Women’s Volleyball Places Two On Preseason All-MAC Squad
January 21, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - After stellar freshman campaigns which saw them help Ball State women's volleyball claim the program's first Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship since 2002, sophomores Marie Plitt and Natalie Risi have been named to the 2020-21 Preseason All-MAC West Division Team as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
Risi, the 2019 MAC Freshman of the Year, played in all 32 matches and all 126 sets for the Cardinals last season. Her team-leading 360 kills also helped her earn spots on the All-MAC First Team and MAC All-Freshman Team. A two-time MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week last season, Risi smashed double-digit kills in a team-high 18 matches, including a career-high 27 against Toledo (Oct. 31, 2019).
Plitt also earned a spot on the 2019 MAC All-Freshman team after playing in 30 of BSU's 32 matches last season, seeing action in 106 sets. She ranked first among Ball State's regular starters with a .295 attack percentage and scored 196 kills on the year. She smashed double-digit kills in six matches, including a career-high 14 versus Bowling Green (Oct. 26, 2019).
In addition to the individual accolades, the defending MAC Tournament and MAC West Division Champion Cardinals were selected to finish second in the league's West Division behind 2019 co-divisional champion Central Michigan.
The Chippewas earned 67 points and seven first-place votes, while Ball State garnered 64 points and five first-place votes. Rounding out the MAC West Division are Western Michigan (45 points), Eastern Michigan (31 points), Toledo (23 points) and Northern Illinois (22 points).
The Cardinals also picked up a pair of votes to defend its MAC Tournament Championship. Bowling Green is the preseason favorite to take the tournament title with five votes, followed by BSU, Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1) and Ohio (1). This season, the top four teams advance to the league's championship event which will be held April 2-3 at the site of the top seed.
The Ball State women's volleyball team is scheduled to open the delayed 2020 season Friday, when it hosts Akron for a 6 p.m. first serve at Worthen Arena. Under the new MAC scheduling format, the Cardinals and Zips will square off again Saturday at 6 p.m.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting county health department guidance, general public attendance at Ball State Athletics events is currently prohibited.
2020-21 West Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Michigan - 67 points (7 first place votes)
2. Ball State — 64 points (5)
3. Western Michigan — 45 points
4. Eastern Michigan — 31 points
5. Toledo — 23 points
6. Northern Illinois — 22 points
2020-21 East Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Miami — 62 points (4)
2. Bowling Green — 60 points (5)
3. Ohio — 55 points (3)
4. Akron — 28 points
5. Kent State — 24 points
6. Buffalo — 23 points
Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (5), Ball State (2), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1)
MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Natalie Risi, Ball State
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Lisbeth Rosario – Martinez, Central Michigan
Franki Strefling, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Emily Weigand, Akron
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Gaby Harper, Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Maggie Nedoma, Ohio
Risi, the 2019 MAC Freshman of the Year, played in all 32 matches and all 126 sets for the Cardinals last season. Her team-leading 360 kills also helped her earn spots on the All-MAC First Team and MAC All-Freshman Team. A two-time MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week last season, Risi smashed double-digit kills in a team-high 18 matches, including a career-high 27 against Toledo (Oct. 31, 2019).
Plitt also earned a spot on the 2019 MAC All-Freshman team after playing in 30 of BSU's 32 matches last season, seeing action in 106 sets. She ranked first among Ball State's regular starters with a .295 attack percentage and scored 196 kills on the year. She smashed double-digit kills in six matches, including a career-high 14 versus Bowling Green (Oct. 26, 2019).
In addition to the individual accolades, the defending MAC Tournament and MAC West Division Champion Cardinals were selected to finish second in the league's West Division behind 2019 co-divisional champion Central Michigan.
The Chippewas earned 67 points and seven first-place votes, while Ball State garnered 64 points and five first-place votes. Rounding out the MAC West Division are Western Michigan (45 points), Eastern Michigan (31 points), Toledo (23 points) and Northern Illinois (22 points).
The Cardinals also picked up a pair of votes to defend its MAC Tournament Championship. Bowling Green is the preseason favorite to take the tournament title with five votes, followed by BSU, Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1) and Ohio (1). This season, the top four teams advance to the league's championship event which will be held April 2-3 at the site of the top seed.
The Ball State women's volleyball team is scheduled to open the delayed 2020 season Friday, when it hosts Akron for a 6 p.m. first serve at Worthen Arena. Under the new MAC scheduling format, the Cardinals and Zips will square off again Saturday at 6 p.m.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting county health department guidance, general public attendance at Ball State Athletics events is currently prohibited.
2020-21 West Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Michigan - 67 points (7 first place votes)
2. Ball State — 64 points (5)
3. Western Michigan — 45 points
4. Eastern Michigan — 31 points
5. Toledo — 23 points
6. Northern Illinois — 22 points
2020-21 East Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Miami — 62 points (4)
2. Bowling Green — 60 points (5)
3. Ohio — 55 points (3)
4. Akron — 28 points
5. Kent State — 24 points
6. Buffalo — 23 points
Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (5), Ball State (2), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1)
MAC West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Natalie Risi, Ball State
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Lisbeth Rosario – Martinez, Central Michigan
Franki Strefling, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Emily Weigand, Akron
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Gaby Harper, Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Maggie Nedoma, Ohio
Players Mentioned
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