Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball Selected to Win MAC West, Two Cardinals Earn Preseason Honors
August 22, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - The Mid-American Conference's 12 head coaches picked the Ball State women's volleyball team as the early favorite to win the league's West Division in the annual preseason poll.
In addition, senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn and junior setter Amber Seaman were named to the seven-member Preseason All-MAC West Division Team.
The defending MAC West Division champions, Ball State received 10 of the 12 first-place votes and 70 total points to win the division. Western Michigan was second with the remaining two first-place votes and 59 points, followed by Central Michigan (43), Eastern Michigan (30), Northern Illinois (29) and Toledo (21).
"While I am excited we were picked to win the MAC West Division, as the defending division champions, we know we enter the season with a big target on our backs," head coach Kelli Miller said. "The MAC is a tough league. We have to perform at a high level every match if we want an opportunity to compete for a conference and tournament championship."
The Cardinals also earned one point to win the 2018 MAC Tournament which will be hosted by Miami Nov. 15-18.
Ohio was picked to win the MAC East Division with nine of the 12 first-place votes and is also the favorite to win the MAC Regular Season and MAC Tournament titles.
"Ellie and Amber played a large role in our success last season and earned a lot of respect around the conference," Miller said. "Both have worked extremely hard in the preseason and are focused on helping our team compete at a championship level. To accomplish our team goals this season, we are going to need them to continue to push both themselves and their teammates to be the best versions of themselves."
Dunn earned the nod on the Preseason All-MAC West Division team for the first time in her career after leading the Ball State offense with 325 kills and a 2.95 kills-per-set average last season. In MAC play, Dunn ranked ninth in the conference with a 3.21 kills-per-set average.
Seaman earned Preseason All-MAC West Division honors for the first time in her career after ranking second in the league with a 10.79 assists-per-set average last season. She helped guide the Ball State offense to a .212 team attack percentage on the year, which also ranked second in the league.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
2018 MAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
WEST Division - (first place votes) – points
1. Ball State (10) - 70
2. Western Michigan (2) - 59
3. Central Michigan - 43
4. Eastern Michigan - 30
5. Northern Illinois - 29
6. Toledo - 21
EAST Division
1. Ohio (9) - 68
2. Bowling Green (3) - 60
3. Buffalo - 45
4. Miami - 42
5. Kent State - 22
6. Akron - 12
Regular Season Champions: Ohio (8), Bowling Green (3)
Tournament Champions: Ohio (5), Miami (2), Western Michigan (2), Bowling Green (1), Ball State (1)
Preseason West All-MAC Team
Meg Wolowicz, Northern Illinois
Rachel Bontorager, Western Michigan
Ellie Dunn, Ball State
Jordan Smith, Eastern Michigan
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Amber Seaman, Ball State
Maurissa Leonard, Toledo
Preseason East All-MAC Team
Kallie Seimet, Bowling Green
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Andrea Mitrovic, Buffalo
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio
Katie Kidwell, Bowling Green
Margaret Payne, Miami
- BallStateSports.com -
In addition, senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn and junior setter Amber Seaman were named to the seven-member Preseason All-MAC West Division Team.
The defending MAC West Division champions, Ball State received 10 of the 12 first-place votes and 70 total points to win the division. Western Michigan was second with the remaining two first-place votes and 59 points, followed by Central Michigan (43), Eastern Michigan (30), Northern Illinois (29) and Toledo (21).
"While I am excited we were picked to win the MAC West Division, as the defending division champions, we know we enter the season with a big target on our backs," head coach Kelli Miller said. "The MAC is a tough league. We have to perform at a high level every match if we want an opportunity to compete for a conference and tournament championship."
The Cardinals also earned one point to win the 2018 MAC Tournament which will be hosted by Miami Nov. 15-18.
Ohio was picked to win the MAC East Division with nine of the 12 first-place votes and is also the favorite to win the MAC Regular Season and MAC Tournament titles.
"Ellie and Amber played a large role in our success last season and earned a lot of respect around the conference," Miller said. "Both have worked extremely hard in the preseason and are focused on helping our team compete at a championship level. To accomplish our team goals this season, we are going to need them to continue to push both themselves and their teammates to be the best versions of themselves."
Dunn earned the nod on the Preseason All-MAC West Division team for the first time in her career after leading the Ball State offense with 325 kills and a 2.95 kills-per-set average last season. In MAC play, Dunn ranked ninth in the conference with a 3.21 kills-per-set average.
Seaman earned Preseason All-MAC West Division honors for the first time in her career after ranking second in the league with a 10.79 assists-per-set average last season. She helped guide the Ball State offense to a .212 team attack percentage on the year, which also ranked second in the league.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
2018 MAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
WEST Division - (first place votes) – points
1. Ball State (10) - 70
2. Western Michigan (2) - 59
3. Central Michigan - 43
4. Eastern Michigan - 30
5. Northern Illinois - 29
6. Toledo - 21
EAST Division
1. Ohio (9) - 68
2. Bowling Green (3) - 60
3. Buffalo - 45
4. Miami - 42
5. Kent State - 22
6. Akron - 12
Regular Season Champions: Ohio (8), Bowling Green (3)
Tournament Champions: Ohio (5), Miami (2), Western Michigan (2), Bowling Green (1), Ball State (1)
Preseason West All-MAC Team
Meg Wolowicz, Northern Illinois
Rachel Bontorager, Western Michigan
Ellie Dunn, Ball State
Jordan Smith, Eastern Michigan
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Amber Seaman, Ball State
Maurissa Leonard, Toledo
Preseason East All-MAC Team
Kallie Seimet, Bowling Green
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Andrea Mitrovic, Buffalo
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio
Katie Kidwell, Bowling Green
Margaret Payne, Miami
- BallStateSports.com -
Players Mentioned
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