Bowling Green State University Athletics
Volleyball Picked To Win The East
August 13, 2001 | Volleyball
Aug. 13, 2001
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team is the preseason choice to capture the Mid-American Conference's East Division in 2001. The Falcons were tabbed to win the East in a vote of the league's 13 head coaches.
The Falcons of head coach Denise Van De Walle received eight of the 13 first-place votes, and garnered a total of 80 points to outdistance second-place Miami by 11 points. Kent State (63 points), Akron (59), Ohio (51), Marshall (29) and Buffalo (13) rounded out the division.
Western Michigan was the favorite in the West Division, with Ball State just four points behind. BSU was tabbed by seven of the league coaches as the favorite to win the MAC Tournament.
Van De Walle and the Falcons are coming off a 21-9 season in 2000. Last fall, the Brown and Orange went 12-6 in MAC play to tie OU for the East Division crown. The Falcons return 11 letterwinners, including five starters, from the 2000 squad.
The complete poll follows, with points and first-place votes:
2001 MAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
East Division
Team (FPV) Pts. 1. Bowling Green (8) 80 2. Miami (1) 69 3. Kent State (2) 63 4. Akron (2) 59 5. Ohio 51 6. Marshall 29 7. Buffalo 13
West Division
Team (FPV) Pts. 1. Western Michigan (8) 71 2. Ball State (5) 67 3. Northern Illinois 55 4. Eastern Michigan 32 5. Central Michigan 25 6. Toledo 23
MAC Tournament Winner
Ball State....................7 Western Michigan..............4 Akron.........................1 Kent State....................1
