Gilliland and Plitt Named Preseason All-MAC, WVB Picked Second in MAC West

CLEVELAND, Ohio - - Junior Marie Plitt and sophomore Lauren Gilliland were recognized for their strong play last season, earning spots on the 2021 Preseason All-Mid-American Conference West Division Team as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.

Plitt earns a spot on the preseason list for the second time in her career after leading the Ball State offense with a .316 attack percentage during the 2020-21 spring season. She hit .300-or-better in 12 of the Cardinals' 21 matches, including a season-best .600 (6-0-10) at Ohio (March 5).

Plitt registered double-digit kills in four matches, including a career-high 15 in the series opener at Ohio (March 4), while scoring at least two kills in all 21 matches. She was also one of the league's top blockers, ranking sixth in the MAC with a 1.05 blocks-per-set average, including a career-high 11 total blocks vs. Central Michigan (March 20).

Gilliland, a 2020-21 MAC All-Freshman Team selection, earns a spot on the list after leading the Ball State defense and ranking second in the conference with a 1.18 blocks-per-set average. She opened her career with nine block assists in the season-opening sweep over Akron (Jan. 22) and went on to tally five-or-more blocks in nine matches.

On offense, Gilliland averaged 1.24 kills per set and hit .248 on the year. She smashed a career-high nine kills in the win over Miami (March 16), while recording at least one kill in all 21 of BSU's matches.

In addition to the individual accolades, the Ball State women's volleyball team was picked to finish second in the MAC West Division in the league's annual preseason poll. The Cardinals received 60 total points and three of the 12 first-place votes in the division. Central Michigan was selected to win the division with 63 points and five first-place tallies.

Rounding out the MAC West were Western Michigan (49 points / 3 first-place votes), Toledo (36 / 1), Northern Illinois (26), and Eastern Michigan.

Defending MAC regular season and tournament champion Bowling Green earned all 12 votes to win the league's East Division, while also claiming 10 of 12 votes to repeat as tournament champions.

2021 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Central Michigan – 63 points (5 first place votes)
2. Ball State – 60 points (3)
3. Western Michigan – 49 points (3)
4. Toledo – 36 points (1)
5. Northern Illinois – 26 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 18 points

2021 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green – 72 points (12 first place votes)
2. Kent State – 53 points
3. Miami – 51 points
4. Ohio – 37 points
5. Akron – 25 points
6. Buffalo – 14 points

Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (10), Kent State (1), Western Michigan (1)

West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Lauren Gilliland, Ball State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan

East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Taylor Sharrits, Akron
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Milla Malik, Buffalo
Alex Haffner, Kent State
Savannah Matthews, Kent State

Gilliland and Plitt Named Preseason All-MAC, WVB Picked Second in MAC West

Players Mentioned

Lauren Gilliland

Marie Plitt

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