MUNCIE, Ind.(NewsLink) — The MAC volleyball preseason picks are in, and Ball State is once again projected to be amongst the upper echelon of the conference.
The Cardinals were picked to finish second in the MAC West Division in a poll of the conference's 12 head coaches.
The team managed 60 points in the polling voting system, just three points behind projected MAC West champion Central Michigan. The squad also garnered 3 first-place votes for the division, tied for second-most with Western Michigan behind the Chippewas.
Along with the team poll, coaches also selected the pre-season All-MAC East and West Division Teams.
Ball State’s star middle blocking duo of Marie Plitt and Lauren Gilliland were both named to the West squad. Plitt, a junior and younger sister of Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt, has formed her own Ball State legacy in her two years on campus. She led last year’s Cardinal squad with a .316 attack percentage and placed sixth in the MAC in blocks per set average.
Four spots above her on that list was Gilliland. The sophomore was named to the All-MAC Freshman team last year in acknowledgment of her stellar defensive play.
Bowling Green led all teams with three players on a pre-season All-MAC team and was also the top pick to win the conference by a 10-2 margin.
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