Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball Places Five on Academic All-MAC Squad
December 04, 2019 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Five members of the Ball State women's volleyball program were named to the 2019 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team as announced Wednesday (Dec. 4) by the league office.
"I am extremely proud of our Academic All-MAC honorees," head coach Kelli Miller said. "We strive to be our best both on and off the court, and it's great to see all their hard work pay off."
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year players and junior college transfers are not eligible.
All four Ball State seniors, Kate Avila, Anna Jensen, Amber Seaman and Sydnee VanBeek, earned the honor for the third time in their careers. In addition, junior Kia Holder picked up the award for the second time.
Winners of nine straight matches, the Cardinals enter the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship with a 20-11 overall record. Ball State travels to fifth-seeded Nebraska for first round action Friday, with an 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT first serve at the Devaney Center.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
2019 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
Alexis Adleta, Akron, Junior, 3.814, Political Science (West Chester, Ohio)
Jen Durra, Akron, Sophomore, 3.921, Supply Chain & Operations Management (Painesville, Ohio)
Shelby Fulmer, Akron, Junior, 3.826, Exercise Science/Pre-PT (Perrysburg, Ohio)
Elya Karsner, Akron, Senior, 3.618, Studio Art (Frankfort, KY)
Taylor Kuruzovich, Akron, Junior, 3.316, Nursing (Port Matilda, PA)
Teagan Ochaya, Akron, Sophomore, 3.687, Criminology/Criminal Justice (Mentor, Ohio)
Ashley Richardson, Akron, Senior, 3.975, Sports Management (Doylestown, Ohio)
Taylor Sharrits, Akron, Junior, 3.789, Mechanical Engineering (Concord, Ohio)
Emily Weigand, Akron, Junior, 3.658, Accounting (Burton, Ohio)
Kate Avila, Ball State, Senior, 3.978, Speech Language Pathology (Yorktown, IN)
Kia Holder, Ball State, Junior, 3.676, Exercise Science (Valparaiso, IN)
Anna Jensen, Ball State, Senior, 3.707, Nursing (Carmel, IN)
Amber Seaman, Ball State, Senior, 3.918, Psychological Science (Carmel, IN)
Sydnee VanBeek, Ball State, Senior, 3.260, Sport Administration (St. John, IN)
Jacqueline Askin, Bowling Green, Junior, 3.215, Undecided (Louisville, KY)
Taylor Haberland, Bowling Green, Junior, 3.588, Communication Disorders (Temperance, MI)
Paulina Iacobelli, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.858, Accounting (Novi, MI)
Nikolija Katanic, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.578, Deciding Student Program (Belgrade, Serbia)
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 4.000, History (Burlington, Ontario)
Isabelle Marciniak, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.673, PPEL (Lambertville, MI)
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green, sophomore, 3.692, Pre-Visual Communication Tech (Pemberville, Ohio)
Kerstie Shaw, Bowling Green, Junior, 3.958, Business Admin (Brazil, IN)
Julia Walz, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.400, Health Science (Brooklyn, Ohio)
Scout McLerran, Buffalo, Senior, 3.598, Biomedical Sciences (Friendsville, TN)
Kristina Nieves, Buffalo, Senior, 3.557, Psychology (Ringwood, NJ)
Hannah Watson, Buffalo, Senior, 3.446, Exercise Science (North Canton, OH)
Kendall Braate, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.79, Biomedical Sciences (Byron Center, MI)
Megan Kern, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.97, Biology/Biomedical Sciences (LaGrange, IL)
Megan Sivertsen, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.25, Dietetics, (Virginia Beach, VA)
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.43, Undecided, (Thornton, IL)
Ara Wilson, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.64, Exercise Science/Kinesiology (Davison, MI)
