Ball State University Athletics
MAC Coaches Select Women's Volleyball Preseason West Division Favorite
August 18, 2006 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State women's volleyball team has been tabbed the preseason favorite to win the 2006 Mid-American Conference West Division Championship, as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. Ohio, the three-time defending regular season and tournament champion, has been picked to win the East Division Title, the MAC Regular Season Championship and the MAC Tournament Championship.
"While it is an honor to be recognized as a championship caliber team, this preseason ranking does little to help us reach our goals," said BSU head coach Randy Litchfield. "We are dedicated to getting our program back to the top of the MAC and into the NCAA Tournament. To do that, we have to prove ourselves on the court. Only through hard work and determination in the gym will get to where we want to be, not through preseason accolades."
The Cardinals, who have been selected the West Division favorite in each of the last four years, captured the top spot by earning seven of 12 first-place votes. Eastern Michigan was picked second and scored two first-place votes, while Western Michigan garnered three first-place votes and was chosen third. Rounding out the West Division were Northern Illinois, Toledo and Central Michigan.
In the East, Ohio - - who enters the season ranked 15th in the CSTV/AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll - - locked up all 12 first place votes. Miami was picked second, followed by Bowling Green, Kent State, Akron and Buffalo.
The Cardinals return just five letterwinners from last year's squad which posted a 21-10 (11-5 MAC) record. Highlighting the list of returnees are seniors Amanda McCormick (Muncie, Ind./Burris H.S.), Kelly Cochran (LaPorte, Ind./Michigan City Marquette H.S.) and Kirby Gibson (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.).
McCormick - - a 2005 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention and CVU.com Stellar Spikers First Team selection - - ranked first in the league and fourth in the nation with a school-record 6.32 digs-per-game average last season. The first player in program history to earn national player of the week accolades, McCormick also set BSU single-season records for matches with double-figure digs (30) and matches with 20-plus digs (21).
Cochran looks to build upon a very successful 2005 campaign which saw her post career-high marks in nearly every statistical category, including kills per game (3.30), digs per game (3.45), blocks per game (0.32), service aces per game (0.27) and hitting percentage (.180).
Gibson posted a 0.66 blocks-per-game average last season, while collecting 1.57 kills per game. In addition, her .247 attack percentage ranked second on the squad.
BSU's other returning letterwinners are juniors Brittany May (Gaston, Ind./Wes-Del H.S.) and Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.). May averaged 1.72 kills per game and 0.55 blocks per game last season, while Parrell logged 1,339 assists in 2006 which is the seventh-best single season total in team annals.
Four players, Rachel Alcorn (New Castle, Ind./Chrysler H.S.), Elaina Kakatolis (Arcanum, Ohio/Franklin Monroe H.S.), Madison Monk (Granger, Ind./Penn H.S.) and Caitlin Morency (New Albany, Ind./Floyd Central H.S.) return to the team after redshirting last season.
New to the program are a pair of transfers and four true freshmen. Sophomore Christine Kennedy (San Marcos, Calif./University of San Diego H.S.) joins the Cardinals after spending one year at St. Mary's College of California, which was an NCAA Tournament participant and spent time in the top 25 poll last year. While she only saw limited action, she was able to collect seven total blocks versus both No. 12 Santa Clara and No. 20 San Diego.
BSU's other transfer, Brittany Warnke (LaPorte, Ind./Michigan City H.S.), comes to the program from Central Missouri State University where she redshirted last season. BSU's four true are Julie Breivogel (Boonville, Ind./Boonville H.S.), Cassie Conner (Willow Springs, Ill./Lyons Township), Courtney Diggins (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf H.S.) and Ana Gabriela Pedrosa (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Colegio Arnaldo).
After hosting its annual "Meet the Team Night" Sunday starting with a FREE Youth Clinic at 5 p.m., the Ball State women's volleyball team officially kicks off the 2006 season Aug. 25 when it hosts Xavier at 7 p.m. in the Ball State Nike/Active Ankle Weekend.
