Ball State University Athletics
WVB Picked to Repeat as MAC West Champs; Lands Three on Preseason All-MAC Team
August 24, 2022 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - It was unanimous, all 12 Mid-American Conference women's volleyball head coaches picked the Ball State women's volleyball team to repeat as the West Division Champions in the league's annual preseason poll.
The Cardinals received all 72 points and all 12 first-place votes to win the division in the preseason poll, ahead of Western Michigan (55 points), Toledo (49), Northern Illinois (32), Central Michigan (29), and Eastern Michigan (15).
Ball State also received four of the 12 votes to win the league's conference tournament, trailing only MAC East Division favorite Bowling Green in that category.
Individually, all three of Ball State's returning All-MAC First Team honorees were selected to the West Division Preseason All-MAC Team.
Sophomore Megan Wielonski, who was also named the 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year, led the Cardinals to a program record .265 hitting percentage last season and ranked second nationally in total assists (1,394) and service aces (58).
Senior Marie Plitt ranked second in the MAC and 55th nationally with a .360 hitting percentage last season. She smashed double-digit kills in 15 matches, including a career-high 20 in Ball State's NCAA Tournament first round victory over Michigan (Dec. 3).
Senior Natalie Mitchem ranked second on the squad with 360 total kills last season, including 22 matches in double figures. Along with tying her career high with 21 kills in a win at Toledo (Oct. 29), she scored 12 kills in BSU's MAC Tournament semifinal win over Western Michigan (Nov. 22) and 11 in the championship match victory over Bowling Green (Nov. 24).
In addition to the MAC Preseason Poll, the Ball State women's volleyball team earned 18 votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll released Aug. 15. Ball State received three votes in the final 2021 poll.
The Cardinals will be tested right out of the gate Friday, when it opens the season versus another 2021 NCAA Tournament participant in South Alabama as part of the USF Opening Weekend Invite. First serve is set for 10 a.m.
2022 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
2022 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green (11) - 71 points
2. Ohio - 59 points
3. Kent State (1) - 40 points
4. Buffalo - 34 points
5. Miami - 32 points
6. Akron - 16 points
2022 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Ball State (12) - 72 points
2. Western Michigan - 55 points
3. Toledo - 49 points
4. Northern Illinois - 32 points
5. Central Michigan - 29 points
6. Eastern Michigan - 15 points
Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (7), Ball State (4), Western Michigan (1)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Julia Walz, Bowling Green
Savannah Matthews, Kent State
Caroline Clippard, Ohio
Sam Steele, Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Natalie Mitchem, Ball State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Ball State
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan
The Cardinals received all 72 points and all 12 first-place votes to win the division in the preseason poll, ahead of Western Michigan (55 points), Toledo (49), Northern Illinois (32), Central Michigan (29), and Eastern Michigan (15).
Ball State also received four of the 12 votes to win the league's conference tournament, trailing only MAC East Division favorite Bowling Green in that category.
Individually, all three of Ball State's returning All-MAC First Team honorees were selected to the West Division Preseason All-MAC Team.
Sophomore Megan Wielonski, who was also named the 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year, led the Cardinals to a program record .265 hitting percentage last season and ranked second nationally in total assists (1,394) and service aces (58).
Senior Marie Plitt ranked second in the MAC and 55th nationally with a .360 hitting percentage last season. She smashed double-digit kills in 15 matches, including a career-high 20 in Ball State's NCAA Tournament first round victory over Michigan (Dec. 3).
Senior Natalie Mitchem ranked second on the squad with 360 total kills last season, including 22 matches in double figures. Along with tying her career high with 21 kills in a win at Toledo (Oct. 29), she scored 12 kills in BSU's MAC Tournament semifinal win over Western Michigan (Nov. 22) and 11 in the championship match victory over Bowling Green (Nov. 24).
In addition to the MAC Preseason Poll, the Ball State women's volleyball team earned 18 votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll released Aug. 15. Ball State received three votes in the final 2021 poll.
The Cardinals will be tested right out of the gate Friday, when it opens the season versus another 2021 NCAA Tournament participant in South Alabama as part of the USF Opening Weekend Invite. First serve is set for 10 a.m.
2022 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
2022 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green (11) - 71 points
2. Ohio - 59 points
3. Kent State (1) - 40 points
4. Buffalo - 34 points
5. Miami - 32 points
6. Akron - 16 points
2022 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Ball State (12) - 72 points
2. Western Michigan - 55 points
3. Toledo - 49 points
4. Northern Illinois - 32 points
5. Central Michigan - 29 points
6. Eastern Michigan - 15 points
Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (7), Ball State (4), Western Michigan (1)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Julia Walz, Bowling Green
Savannah Matthews, Kent State
Caroline Clippard, Ohio
Sam Steele, Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Natalie Mitchem, Ball State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Ball State
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan
Players Mentioned
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