Risi Named MAC Freshman of the Year; Four Players Earn All-MAC Honors

CLEVELAND, Ohio - - The Ball State women's volleyball program was heavily rewarded for its run to a third consecutive Mid-American Conference West Division Championship, with four players earning All-MAC honors as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches and announced Wednesday (Nov. 20) by the conference office.

"I'm very excited for our All-MAC award winners," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "It always feels good to get acknowledged for your hard work during the regular season. However, I feel like their best volleyball is yet to come. The league has been so tightly matched this year with so many great players, it's an honor to receive these recognitions. I think everyone would agree that while these are individual awards, they could not have done it without our full team effort."

Highlighting the list is freshman outside Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) who became just the third player in program history to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Risi was also named to the All-MAC First Team and MAC All-Freshman squads.

Senior setter Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) earned a spot on the All-MAC Honorable Mention team, marking her third consecutive season earning league post-season honors. In addition, freshman opposite Allison Hamaker (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) and freshman middle blocker Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) were named to the MAC All-Freshman team.

A two-time MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week selection this season, Risi led the Ball State offense and ranked sixth in the MAC with a 3.43 kills-per-set average. She blasted double-digit kills in 11 league matches, including a career-high 27 versus Toledo (Oct. 31) which are the second-most in a league match this season.

Risi's 25 kills against Bowling Green (Oct. 26) were also the fourth-best single-match total in the league this season, while her 17 kills in each victory over Northern Illinois tie as the third-highest total in a three-set MAC match. Risi was just as strong on defense, averaging 2.97 digs-per-set and collecting double-digit digs in 10 league matches for six conference double-doubles.

"Natalie has been such a staple for our team this year," Phillips said. "She has to do a little of everything for us; passes a ton of serves, attacks, plays great defense, serves tough, blocks, you name it, she likely does it! I'm very proud of how tough she has remained all season. She works hard and is a consistent teammate, and I look forward to seeing her in the MAC tournament."

A three-time MAC West Division Setter of the Week honoree this season, Seaman helped run a Ball State offense that led the league in both kills-per-set average (14.24) and assists-per-set average (13.13) during conference play. She also helped the Cardinals rank fourth in league-only matches with a .220 attack percentage.

Individually, she ranked seventh in conference play at 9.48 assists per set and was eighth with a 0.28 ace-per-set average. She handed out a career-high 62 assists versus BGSU (Oct. 26) and was credited with 20-or-more assists in 12 league matches. She also averaged 2.28 digs per set and scored four assist/dig double-doubles in MAC play.

"Amber has helped turn our offense into one of the best in the league," Phillips said. "She competes hard and fights for every point. Her service pressure and defense are also huge strengths that really help our team be successful."

A two-time MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week honoree this season, Hamaker ranked second on the squad with a 2.78 kills-per-set average in MAC play despite battling injury through the last half of the league season. Smashed a career-high 19 kills versus Western Michigan (Oct. 5) and added 18 kills at Eastern Michigan (Oct. 12). She also hit .500 (19-4-30) in the win over EMU and finished league play ranked second among Ball State's primary attackers with a .247 attack percentage. She hit .350-or-better in five league matches, while also averaging 0.22 blocks per set in MAC play.

Plitt led the Ball State offense and ranked fourth in the league play with a .349 attack percentage. She averaged 2.15 kills per set and smashed double-digit kills four times, including a career-high 14 kills versus Bowling Green (Oct. 26) and 13 kills at Western Michigan (Nov. 8). Plitt hit .350-or-better in seven league matches, including a .500 (13-1-24) rate of success at WMU. She also averaged 0.53 blocks-per-set in MAC play, with two-or-more blocks in seven MAC matches, including a career-high six total blocks (three solo and three assists) in the win over Central Michigan (Nov. 16).

"It's really great to see three of our student-athletes on the MAC All-Freshman squad," Phillips said. "Marie finished the regular season ranked fourth in the league in hitting percentage and makes the little plays that can be momentum changers in a match. Allison has been a consistent offensive threat for us that defenders have to focus on, which opens up shots for our other attackers. She brings an energy and intensity to the court that sparks our team as well."

The Ball State women's volleyball team opens play in the 2019 MAC Volleyball Championships Friday in the 4:30 p.m. quarterfinal match. The Cardinals will face the winner of Thursday's 4:30 p.m. first round match between Ohio and Kent State.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.

2019 MAC Volleyball Player of the Year
Tia Jimerson, Ohio

2019 MAC Volleyball Setter of the Year
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio

2019 MAC Volleyball Freshman of the Year
Natalie Risi, Ball State

2019 MAC Co-Defensive Players of the Year
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Kathleen Reilly, Western Michigan

2019 MAC Coach of the Year
Mike Gawlik, Central Michigan

2019 MAC Volleyball All-MAC First Team (12 Members)
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Cassie Haut, Eastern Michigan
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Maggie Nedoma, Ohio
Margaret Payne, Miami
Natalie Risi, Ball State
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan
Rachel Sanks, Buffalo
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Emily Weigand, Akron

2019 MAC Volleyball All-MAC Honorable Mention (6 Members)
Alexis Adleta, Akron
Alex Haffner, Kent State
Gaby Harper, Miami
Polina Prokudina, Buffalo
Amber Seaman, Ball State
Julia Walz, Bowling Green

2019 MAC Volleyball All-Freshman Team (6 Members)
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan
Morgan Copley, Kent State
Allison Hamaker, Ball State
Savannah Matthews, Kent State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Natalie Risi, Ball State

- BallStateSports.com -

Risi Named MAC Freshman of the Year; Four Players Earn All-MAC Honors

Players Mentioned

Allison Hamaker

Marie Plitt

Natalie Risi

Amber Seaman

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