.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked Fifth, Penrod Named Preseason All-MAC
August 16, 2011 | Volleyball
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team has been picked to finish in fifth place in the Mid-American Conference East Division by vote of the league coaches in the MAC Volleyball Preseason Poll. As well, sophomore outside hitter Paige Penrod was named to the MAC Preseason All-Conference East Division team.
Ohio received 11-of-12 first place votes to be named the preseason East Division favorite. Miami was second and Akron was third, earning the other first place nod. Buffalo was picked fourth, followed by Bowling Green and Kent State. In the West Division, Northern Illinois was picked to finish first, followed by Ball State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Toledo. Northern Illinois earned the most votes as the overall regular season and tournament champions.
Bowling Green went 8-24 a year ago and finished 2-14 in MAC play. The Falcons are playing in a brand-new facility in the 2011, the Stroh Center, and head coach Denise Van De Walle announced in the spring that this will be the last of her 29 seasons at the helm of the program. The squad does return five starters (including the libero) from a year ago and seven total letterwinners.
Penrod was named to the preseason all-conference team along with Akron's Tina Dimitrijevs, Buffalo's Abby Niekamp, Miami's Cassie Farrell, and Ohio's duo of Katie Post and Lexie Hartnett. In the West Division, preseason all-conference selections were Ball State's Kelsey Brandl, Central Michigan's Kaitlyn Schultz, Eastern Michigan's Rachel Iaquaniello, Northern Illinois' Lauren Wicinski and Kristin Hoffman, and Western Michigan's Jessica Brown.
Penrod is coming off of one of the greatest freshman campaigns in program history, recording 405 kills to set a new school record for first-year players. That total ranked fourth in the MAC and 92nd nationally as well. She was named to a pair of in-season all-tournament teams and had a team-best 10 double-doubles on the year. A versatile player, Penrod also was key in the serve receive game, ranked second on the team in digs and aces, and third on the squad in blocks.
East Division Preseason Poll
1. Ohio (11 first place votes)
2. Miami
3. Akron (1 first place vote)
4. Buffalo
5. Bowling Green
6. Kent State
West Division Preseason Poll
1. Northern Illinois (7 first place votes)
2. Ball State (1 first place vote)
3. Western Michigan (3 first place votes)
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Central Michigan (1 first place vote)
6. Toledo
Regular Season Champion - Northern Illinois (5 votes)
Tournament Champion - Northern Illinois (5 votes)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Tina Dimitrijevs, Akron
Paige Penrod, Bowling Green
Abby Niekamp, Buffalo
Cassie Farrell, Miami
Katie Post, Ohio
Lexie Hartnett, Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Kelsey Brandl, Ball State
Kaitlyn Schultz, Central Michigan
Rachel Iaquaniello, Eastern Michigan
Lauren Wicinski, Northern Illinois
Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois
Jessica Brown, Western Michigan
Ohio received 11-of-12 first place votes to be named the preseason East Division favorite. Miami was second and Akron was third, earning the other first place nod. Buffalo was picked fourth, followed by Bowling Green and Kent State. In the West Division, Northern Illinois was picked to finish first, followed by Ball State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Toledo. Northern Illinois earned the most votes as the overall regular season and tournament champions.
Bowling Green went 8-24 a year ago and finished 2-14 in MAC play. The Falcons are playing in a brand-new facility in the 2011, the Stroh Center, and head coach Denise Van De Walle announced in the spring that this will be the last of her 29 seasons at the helm of the program. The squad does return five starters (including the libero) from a year ago and seven total letterwinners.
Penrod was named to the preseason all-conference team along with Akron's Tina Dimitrijevs, Buffalo's Abby Niekamp, Miami's Cassie Farrell, and Ohio's duo of Katie Post and Lexie Hartnett. In the West Division, preseason all-conference selections were Ball State's Kelsey Brandl, Central Michigan's Kaitlyn Schultz, Eastern Michigan's Rachel Iaquaniello, Northern Illinois' Lauren Wicinski and Kristin Hoffman, and Western Michigan's Jessica Brown.
Penrod is coming off of one of the greatest freshman campaigns in program history, recording 405 kills to set a new school record for first-year players. That total ranked fourth in the MAC and 92nd nationally as well. She was named to a pair of in-season all-tournament teams and had a team-best 10 double-doubles on the year. A versatile player, Penrod also was key in the serve receive game, ranked second on the team in digs and aces, and third on the squad in blocks.
East Division Preseason Poll
1. Ohio (11 first place votes)
2. Miami
3. Akron (1 first place vote)
4. Buffalo
5. Bowling Green
6. Kent State
West Division Preseason Poll
1. Northern Illinois (7 first place votes)
2. Ball State (1 first place vote)
3. Western Michigan (3 first place votes)
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Central Michigan (1 first place vote)
6. Toledo
Regular Season Champion - Northern Illinois (5 votes)
Tournament Champion - Northern Illinois (5 votes)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Tina Dimitrijevs, Akron
Paige Penrod, Bowling Green
Abby Niekamp, Buffalo
Cassie Farrell, Miami
Katie Post, Ohio
Lexie Hartnett, Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Kelsey Brandl, Ball State
Kaitlyn Schultz, Central Michigan
Rachel Iaquaniello, Eastern Michigan
Lauren Wicinski, Northern Illinois
Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois
Jessica Brown, Western Michigan
BG VB : Postgame Interviews 11.22
Sunday, November 23
BG VB : Postgame Interviews 11.21
Saturday, November 22
BG VB : Postgame Interviews 11.8
Sunday, November 09
BG VB : Postgame Interviews 11.7
Saturday, November 08