Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Chad Huffman, BGSU Athletics
BGSU Picked To Win MAC East, MAC Tournament In Preseason Poll
August 24, 2023 | Volleyball
Jessica Andrews, Lauryn Hovey Named To All-MAC East Preseason Team
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday afternoon (Aug. 24) the MAC Volleyball Preseason Poll and Preseason All-MAC Teams for the upcoming 2023 season. Bowling Green was selected to win the MAC East and received the most votes to win the MAC Tournament. Jessica Andrews and Lauryn Hovey were both selected to the East Division Preseason All-MAC Team as well.
As a team, the Falcons received 11 of the 12 first place votes in the MAC East with Ohio receiving the other first place vote. BGSU finished with 61 points in the poll, followed by Ohio (50), Buffalo (42), Kent State (28), Miami (OH) (18) and Akron (17). As for the MAC Tournament, BGSU collected six of the 12 votes to be crowned tournament champion with Ball State having five and Western Michigan one.
As for the Preseason All-MAC Teams, the Falcons had two players named to the East Division team. Both Lauryn Hovey and Jessica Andrews were named. Hovey is coming off a season where she was named All-MAC First Team, MAC Freshman of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP. As for Andrews, she was named All-MAC Second Team a season ago. Both earned All-MAC Freshman Team honors as well.
The Falcons will begin the regular season this weekend with three matches at the NKU Tournament, taking on ETSU, Ohio State and Northern Kentucky. The Falcons will then return home to the Stroh Center for the Hampton Inn Invitational, including the home opener against 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Loyola Chicago (Aug. 31) as well as matches against Texas A&M (Sept. 1) and another 2022 NCAA Tournament participant in Wright State (Sept. 2).
2023 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green (11) – 61 points
2. Ohio (1) – 50 points
3. Buffalo – 42 points
4. Kent State – 28 points
5. Miami – 18 points
6. Akron – 17 points
2023 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Ball State (11) – 61 points
2. Western Michigan (1) – 43 points
3. Central Michigan – 41 points
4. Toledo – 38 points
5. Northern Illinois – 20 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 13 points
Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (6), Ball State (5), Western Michigan (1)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Jessica Andrews, Bowling Green
Lauryn Hovey, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Buffalo
Courtney Okwara, Buffalo
Caroline Clippard, Ohio
Caitlin O'Farrell, Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Ball State
Claire Ammeraal, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUVolleyball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuvolleyball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'Bowling Green State University Volleyball'
TikTok - @bgsuvolleyball
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
As a team, the Falcons received 11 of the 12 first place votes in the MAC East with Ohio receiving the other first place vote. BGSU finished with 61 points in the poll, followed by Ohio (50), Buffalo (42), Kent State (28), Miami (OH) (18) and Akron (17). As for the MAC Tournament, BGSU collected six of the 12 votes to be crowned tournament champion with Ball State having five and Western Michigan one.
As for the Preseason All-MAC Teams, the Falcons had two players named to the East Division team. Both Lauryn Hovey and Jessica Andrews were named. Hovey is coming off a season where she was named All-MAC First Team, MAC Freshman of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP. As for Andrews, she was named All-MAC Second Team a season ago. Both earned All-MAC Freshman Team honors as well.
The Falcons will begin the regular season this weekend with three matches at the NKU Tournament, taking on ETSU, Ohio State and Northern Kentucky. The Falcons will then return home to the Stroh Center for the Hampton Inn Invitational, including the home opener against 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Loyola Chicago (Aug. 31) as well as matches against Texas A&M (Sept. 1) and another 2022 NCAA Tournament participant in Wright State (Sept. 2).
2023 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green (11) – 61 points
2. Ohio (1) – 50 points
3. Buffalo – 42 points
4. Kent State – 28 points
5. Miami – 18 points
6. Akron – 17 points
2023 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Ball State (11) – 61 points
2. Western Michigan (1) – 43 points
3. Central Michigan – 41 points
4. Toledo – 38 points
5. Northern Illinois – 20 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 13 points
Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (6), Ball State (5), Western Michigan (1)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Jessica Andrews, Bowling Green
Lauryn Hovey, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Buffalo
Courtney Okwara, Buffalo
Caroline Clippard, Ohio
Caitlin O'Farrell, Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Ball State
Claire Ammeraal, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUVolleyball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuvolleyball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'Bowling Green State University Volleyball'
TikTok - @bgsuvolleyball
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Players Mentioned
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