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.41, Exercise Science (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Julia Fisher, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.36, Political Science (Kailua, Hawaii)
Mackenzie Garis, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.41, Elementary Education (Crystal Lake, IL)
Cassie Haut, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.25, Exercise Science (Monroe, MI)
April Houston, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.23, Public Relations (Minneapolis, MN)
Camille Schomer, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.23, Marketing (Rochester, MI)
Erin Gardner, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.802, Business Management (Avon, Ohio)
Alex Haffner, Kent State, Redshirt Sophomore, 3.757, Finance (Lee's Summit, MO)
Melissa Kolurbasi, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.637, Psychology (Istanbul, Turkey)
Ashley Makruski, Kent State, Senior, 3.303, Psychology (Amherst, Ohio)
Kaeleigh Stang, Kent State, Junior, 3.944, Exercise Science (Norwalk, Ohio)
Danie Tyson, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.510, Psychology (South Holland, IL)
Taylor Daignault, Miami, Senior, 3.70, Kinesiology (Newark, Ohio)
Lindsay Dauch, Miami, Senior, 3.84, Kinesiology (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Gaby Harper, Miami, Sophomore, 3.56, Early Childhood Education (Caledonia, MI)
Abigail Huser, Miami, Junior, 3.65, Middle Childhood Education (Westfield, IN)
Margaret Payne, Miami, Senior, 3.58, Marketing (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Avarie Powell, Miami, Junior, 3.47, Finance (Middletown, IN)
Sophie Riemersma, Miami, Sophomore, 3.81, Accountancy (Holland, MI)
Morgan Seaman, Miami, Junior, 3.20, Finance (Carmel, IN)
Sarah Wojick, Miami, Junior, 3.52, Strategic Communication (Glenview, IL)
Grace Balensiefer, NIU, Sophomore, 3.371, Nutrition, Dietetics & Wellness (Lafayette, IN)
Angie Gromos, NIU, Sophomore, 3.635, Marketing (West Chicago, IL)
Miranda Karlen, NIU, Junior, 3.927, Rehabilitation & Disability Services (Evansville, WI)
Jasmine Kemp, NIU, Sophomore, 3.629, Health Promotion (DeKalb, IL)
Brinley Milbrath, NIU, Senior, 3.478, Kinesiology (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Amanda Rullan Vilanova, NIU, Junior, 3.814, Marketing (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
Kennedy Shelley, NIU, Sophomore, 3.559, Elementary Education-Bilingual/ESL (Burlington, CO)
Kennedy Wallace, NIU, Junior, 3.5, Business Administration (Kansas City, KS)
Meredith Howe, Ohio, Senior, 3.851, Nursing (Grand Rapids, MI)
Shayla Phillip, Ohio, Graduate Transfer, 3.858, Sports Administration (Columbia, SC)
Macy Reihing, Ohio, Junior, 3. 741, Communication (Lexington, KY)
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio, Senior, 4.000, Sport Administration (Dallas, TX)
Lauren Park, Ohio, Sophomore, 4.000, Communication Sciences & Disorder (Millersburg, Ohio)
Caleigh Barhorst, Toledo, Junior, 3.367, Exercise Science (Fort Loramie, Ohio)
Liz Beasley, Toledo, R-Freshman, 4.000, Pre-Nursing (Indianapolis, IN)
Megan Beasley, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.963, Pre-Nursing (Indianapolis, IN)
Zoe Birnbrich, Toledo, Senior, 3.491, Recreational Therapy (Dublin, Ohio)
Maddie Fogg, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.612, Psychology (Powell, Ohio)
Chloee Kleespies, Toledo, Junior, 3.408, Biology (Lincoln University, PA)
Rhyen Neal, Toledo, Junior, 3.535, Health Care Administration (Yorktown, IN)
Emma Swope, Toledo, Junior, 3.347, Public Health (Fredericksburg, VA)
Elise Wilcox, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.576, Pre-Marketing (Fort Wayne, IN)
Rachel Bontrager, WMU, Junior, 3.74, Elementary Professional Education (Valparaiso, IN)
Meredith Phillips, WMU, Sophomore, 3.78, Biomedical Services (Fishers, IN)
Kathleen Reilly, WMU, Senior, 3.59, Nursing (Overland Park, KS)
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"I am extremely proud of our Academic All-MAC honorees," head coach Kelli Miller said. "We strive to be our best both on and off the court, and it's great to see all their hard work pay off."
