Avery Hobson Named All-MAC First Team In MAC Preseason Poll

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced Monday morning (Aug. 24) the MAC Volleyball Preseason Poll and Preseason All-MAC Teams for the upcoming 2026 season. Bowling Green was selected to finish tied for fourth in the MAC, totaling 71 points in the poll to match Ohio. As for the preseason All-MAC Team, Avery Hobson was named to the group, one of 14 student-athletes from the conference named.

Avery Hobson is coming off a First Team All-MAC selection in 2025 with the Falcons. Hobson was one of two Falcons to start all 32 matches for BGSU last season, leading the team in kills with a career-high 376. She paced the Orange and Brown in kills nine times over the course of the season and registered a hitting percentage north of .400 twice on the year. Hobson added 15 double-digit kill outings and registered six double-doubles for the Falcons. She concluded the year with 202 digs for BGSU, finishing third on the team, while contributing 19 aces as well.

The Falcons will officially begin the 2026 season this weekend with a trip to Columbus for the Jim Stone Challenge. Bowling Green will open the year against Ohio State with a 6 p.m. first serve on Friday (Aug. 28) at the Covelli Center. The weekend in Columbus will continue on Saturday (Aug. 29), facing Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m., before concluding on Sunday (Aug. 30) with Fresno State at 11 a.m.

The home schedule for the Falcons will open on Sept. 4, hosting the Best Western Invitational. The home tournament will span two days with the Falcons taking on Arkansas State and American on Friday (Sept. 4) before facing Northern Kentucky on Saturday (Sept. 5).

2026 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
First Place Votes in ()
1. Toledo – 92 pts. (7)
2. Ball State – 91 pts. (3)
3. Western Michigan – 78 pts.
T-4. Bowling Green – 71 pts.
T-4. Ohio – 71 pts. (1)
6. Miami – 59 pts.
7. Akron – 41 pts.
8. Buffalo – 35 pts.
9. Eastern Michigan – 31 pts.
10. Central Michigan – 21 pts.
11. Kent State – 15 pts.

Tournament Champion: Toledo (6), Ball State (5)

2026 Preseason All-MAC Team (alphabetical by school)
Delaney Gash, Outside Hitter, Akron
Lyndi Wolf, Middle Blocker, Akron
Gwen Crull, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Sophie Ledbetter, Libero, Ball State
Camryn Wise, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Avery Hobson, Outside Hitter, Bowling Green
Bailey Blair, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Emily Waddell, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Molly Creech, Outside Hitter, Miami
Jessica Costloe, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Grace Freiberger, Libero, Toledo
Olivia Heitkamo, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Sierra Pertzborn, Middle Blocker, Toledo
Leah Richmond, Setter, Western Michigan

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