Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked To Finish Fifth In East
August 16, 2005 | Volleyball
Aug. 16, 2005
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the East Division according the Mid-American Conference volleyball coaches poll, announced today (Aug. 16). Defending MAC champion Ohio was slated to win the East, while Ball State was picked to win the West.
The Falcon return eight letter-winners from last season's squad, which finished fourth in the West, and advanced to the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
The Bobcats lost 2004 National Setter of the Year Brianna Adamovsky, but return seven letter-winners, including five starters from a team that went undefeated in conference play in 2004 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Ohio will be led co-Captains Julia Winkfield and Holly Schetzsle. Winkfield earned First Team All-MAC honors last year, and Schetzsle was a member of the MAC All-Tournament Team. Joining Winkfield and Schetzsle will be second team All-MAC member Stephanie Blackburn, All-MAC Honorable Mention selection Melissa Griffin and libero Michaele Blackburn. 2003 and 2004 MAC Coach of the Year Geoff Carlston will guide an Ohio squad that owns a 21-match win streak against conference opponents dating back to the 2003 season. The Bobcats received 10 total first-place votes in the East, including seven votes to win the MAC tournament from the league's coaches.
Picked to finish second behind Ohio is Miami with 58 total points and one first-place vote, followed by Kent State, Akron, Bowling Green and Buffalo. Along with the RedHawks, Akron also garnered one first-place vote in the East division. Kent State picked up one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
Ball State was picked to repeat as West division champion, earning a total of nine first-place votes. The Cardinals return 10 players from last year's team which posted a 12-4 conference record and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio. Leading the Ball State group of returnees will be seniors Sarah Obras and Rachel Refenes, who were named to the first and second All-MAC teams, respectively, in 2004. Obras ranked third in the MAC in kills, registering 4.86 kills per game, while Refenes was the league's top block specialist with 184 total blocks last season. Seniors Kristin Westhof (.264 2004 hitting percentage) and Stephanie Bacan also return for their final campaign in Muncie.
Coaches tabbed Eastern Michigan to finish second in the West division, as the Eagles collected three total first-place tallies. Western Michigan was picked third, followed by Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Toledo. The Cardinals garnered two votes to win the MAC Tournament, while Toledo also earned one vote.
The league returns 11 players from the four various All-Conference teams, including three first-teamers (Obras, Winkfield, Shaylen Jackson; Western Michigan), and three second-team performers (Refenes, Blackburn, Kent State's Danielle Holt). 2004 All-MAC honorable mention returnees include Miami freshman Carli Reihman, Northern Illinois junior Kate McCullagh and Griffin. All-freshmen returnees are Jenn Stewart (Akron), Reihman, Blackburn, Griffin, and Western Michigan's Ashley Schatzle. Ohio's Holly Schetzsle and WMU's Abby Gephart return from the 2004 All-Tournament team.
Complete Poll East 1. Ohio 2. Miami 3. Kent State 4. Akron 5. Bowling Green 6. BuffaloWest 1. Ball State 2. Eastern Michigan 3. Western Michigan 4. Northern Illinois 5. Central Michigan 6. Toledo
