Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball?s Kitchel Named to Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
August 22, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - Ball State women's volleyball senior outside hitter Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) has been named to the 2016 Preseason All-Mid-American Conference West Division Team as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches and announced by the league office.
“Mackenzie is a workhorse who is prepared to lead our squad this fall,” first-year head coach Kelli Miller said. “She really deserves this recognition and it will drive her to work that much harder this season."
A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, Kitchel enters her senior campaign as Ball State's active career leader with 478 kills. She blasted a career-high 18 kills in a thrilling come-from-behind win over Central Michigan (Nov. 14) in the 2015 regular season finale and has registered double digit kills 18 times over her career. She also garnered MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week accolades for the first time in her career last season. On defense, Kitchel set a career-high with 11 digs at Toledo (Sept. 24) last year and is third among Ball State's active players with 126 career digs.
In addition to Kitchel's honor, the Cardinals were selected to finish third in the MAC West Division in the league's annual preseason poll. Defending MAC regular season champion Northern Illinois was tabbed to win the division with 11 first-place votes, followed by Western Michigan with one first-place nod. After the Cardinals in the division were Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo.
Miami was projected to win the MAC East Division with nine first-place votes and was the preseason favorite to win both the league's regular season (nine votes) and tournament (five votes) titles. Following the RedHawks in the MAC East Division were Kent State with one first-place vote, defending MAC Tournament champion Ohio with two first-place votes, Buffalo, Bowling Green and Akron.
The Ball State women's volleyball team opens the 2016 season Aug. 26-27, when it travels up I-69 to play in the Fort Wayne Invitational. The Cardinals' home opener will be Aug. 31, when IUPUI makes the trek up I-69 for a 7 p.m. first serve.
Fans can purchase single match (Adult - $6 / Youth - $4) or season tickets (Adult - $39 / Youth - $25) by calling (888-BSU-TICKET) or visiting the Ball State's Stoops Buick/GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
| MAC West Division (1st-place votes) | MAC East Division (1st-place votes) | 2016 Regular Season Champion |
| 1. Northern Illinois (11) | 1. Miami (9) | 1. Miami (9) |
| 2. Western Michigan (1) | 2. Kent State (1) | T2. Kent State (1), Northern Illinois (1) |
| 3. Ball State | 3. Ohio (2) | Ohio (1) |
| 4. Central Michigan | 4. Buffalo | 2016 MAC Tournament Champion |
| 5. Eastern Michigan | 5. Bowling Green | 1. Miami (5) |
| 6. Toledo | 6. Akron | 2. Northern Illinois (4) |
| 3. Kent State (2) | ||
| 4. Western Michigan (1) |
- BallStateSports.com -
