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. Ohio, the two-time defending regular season and tournament champion, has been picked to win the East Division title and the 2005 MAC Tournament Championship.
The Cardinals' captured the top spot in the West Division poll by claiming nine of 12 first-place votes. Eastern Michigan was selected second and earned three first-place votes, followed by Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Toledo.
In the East Division, Ohio took home 10 of 12 first-place votes, while Miami was chosen second with one first-place vote, followed by Kent State, Akron with one first-place vote, Bowling Green and Buffalo.
In the MAC Tournament race, Ohio tallied eight first-place votes, followed by Ball State with two and Kent State and Toledo at one apiece.
The Cardinals return 10 players from last year's squad which posted a 20-10 (12-4 Mid-American Conference) record, won the MAC West Division Title and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament. Highlighting the list of returnees are seniors Sarah Obras (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights H.S.), Rachel Refenes (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.), Kristin Westhof (Fruitport, Mich./Fruitport H.S.) and Stephanie Bacan (Remsen, Iowa/St. Mary's H.S.).
Obras, a three-time All-MAC First Team selection, returns to the court 274 kills shy of the all-time league mark. Injured with four matches remaining on the Cardinals' schedule last season, Obras ranked third in the league and 34th in the nation with a 4.86 kills per game average.
Refenes is in her second season with the Cardinals after transferring to Ball State from the University of Mississippi. An All-MAC Second Team selection and AVCA All-Mideast Region Honorable Mention in 2004, Refenes paced the MAC and ranked eighth in the nation with a 1.67 blocks-per-game average last season.
Westhof returns for her senior year as one of the most prolific middle attackers in school history. She currently ranks 14th on BSU's career charts with 253 blocks. In addition, she is 15th all-time in block assists (216) and 18th in blocks-per-game average (0.75).
Rounding out the senior class is Bacan, who has elected to make the 2005 season her final campaign despite receiving a medial redshirt for the 2002 season. Bacan will be an anchor in the Cardinals' backcourt where she recorded a career-best 220 digs last season.
Volleyball fans looking for familiar faces will not be disappointed, as the Cardinals boast nine players from the state of Indiana, including junior Amanda McCormick (Muncie, Ind./Burris H.S.) who looks to serve as the team's libero after transferring to the program from national powerhouse Nebraska. The team's other players from the state of Indiana included Obras; juniors Kelly Cochran (LaPorte, Ind./Michigan City Marquette H.S.), Kirby Gibson (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.) and Heather Burleson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian H.S.); sophomore Brittany May (Gaston, Ind./Wes-Del H.S.) and freshmen Rachel Alcorn (New Castle, Ind./Chrysler H.S), Madison Monk (Granger, Ind./Penn H.S.) and Caitlin Morency (New Albany, Ind./Floyd Central H.S.).
The Cardinals seven out-of-state players including seniors Bacan, Refenes and Westhof; redshirt sophomore Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.); true sophomore Lauren Robbins (Ennis, Texas/Ennis H.S.) and freshmen Elaina Kakatolis (Arcanum, Ohio/Franklin Monroe H.S.) and Lanee Mikesell (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry H.S.).
The Ball State women's volleyball team will open the regular season Friday, Aug. 26 when it hosts Southern Methodist at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Ball State Nike/Active Ankle Weekend.
