Kennedy's Freshman of the Year Honor Highlights WVB's MAC Awards

CLEVELAND - - The Ball State women's volleyball team was rewarded for its play during the 2023 Mid-American Conference regular season, claiming three All-MAC honors, a pair of MAC All-Freshman Team accolades and MAC Freshman of the Year.

The awards were voted on by the league's 12 head coaches and announced Saturday morning (Nov. 18) by the conference office in advance of the MAC Volleyball Championship which will be played Nov. 18-20 at Western Michigan's University Arena. The MAC postseason awards are based solely on performance in league play.

Highlighting the list for Ball State is redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy who became just the fifth player in program history to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Kennedy also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team and MAC All-Freshman Team.

She was joined on the All-MAC First Team by junior setter Megan Wielonski and fifth-year middle Marie Plitt, both of whom earned the honor for the third consecutive season. In addition, middle Camryn Wise earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman team, giving BSU two players on that squad for the first time since the 2019 campaign.

"I am extremely happy and proud of Meg, Marie, Aniya and Cam," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said.

The three All-MAC honors raise Ball State's all-time total to 113 selections, including 61 first team nods. Both totals rank second all-time in MAC history.

MAC Freshman of the Year / All-MAC First Team / MAC All-Freshman Team - Aniya Kennedy

Phillips on Kennedy: Aniya is a baller who loves to compete. Her switch to the pin and her willingness to do whatever the team needed not only showed how great of a teammate she is but also how great an athlete and player she is. She's a big-time force at the net and we will be counting on her heavily in our tourney run.

Aniya Kennedy transitioned from middle to outside hitter as injuries strained the Ball State lineup and went on to finish league play ranked second among all MAC players with a 4.56 kills-per-set average … She smashed 20-or-more kills in six league matches, including a career-high 25 twice … Scored double-digit kills in 17 of BSU's 18 league matches, while leading Ball State's attackers in kills in 15 of those contests … Ranked second in #MACtion with 301 kills and was a three-time MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week during league play … hit .247 in conference play, including nine matches above .250.

Ball State women's volleyball vs. Northern Illinois senior night on November 11, 2023 at Worthen Arena.

All-MAC First Team - Marie Plitt

Phillips on Plitt: Marie has continued to prove herself by putting up big-time attack efficiency numbers. She is someone that we can always count on to be consistent, confident and lead us as we finish the season strong.

Marie Plitt, who earns All-MAC First Team honors for the third straight season, led all league players with a .448 attack percentage in conference play, including hitting .350-or-better in 14 MAC matches … She smashed a season-high 17 kills at Buffalo (Oct. 21) and tied the mark against NIU (Nov. 11), while tallying double-digit kills in 13 conference matches … Hit .722 (13-0-18) in the sweep of Kent State (Oct. 27) and added a .688 (11-0-16) mark in the MAC-opener versus Central Michigan (Sept. 21) … Also tallied 48 total blocks against league foes, helping Ball State limit opposing offenses to a .206 attack percentage.

All-MAC First Team - Megan Wielonski

Phillips on Wielonski: Megan has continued to improve and be a presence not just setting, but in her overall game. She runs our offense at a very high level and is someone we will need to play at a very high level this weekend to win the tournament.

Megan Wielonski, who earned All-MAC First Team honors for the third straight season, had Ball State ranked fourth in league played with a .265 team hitting percentage … She averaged 11.21 assists per set, ranking second in the league, and had 10 assist/dig double-doubles in conference matches … She dished out 30-or-more assists in 17 league matches, including a season-high 57 twice … She also served up a team-best 21 aces … In the backcourt, Wielonski ranks second on the squad in MAC play with a 2.44 digs-per-set average … She also has 51 kills and 17 blocks against league foes … She earned MAC West Division Setter of the Week honors after the first week of league play.

MAC All-Freshman Team - Camryn Wise

Phillips on Wise: Camryn was ready when her number was called and has continued to improve and grow every day. Her blocking presence has been huge for our team, but I believe her best aspect is her competitive fight. She's confident, works her butt off and plays with passion. I can't wait to see her compete this weekend.

Camryn Wise stepped up in a big way as injuries strained the Ball State lineup, leading the squad and ranking second in the MAC with a 1.08 blocks-per-set average in league play … She was credited with at least two blocks in 16 MAC matches, including a career-high nine versus Akron (Oct. 13) and Ohio (Oct. 28) … Her play helped BSU limit opponents to a .206 hitting percentage, which ranked fourth in the league … She also averaged 1.11 kills per set and hit .350, including a career-high 11 kills at Buffalo (Oct. 21).

2023 MAC Volleyball All-MAC Teams & Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Colleen Munson, Western Michigan
Player of the Year: Logan Case, Senior, Setter, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Andelyn Simkins, Senior, Libero, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Aniya Kennedy, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Setter of the Year: Logan Case, Senior, Western Michigan

All-MAC First Team
Marie Plitt, Graduate Student, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Junior, Setter, Ball State
Aniya Kennedy, Redshirt Freshman, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Lauryn Hovey, Sophomore, Opposite/Setter, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Junior, Setter, Buffalo
Abby Leigh, Fifth Year, Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker, Buffalo
Courtney Okwara, Fifth Year, Middle Blocker, Buffalo
Katrin Trebichavska, Senior, Outside Hitter, Buffalo
Anna Kharchynska, Sophomore, Opposite, Ohio
Caitlin O'Farrell, Graduate Student, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Taylor Alt, Senior, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Logan Case, Senior, Setter, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Andelyn Simkins, Senior, Libero, Western Michigan

All-MAC Second Team
Kat Mandly, Junior, Outside Hitter, Bowling Green
Claire Ammeraal, Sophomore, Setter, Central Michigan
Callie Minshew, Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Eastern Michigan
Ryann Jaqua, Fifth Year, Libero, Toledo
Anna Calcagno, Senior, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Mary Clare Brusek, Sophomore, Middle Blocker, Western Michigan
Keona Salesman, Senior, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan

All-Freshman Team
Eliska Vytiskova, Setter, Akron
Aniya Kennedy, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Camryn Wise, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Manoela Forlin, Outside Hitter/Right Side, Buffalo
Logan Henderson, Outside Hitter, Kent State
Kam Hunt, Outside Hitter, Ohio
Macy Hatkevich, Setter, Toledo

Kennedy's Freshman of the Year Honor Highlights WVB's MAC Awards

Players Mentioned

Aniya Kennedy

Marie Plitt

Megan Wielonski

Camryn Wise

Related Videos