Tyler’s Freshman of the Year Honor Highlights WVB’s MAC Awards
November 20, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND - - The Ball State women's volleyball team was rewarded for its play during the 2024 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 Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 20) by the conference office in advance of the MAC Volleyball Championship which will be played Nov. 22-24 at Bowling Green's Stroh Center. The MAC postseason awards are based solely on performance in league play.
Highlighting the list for Ball State is redshirt freshman outside Carson Tyler who became just the sixth player in program history to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Tyler 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 graduate middle Aayinde Smith and junior opposite Madison Buckley, both of whom earned the honor for the first time in their Ball State careers. In addition, libero Sophie Ledbetter earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman team, giving BSU two players on that squad for back-to-back seasons.
The three All-MAC honors raise Ball State's all-time total to 116 selections, including 64 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 - Carson Tyler
Tyler led all MAC freshman with 211 kills and a 3.35 kills-per-set average in league play. She smashed double-digit kills in 14 of BSU's 18 league matches, including a career-high 23 at CMU (Oct. 4) and 20 versus Bowling Green (Sept. 27). On the defensive end, Tyler ranked third on the squad in MAC play with 2.08 digs per set, registering five kill/dig double-doubles. She was credited with a career-high 15 digs vs. WMU (Nov. 16). She also led Ball State with a .965 (362 for 375) reception percentage in MACtion, while tying for ninth among all league players with a 0.33 aces-per-set average, serving up 21 total aces.
All-MAC First Team - Madison Buckley
Buckley ranked seventh among all league players with a .344 attack percentage, smashing 165 kills for a 2.62 kills-per-set average in MAC play. She smashed double-digit kills in eight league matches, including tying her career high with 16 versus WMU (Nov. 16). She hit .300-or-better in 10 of BSU's 18 league matches, including a .636 (14-0-22) rate of success at NIU (Oct. 26). At the net, Buckley collected 57 total blocks against MAC foes for a 0.90 blocks-per-set average. She was credited with five-or-more blocks in seven MAC matches, including a season-high six total blocks versus Akron (Oct. 11).
All-MAC First Team - Aayinde Smith
Smith dominated league foes at the net, pacing all MAC players with 90 total blocks and a 1.36 blocks-per-set average in MACtion. She was credited with at least one block in all 18 league matches, including a career-high tying 10 versus Buffalo (Oct. 12). In addition, Smith secured five-or-more blocks 11 times in MAC play. On the offensive front, she ranked eighth among all MAC players with a .343 attack percentage, led by a program record .917 (11-0-12) effort in the sweep of Akron. Smith hit .300-or-better in 11 league matches and finished league play averaging 1.68 kills per set, including 10 kills versus Bowling Green (Sept. 27). She was named the final MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the 2024 regular season.
MAC All-Freshman Team - Sophie Ledbetter
Ledbetter started all 18 league matches at libero for the Cardinals, leading the squad with a 3.24 digs-per-set average. She was credited with 214 total digs in MACtion, securing double digit digs in 12 matches. Ledbetter closed the regular season with a personal MAC season-high 22 digs versus Western Michigan (Nov. 16), while registering 20 digs at Toledo (Nov. 9). She ranked second among Ball State's primary passers with a .945 (293-for-310) reception percentage versus MAC opponents, with a perfect reception percentage in five league outings. She also ranked third on the squad with 68 total assists for a 1.03 assists-per-set average in league play. Ledbetter was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 11.
2024 MAC Volleyball All-MAC Teams & Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Danijela Tomic, Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Andelyn Simkins, 5th Year, Libero, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Carson Tyler, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Setter of the Year: Allie Korba, Junior, Setter, Central Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Madison Buckley, Junior, Opposite, Ball State
Carson Tyler, Freshman, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Aayinde Smith, Graduate, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite, Bowling Green
Alexis Mettille, 5th Year, Middle Blocker, Bowling Green
Amanda Otten, Sophomore, Setter, Bowling Green
Abby Leigh, 6th Year, Middle Blocker, Buffalo
Katrin Trebichavska, 5th Year, Outside Hitter, Buffalo
Allie Korba, Junior, Setter, Central Michigan
Natalia Rejment, Junior, Outside Hitter, Central Michigan
Anna Kharchynska, Junior, Opposite Hitter, Ohio
Taylor Alt, 5th Year, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Andelyn Simkins, 5th year, Libero, Western Michigan
Logan Case, 5th Year, Setter, Western Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
Jessica Andrews, Middle Blocker, Junior, Bowling Green
Mia Tyler, Outside Hitter, Senior, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Senior, Setter, Buffalo
Abby Olin, Redshirt-Junior, Middle Blocker, Central Michigan
Grace Thomas, Freshman, Middle Blocker, Central Michigan
Kam Hunt, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Ohio
Madison Merz, Senior, Middle Blocker, Western Michigan
All-Freshman Team
Sophie Ledbetter, Libero, Ball State
Carson Tyler, Freshman, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Hannah Langton, Libero, Central Michigan
Grace Thomas, Middle Blocker, Central Michigan
Hatteras Welker, Middle Blocker, Eastern Michigan
Grace Freiberger, Libero, Toledo
Sierra Pertzborn, Redshirt-Freshman, Middle Blocker, Toledo
The awards were voted on by the league's 12 head coaches and announced Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 20) by the conference office in advance of the MAC Volleyball Championship which will be played Nov. 22-24 at Bowling Green's Stroh Center. The MAC postseason awards are based solely on performance in league play.