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year players and junior college transfers are not eligible.
All four Ball State seniors, Kate Avila, Anna Jensen, Amber Seaman and Sydnee VanBeek, earned the honor for the third time in their careers. In addition, junior Kia Holder picked up the award for the second time.
Winners of nine straight matches, the Cardinals enter the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship with a 20-11 overall record. Ball State travels to fifth-seeded Nebraska for first round action Friday, with an 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT first serve at the Devaney Center.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
2019 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
Alexis Adleta, Akron, Junior, 3.814, Political Science (West Chester, Ohio)
Jen Durra, Akron, Sophomore, 3.921, Supply Chain & Operations Management (Painesville, Ohio)
Shelby Fulmer, Akron, Junior, 3.826, Exercise Science/Pre-PT (Perrysburg, Ohio)
Elya Karsner, Akron, Senior, 3.618, Studio Art (Frankfort, KY)
Taylor Kuruzovich, Akron, Junior, 3.316, Nursing (Port Matilda, PA)
Teagan Ochaya, Akron, Sophomore, 3.687, Criminology/Criminal Justice (Mentor, Ohio)
Ashley Richardson, Akron, Senior, 3.975, Sports Management (Doylestown, Ohio)
Taylor Sharrits, Akron, Junior, 3.789, Mechanical Engineering (Concord, Ohio)
Emily Weigand, Akron, Junior, 3.658, Accounting (Burton, Ohio)
Kate Avila, Ball State, Senior, 3.978, Speech Language Pathology (Yorktown, IN)
Kia Holder, Ball State, Junior, 3.676, Exercise Science (Valparaiso, IN)
Anna Jensen, Ball State, Senior, 3.707, Nursing (Carmel, IN)
Amber Seaman, Ball State, Senior, 3.918, Psychological Science (Carmel, IN)
Sydnee VanBeek, Ball State, Senior, 3.260, Sport Administration (St. John, IN)
Jacqueline Askin, Bowling Green, Junior, 3.215, Undecided (Louisville, KY)
Taylor Haberland, Bowling Green, Junior, 3.588, Communication Disorders (Temperance, MI)
Paulina Iacobelli, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.858, Accounting (Novi, MI)
Nikolija Katanic, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.578, Deciding Student Program (Belgrade, Serbia)
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 4.000, History (Burlington, Ontario)
Isabelle Marciniak, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.673, PPEL (Lambertville, MI)
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green, sophomore, 3.692, Pre-Visual Communication Tech (Pemberville, Ohio)
Kerstie Shaw, Bowling Green, Junior, 3.958, Business Admin (Brazil, IN)
Julia Walz, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.400, Health Science (Brooklyn, Ohio)
Scout McLerran, Buffalo, Senior, 3.598, Biomedical Sciences (Friendsville, TN)
Kristina Nieves, Buffalo, Senior, 3.557, Psychology (Ringwood, NJ)
Hannah Watson, Buffalo, Senior, 3.446, Exercise Science (North Canton, OH)
Kendall Braate, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.79, Biomedical Sciences (Byron Center, MI)
Megan Kern, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.97, Biology/Biomedical Sciences (LaGrange, IL)
Megan Sivertsen, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.25, Dietetics, (Virginia Beach, VA)
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.43, Undecided, (Thornton, IL)
Ara Wilson, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.64, Exercise Science/Kinesiology (Davison, MI)
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.41, Exercise Science (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Julia Fisher, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.36, Political Science (Kailua, Hawaii)
Mackenzie Garis, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.41, Elementary Education (Crystal Lake, IL)
