Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Picked Second In MAC West
August 17, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team has been selected to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches in the annual preseason poll.
The Cardinals, the defending MAC Regular Season Champions, were one of four teams in the division to earn at least one first place vote. Northern Illinois was selected to win the MAC West and earned seven first place votes. Western Michigan (three first place votes) was tabbed to finish third, followed by Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan (one first place vote) and Toledo.
The league also announced a preseason West Division All-MAC Team which was highlighted by BSU senior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North H.S./Cincinnati). A two-time First Team All-MAC honoree, Brandl ranks third in program history with a .345 career hitting percentage, while her 2.89 career kills-per-set average ties for 11th.
In the MAC East Division, Ohio claimed 11 of the 12 first place votes to win the division, and is followed by Miami, Akron (one first place vote), Buffalo, Bowling Green and Kent State.
NIU was selected to win both the MAC regular season and tournament championships, with five votes in each category.
The Ball State women's volleyball team opens the 2011 season Friday, Aug. 26 versus Loyola-Chicago in the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena.