Highlighting the list for Ball State is redshirt freshman outside Carson Tyler who became just the sixth player in program history to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Tyler 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 graduate middle Aayinde Smith and junior opposite Madison Buckley, both of whom earned the honor for the first time in their Ball State careers. In addition, libero Sophie Ledbetter earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman team, giving BSU two players on that squad for back-to-back seasons.
The three All-MAC honors raise Ball State's all-time total to 116 selections, including 64 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 - Carson Tyler
Tyler led all MAC freshman with 211 kills and a 3.35 kills-per-set average in league play. She smashed double-digit kills in 14 of BSU's 18 league matches, including a career-high 23 at CMU (Oct. 4) and 20 versus Bowling Green (Sept. 27). On the defensive end, Tyler ranked third on the squad in MAC play with 2.08 digs per set, registering five kill/dig double-doubles. She was credited with a career-high 15 digs vs. WMU (Nov. 16). She also led Ball State with a .965 (362 for 375) reception percentage in MACtion, while tying for ninth among all league players with a 0.33 aces-per-set average, serving up 21 total aces.
All-MAC First Team - Madison Buckley
Buckley ranked seventh among all league players with a .344 attack percentage, smashing 165 kills for a 2.62 kills-per-set average in MAC play. She smashed double-digit kills in eight league matches, including tying her career high with 16 versus WMU (Nov. 16). She hit .300-or-better in 10 of BSU's 18 league matches, including a .636 (14-0-22) rate of success at NIU (Oct. 26). At the net, Buckley collected 57 total blocks against MAC foes for a 0.90 blocks-per-set average. She was credited with five-or-more blocks in seven MAC matches, including a season-high six total blocks versus Akron (Oct. 11).
All-MAC First Team - Aayinde Smith
Smith dominated league foes at the net, pacing all MAC players with 90 total blocks and a 1.36 blocks-per-set average in MACtion. She was credited with at least one block in all 18 league matches, including a career-high tying 10 versus Buffalo (Oct. 12). In addition, Smith secured five-or-more blocks 11 times in MAC play. On the offensive front, she ranked eighth among all MAC players with a .343 attack percentage, led by a program record .917 (11-0-12) effort in the sweep of Akron. Smith hit .300-or-better in 11 league matches and finished league play averaging 1.68 kills per set, including 10 kills versus Bowling Green (Sept. 27). She was named the final MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the 2024 regular season.
MAC All-Freshman Team - Sophie Ledbetter
Ledbetter started all 18 league matches at libero for the Cardinals, leading the squad with a 3.24 digs-per-set average. She was credited with 214 total digs in MACtion, securing double digit digs in 12 matches. Ledbetter closed the regular season with a personal MAC season-high 22 digs versus Western Michigan (Nov. 16), while registering 20 digs at Toledo (Nov. 9). She ranked second among Ball State's primary passers with a .945 (293-for-310) reception percentage versus MAC opponents, with a perfect reception percentage in five league outings. She also ranked third on the squad with 68 total assists for a 1.03 assists-per-set average in league play. Ledbetter was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 11.
2024 MAC Volleyball All-MAC Teams & Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Danijela Tomic, Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Andelyn Simkins, 5th Year, Libero, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Carson Tyler, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Setter of the Year: Allie Korba, Junior, Setter, Central Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Madison Buckley, Junior, Opposite, Ball State
Carson Tyler, Freshman, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Aayinde Smith, Graduate, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite, Bowling Green
Alexis Mettille, 5th Year, Middle Blocker, Bowling Green
Amanda Otten, Sophomore, Setter, Bowling Green
Abby Leigh, 6th Year, Middle Blocker, Buffalo
Katrin Trebichavska, 5th Year, Outside Hitter, Buffalo
Allie Korba, Junior, Setter, Central Michigan
Natalia Rejment, Junior, Outside Hitter, Central Michigan
Anna Kharchynska, Junior, Opposite Hitter, Ohio
Taylor Alt, 5th Year, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Andelyn Simkins, 5th year, Libero, Western Michigan
Logan Case, 5th Year, Setter, Western Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
Jessica Andrews, Middle Blocker, Junior, Bowling Green
Mia Tyler, Outside Hitter, Senior, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Senior, Setter, Buffalo
Abby Olin, Redshirt-Junior, Middle Blocker, Central Michigan
Grace Thomas, Freshman, Middle Blocker, Central Michigan
Kam Hunt, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Ohio
Madison Merz, Senior, Middle Blocker, Western Michigan
All-Freshman Team
Sophie Ledbetter, Libero, Ball State
Carson Tyler, Freshman, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Hannah Langton, Libero, Central Michigan
Grace Thomas, Middle Blocker, Central Michigan
Hatteras Welker, Middle Blocker, Eastern Michigan
Grace Freiberger, Libero, Toledo
Sierra Pertzborn, Redshirt-Freshman, Middle Blocker, Toledo
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MH
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