Cassie Haut, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.25, Exercise Science (Monroe, MI)
April Houston, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.23, Public Relations (Minneapolis, MN)
Camille Schomer, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.23, Marketing (Rochester, MI)
Erin Gardner, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.802, Business Management (Avon, Ohio)
Alex Haffner, Kent State, Redshirt Sophomore, 3.757, Finance (Lee's Summit, MO)
Melissa Kolurbasi, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.637, Psychology (Istanbul, Turkey)
Ashley Makruski, Kent State, Senior, 3.303, Psychology (Amherst, Ohio)
Kaeleigh Stang, Kent State, Junior, 3.944, Exercise Science (Norwalk, Ohio)
Danie Tyson, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.510, Psychology (South Holland, IL)
Taylor Daignault, Miami, Senior, 3.70, Kinesiology (Newark, Ohio)
Lindsay Dauch, Miami, Senior, 3.84, Kinesiology (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Gaby Harper, Miami, Sophomore, 3.56, Early Childhood Education (Caledonia, MI)
Abigail Huser, Miami, Junior, 3.65, Middle Childhood Education (Westfield, IN)
Margaret Payne, Miami, Senior, 3.58, Marketing (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Avarie Powell, Miami, Junior, 3.47, Finance (Middletown, IN)
Sophie Riemersma, Miami, Sophomore, 3.81, Accountancy (Holland, MI)
Morgan Seaman, Miami, Junior, 3.20, Finance (Carmel, IN)
Sarah Wojick, Miami, Junior, 3.52, Strategic Communication (Glenview, IL)
Grace Balensiefer, NIU, Sophomore, 3.371, Nutrition, Dietetics & Wellness (Lafayette, IN)
Angie Gromos, NIU, Sophomore, 3.635, Marketing (West Chicago, IL)
Miranda Karlen, NIU, Junior, 3.927, Rehabilitation & Disability Services (Evansville, WI)
Jasmine Kemp, NIU, Sophomore, 3.629, Health Promotion (DeKalb, IL)
Brinley Milbrath, NIU, Senior, 3.478, Kinesiology (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Amanda Rullan Vilanova, NIU, Junior, 3.814, Marketing (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
Kennedy Shelley, NIU, Sophomore, 3.559, Elementary Education-Bilingual/ESL (Burlington, CO)
Kennedy Wallace, NIU, Junior, 3.5, Business Administration (Kansas City, KS)
Meredith Howe, Ohio, Senior, 3.851, Nursing (Grand Rapids, MI)
Shayla Phillip, Ohio, Graduate Transfer, 3.858, Sports Administration (Columbia, SC)
Macy Reihing, Ohio, Junior, 3. 741, Communication (Lexington, KY)
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio, Senior, 4.000, Sport Administration (Dallas, TX)
Lauren Park, Ohio, Sophomore, 4.000, Communication Sciences & Disorder (Millersburg, Ohio)
Caleigh Barhorst, Toledo, Junior, 3.367, Exercise Science (Fort Loramie, Ohio)
Liz Beasley, Toledo, R-Freshman, 4.000, Pre-Nursing (Indianapolis, IN)
Megan Beasley, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.963, Pre-Nursing (Indianapolis, IN)
Zoe Birnbrich, Toledo, Senior, 3.491, Recreational Therapy (Dublin, Ohio)
Maddie Fogg, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.612, Psychology (Powell, Ohio)
Chloee Kleespies, Toledo, Junior, 3.408, Biology (Lincoln University, PA)
Rhyen Neal, Toledo, Junior, 3.535, Health Care Administration (Yorktown, IN)
Emma Swope, Toledo, Junior, 3.347, Public Health (Fredericksburg, VA)
Elise Wilcox, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.576, Pre-Marketing (Fort Wayne, IN)
Rachel Bontrager, WMU, Junior, 3.74, Elementary Professional Education (Valparaiso, IN)
Meredith Phillips, WMU, Sophomore, 3.78, Biomedical Services (Fishers, IN)
Kathleen Reilly, WMU, Senior, 3.59, Nursing (Overland Park, KS)
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