Bowling Green volleyball was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday morning.
The Orange and Brown find themselves behind only Western Michigan for the top spot in the poll.
BGSU scored a total of 102 points in the poll, with one first-place vote from a total of twelve. The Broncos were awarded the other 11 votes for the top spot in the conference.
Votes were also counted for the MAC Tournament, with Bowling Green being picked as one of three favorites to win the event in November, earning two votes. Western Michigan (9) and Ball State (1) accounted for the other 10 votes.
Individual players were also considered in the voting, with one Falcon landing on the Preseason All-MAC Team.
Junior Opposite Lauryn Hovey earned the nod as the lone BGSU player, based on two All-MAC First Team awards in her first two collegiate seasons. Hovey’s resume includes eight MAC East Player of the Week awards, a 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year award and the 2022 MAC Tournament MVP.
Bowling Green returns to the Stroh Center Friday for the debut of the Mo and Jon Stansbery Court before the first game of the 2024 volleyball season. The Falcons will take on Chicago State at 6 p.m. on Friday to begin the Best Western Invitational Tournament.
Full 2024 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll results:
1. Western Michigan (11) – 121 pts.
2. Bowling Green (1) – 102 pts.
3. Ball State – 98 pts.
4. Buffalo – 92 pts.
5. Ohio – 84 pts.
6. Toledo – 79 pts.
7. Central Michigan – 50 pts.
8. Northern Illinois – 49 pts.
9. Akron – 48 pts.
10. Miami – 32 pts.
11. Eastern Michigan – 22 pts.
12. Kent State – 15 pts.
Tournament Champion Votes:Western Michigan (9), Bowling Green (2), and Ball State (1)
Full 2024 Preseason All-MAC Team:
Logan Case, Fifth-Year, Setter, Western Michigan
Aniya Kennedy, Redshirt-Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Taylor Alt, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite Hitter, Bowling Green
Anna Kharchynska, Junior, opposite Hitter, Ohio
Andelyn Simkins, Fifth-Year, Libero, Western Michigan
Megan Wielonski, Senior, Setter, Ball State
Katrin Trebichavska, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Buffalo
Keona Salesman, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Mandy Leigh, Senior, Setter, Buffalo
Anna Calcagno, Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Abby Leigh, Sixth-Year, Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker, Buffalo