Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Volleyball Picked Fifth in the West for the 2016 Campaign
8/22/2016 10:01:00 AM | Volleyball
Eastern set for 2016 with freshmen laden roster
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team was tabbed to finish fifth in the talented Mid-American Conference West Division, the league office announced Monday, Aug. 22. The Miami University RedHawks were picked to finish first in the East Division, while the Northern Illinois University Huskies were selected to finish first in the West. Miami earned nine votes to win the 2016 MAC Volleyball Tournament, while Kent State University, NIU, and Ohio University each earned one.
The Green and White return just two starters, including sophomore middle blocker Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central) and redshirt sophomore setter Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland). Heavy with newcomers, including seven freshmen, second-year Head Coach Kimi Olson will fill the starting spots of four starters and her libero after losing six members of the 2015 roster.
Rounding out the East Division poll after Miami was Kent State who received one first-place vote, while Ohio was selected third and earned two first-place votes. Coming in at fourth was Buffalo, followed by Bowling Green and Akron. For the West Division poll, Northern Illinois was selected first with 11 votes followed by Western Michigan University with one. Ball State University was tabbed for third, with Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan and the University of Toledo following suit. The 2016 volleyball season begins this Friday, Aug. 26, as teams begin non-conference schedule. The 2016 MAC Volleyball Tournament will be November 17-20 at Northern Illinois' home court in DeKalb, Ill. The Huskies will host as the previous year's champion.
In addition to the preseason prognostications, the MAC released the preseason All-MAC East and West divisional teams. A tie in voting for the East Division puts the roster at seven. Jelena Sunjic (Bowling Green), Cassie Shado (Buffalo), Kelsey Bittinger (Kent State), Challen Geraghty (Kent State), Katarina Kojic (Kent State), Paige Hill (Miami), and Jamie Kosiorek (Ohio) complete the All-MAC East Team. The Preseason All-MAC West Team includes Mackenzie Kitchel (Ball State), Jordan Beuter (Central Michigan), Taylor Robertson (Central Michigan), Jenna Radtke (Northern Illinois), Lauren Zellinski (Northern Illinois), and Sydney LeMay (Western Michigan).
EMU opens the season on the road at the 2016 Maryland Invite in College Park, Md., Aug. 26-27. The Eagles will face off with the Univeristy of Maryland first on Friday at 7 p.m.. The Eagles will close out the opening weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 27, taking on Sacred Heart University at 1 p.m., followed by Delaware State University at 4 p.m. at the XFINITY Center.
MAC East Division (first place votes) - points
1. Miami (9) - 68
2. Kent State (1) - 57
3. Ohio (2) - 55
4. Buffalo - 31
5. Bowling Green - 28
6. Akron - 13
MAC West Division (first place votes) - points
1. Northern Illinois (11) - 71
2. Western Michigan (1) - 58
3. Ball State - 43
4. Central Michigan - 37
5. Eastern Michigan - 25
6. Toledo - 17
2016 MAC Regular Season Champions: Miami (9), Kent State (1), Northern Illinois (1), Ohio (1)
2016 MAC Tournament Champions: Miami (5), Northern Illinois (4), Kent State (2), Western Michigan (1)
2016 Preseason All-MAC East
Jelena Sunjic, Bowling Green
Cassie Shado, Buffalo
Kelsey Bittinger, Kent State
Challen Geraghty, Kent State
Katarina Kojic, Kent State
Paige Hill, Miami
Jamie Kosiorek, Ohio
2016 Preseason All-MAC West
Mackenzie Kitchel, Ball State
Jordan Beuter, Central Michigan
Taylor Robertson, Central Michigan
Jenna Radtke, Northern Illinois
Lauren Zellinski, Northern Illinois
Sydney LeMay, Western Michigan
The Green and White return just two starters, including sophomore middle blocker Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central) and redshirt sophomore setter Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland). Heavy with newcomers, including seven freshmen, second-year Head Coach Kimi Olson will fill the starting spots of four starters and her libero after losing six members of the 2015 roster.
Rounding out the East Division poll after Miami was Kent State who received one first-place vote, while Ohio was selected third and earned two first-place votes. Coming in at fourth was Buffalo, followed by Bowling Green and Akron. For the West Division poll, Northern Illinois was selected first with 11 votes followed by Western Michigan University with one. Ball State University was tabbed for third, with Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan and the University of Toledo following suit. The 2016 volleyball season begins this Friday, Aug. 26, as teams begin non-conference schedule. The 2016 MAC Volleyball Tournament will be November 17-20 at Northern Illinois' home court in DeKalb, Ill. The Huskies will host as the previous year's champion.
In addition to the preseason prognostications, the MAC released the preseason All-MAC East and West divisional teams. A tie in voting for the East Division puts the roster at seven. Jelena Sunjic (Bowling Green), Cassie Shado (Buffalo), Kelsey Bittinger (Kent State), Challen Geraghty (Kent State), Katarina Kojic (Kent State), Paige Hill (Miami), and Jamie Kosiorek (Ohio) complete the All-MAC East Team. The Preseason All-MAC West Team includes Mackenzie Kitchel (Ball State), Jordan Beuter (Central Michigan), Taylor Robertson (Central Michigan), Jenna Radtke (Northern Illinois), Lauren Zellinski (Northern Illinois), and Sydney LeMay (Western Michigan).
EMU opens the season on the road at the 2016 Maryland Invite in College Park, Md., Aug. 26-27. The Eagles will face off with the Univeristy of Maryland first on Friday at 7 p.m.. The Eagles will close out the opening weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 27, taking on Sacred Heart University at 1 p.m., followed by Delaware State University at 4 p.m. at the XFINITY Center.
MAC East Division (first place votes) - points
1. Miami (9) - 68
2. Kent State (1) - 57
3. Ohio (2) - 55
4. Buffalo - 31
5. Bowling Green - 28
6. Akron - 13
MAC West Division (first place votes) - points
1. Northern Illinois (11) - 71
2. Western Michigan (1) - 58
3. Ball State - 43
4. Central Michigan - 37
5. Eastern Michigan - 25
6. Toledo - 17
2016 MAC Regular Season Champions: Miami (9), Kent State (1), Northern Illinois (1), Ohio (1)
2016 MAC Tournament Champions: Miami (5), Northern Illinois (4), Kent State (2), Western Michigan (1)
2016 Preseason All-MAC East
Jelena Sunjic, Bowling Green
Cassie Shado, Buffalo
Kelsey Bittinger, Kent State
Challen Geraghty, Kent State
Katarina Kojic, Kent State
Paige Hill, Miami
Jamie Kosiorek, Ohio
2016 Preseason All-MAC West
Mackenzie Kitchel, Ball State
Jordan Beuter, Central Michigan
Taylor Robertson, Central Michigan
Jenna Radtke, Northern Illinois
Lauren Zellinski, Northern Illinois
Sydney LeMay, Western Michigan
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