Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball Leads MAC With Four First Team Selections
November 17, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
GENEVA, Ohio - - The Ball State women's volleyball team placed a league-high four members on the 2011 All-Mid-American Conference First Team as announced today by the league office and voted on by the MAC's 12 head coaches.
Representing the Cardinals on the All-MAC First Team are senior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville H.S.), senior middle blocker/right side hitter Jennifer Boyd (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley H.S.), junior outside hitter Kara Bates (Bradley Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais Community/Maryland) and sophomore libero Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls H.S.).
Ball State's four All-MAC First Team selections are the most in a single season in program history, topping the previous best of three set by the 1993 and 2000 squads.
Brandl, who becomes just the third player in program history to earn three All-MAC First Team selections, picks up the award for the third consecutive season after transferring to Ball State following her freshman year at Cincinnati. Brandl has been one of BSU's top offensive weapons in league play, racking up a 2.29 kills-per-set average and a .305 hitting percentage despite being double and triple teamed by most of the league's defenses.
Brandl has blasted double-digit kills in seven league matches, while adding at least six kills in all 16 contests. At the net, she leads BSU's blockers with a 0.82 blocks-per-set average in MAC action. She has also served up a team-best 21 aces.
Boyd, a 2008 All-MAC Second Team honoree, earns first team accolades for the first time in her career. She has been one of the Cardinals' top offensive threats during MAC play, hitting a team-best .350, which ranks her fifth in the league.
Boyd is averaging 2.24 kills-per-set and has recorded double-digit kills in seven of BSU's 16 conference matches from the middle or right side. She also ranks second on the team in league play with 31 total blocks despite missing several sets due to an injury suffered late in the season.
Bates picks up All-MAC First Team honors for the first time in her career after transferring to Ball State from Maryland this past fall. She has been BSU's top offensive performer in league play, racking up a 3.56 kills-per-set average to rank fifth in the conference.
Bates has blasted double-digit kills in 11 of the 16 league matches, including a career-high 20 at Western Michigan (Nov. 4). She has also collected a pair of kill/dig double-doubles, while hitting above .250 in eight matches. At the net, she ranks fourth on the squad with a 0.54 blocks-per-set average, including nine solo blocks which is one shy of the team lead.
Fredrich earns All-MAC First Team honors for the first time in her career and is just the third libero in program history to be named to the first team. A four-time MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week since league play began, Fredrich has been BSU's backcourt leader racking up 305 digs for a 4.92 digs-per-set average in MAC play.
Fredrich posted double-digit digs in all 16 of BSU's league matches, including 30-or-more on three occasions. She led BSU in digs in 15 of the 16 matches, while earning match-high honors 10 times. She was also BSU's top passer in league play, with a .971 reception percentage, being aced only nine times in 312 reception attempts. From the service line, Fredrich is the league's top server with a .991 serving percentage, having just two service errors in 232 attempts in league action. She has also served up eight aces.
The Ball State women's volleyball team opens play in the 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament Friday morning as the No. 4 seed when its battles No. 5 Eastern Michigan in the 11 a.m. quarterfinal match. The match can be heard live on WCRD 91.3 FM and on the web at ballstatesports.com.
All-MAC First Team
Kara Bates, Ball State
Jennifer Boyd, Ball State
Kelsey Brandl, Ball State
Catie Fredrich, Ball State
Danielle Tonyan, Bowling Green
Kaitlyn Schultz, Central Michigan
Rachel Iaquaniello, Eastern Michigan
Ashley Mason, Eastern Michigan
Haley Stein, Eastern Michigan
Cassie Farrell, Miami
Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois
Mary Kurisch, Northern Illinois
Lauren Wicinski, Northern Illinois
Kelly Lamberti, Ohio
Katie Post, Ohio
Jessica Brown, Western Michigan
Terin Norris, Western Michigan
Lena Oliver, Western Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
Courtney Jarvis, Akron
Lexie Hartnett, Ohio
Sarah Angelos, Northern Illinois
Allison McGlaughlin, Northern Illinois
Kassie Kadera, Toledo
Ashley Turnage, Western Michigan
All-MAC Freshman Team
Liz Scott, Buffalo
Kaitlyn McIntyre, Central Michigan
Megan Crawshaw, Eastern Michigan
Chelsea Bilger, Ohio
Kelly Lamberti, Ohio
Terin Norris, Western Michigan
Setter of the Year - Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois
Defensive Player of the Year - Haley Stein, Eastern Michigan
Freshman of the Year - Terin Norris, Western Michigan
Player of the Year - Lauren Wicinski, Northern Illinois
