Eastern Michigan Athletics
Volleyball Selected Fourth in MAC West
1/21/2021 12:31:00 PM | Volleyball
Senior Franki Strefling named to the West Division Preseason All-MAC team
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division, the league office announced today, Jan. 21. Additionally senior Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) was named to the West Division Preseason All-MAC Team.
In-state rival Central Michigan was selected to win the MAC West with 67 points and was also picked as the regular-season champion with seven first-place votes. Following the Chippewas is Ball State, which earned 64 points and five first-place votes. EMU's other in-state rival Western Michigan tallied 45 points and was selected third, while the Eagles earned 31 points in the fourth position. Rounding out the division is Toledo and Northern Illinois at fifth and sixth, respectively.
Miami, who received four first-place votes, was pegged to win the MAC East with 62 points. Behind the RedHawks is Bowling Green and Ohio, which tallied 60 points and 55 points, respectively. The Falcons also earned five first-place votes, while the Bobcats garnered three. Filling out the rest of the East was Akron, Kent State, and Buffalo at fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. BGSU was also selected as the MAC Tournament favorite with five votes.
This season, the Green and White welcome four freshmen to the roster, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The roster also features 11 returning letterwinners, including Strefling who posted 346 kills in 2019.
Strefling, one of three seniors for the Eagles, was one of six players named to the West Division Preseason All-MAC Team. The Niles, Mich. native appeared in 28 matches, making 24 starts last season for the Eagles. Strefling's 3.27 kills per set ranked sixth in the conference in 2019, and she ranked second the team averaging 3.74 digs a set.
In addition to the release of the coaches poll, the MAC also released the East and West Preseason All-MAC Teams. Joining Strefling on the West Division is Marie Plitt (Ball State), Natalie Risi (Ball State), Kalina Smith (Central Michigan), Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez (Central Michigan), and Rachel Bontrager (Western Michigan). Representing the East Division is Emily Weigard (Akron), Katelyn Meyer (Bowling Green), Gaby Harper (Miami), Vera Giacomazzi (Ohio), Tia Jimerson (Ohio), and Maggie Nedoma (Ohio).
Eastern is expected to begin the 2021 spring season at home, when the Eagles host Ohio University Thursday, Jan. 28, and Friday, Jan. 29, inside the Convocation Center.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU volleyball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMUVolleyball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUVB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emu_volleyball.
East Division (First-place votes)
1. Miami - 62 points (4)
2. Bowling Green - 60 points (5)
3. Ohio - 55 points (3)
4. Akron - 28 points
5. Kent State - 24 points
6. Buffalo - 23 points
West Division (First-place votes)
1. Central Michigan - 67 points (7)
2. Ball State - 64 points (5)
3. Western Michigan - 45 points
4. Eastern Michigan - 31 points
5. Toledo - 23 points
6. Northern Illinois - 22 points
MAC Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (5), Ball State (2), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Emily Weigard - Akron
Katelyn Meyer - Bowling Green
Gaby Harper - Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Maggie Nedoma - Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt - Ball State
Natalie Risi - Ball State
Kalina Smith - Central Michigan
Lisbeth Rosaio-Martinez - Central Michigan
Franki Strefling - Eastern Michigan
Rachel Bontrager - Western Michigan
In-state rival Central Michigan was selected to win the MAC West with 67 points and was also picked as the regular-season champion with seven first-place votes. Following the Chippewas is Ball State, which earned 64 points and five first-place votes. EMU's other in-state rival Western Michigan tallied 45 points and was selected third, while the Eagles earned 31 points in the fourth position. Rounding out the division is Toledo and Northern Illinois at fifth and sixth, respectively.
Miami, who received four first-place votes, was pegged to win the MAC East with 62 points. Behind the RedHawks is Bowling Green and Ohio, which tallied 60 points and 55 points, respectively. The Falcons also earned five first-place votes, while the Bobcats garnered three. Filling out the rest of the East was Akron, Kent State, and Buffalo at fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. BGSU was also selected as the MAC Tournament favorite with five votes.
This season, the Green and White welcome four freshmen to the roster, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The roster also features 11 returning letterwinners, including Strefling who posted 346 kills in 2019.
Strefling, one of three seniors for the Eagles, was one of six players named to the West Division Preseason All-MAC Team. The Niles, Mich. native appeared in 28 matches, making 24 starts last season for the Eagles. Strefling's 3.27 kills per set ranked sixth in the conference in 2019, and she ranked second the team averaging 3.74 digs a set.
In addition to the release of the coaches poll, the MAC also released the East and West Preseason All-MAC Teams. Joining Strefling on the West Division is Marie Plitt (Ball State), Natalie Risi (Ball State), Kalina Smith (Central Michigan), Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez (Central Michigan), and Rachel Bontrager (Western Michigan). Representing the East Division is Emily Weigard (Akron), Katelyn Meyer (Bowling Green), Gaby Harper (Miami), Vera Giacomazzi (Ohio), Tia Jimerson (Ohio), and Maggie Nedoma (Ohio).
Eastern is expected to begin the 2021 spring season at home, when the Eagles host Ohio University Thursday, Jan. 28, and Friday, Jan. 29, inside the Convocation Center.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU volleyball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMUVolleyball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUVB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emu_volleyball.
East Division (First-place votes)
1. Miami - 62 points (4)
2. Bowling Green - 60 points (5)
3. Ohio - 55 points (3)
4. Akron - 28 points
5. Kent State - 24 points
6. Buffalo - 23 points
West Division (First-place votes)
1. Central Michigan - 67 points (7)
2. Ball State - 64 points (5)
3. Western Michigan - 45 points
4. Eastern Michigan - 31 points
5. Toledo - 23 points
6. Northern Illinois - 22 points
MAC Tournament Champions: Bowling Green (5), Ball State (2), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Ohio (1)
East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Emily Weigard - Akron
Katelyn Meyer - Bowling Green
Gaby Harper - Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Maggie Nedoma - Ohio
West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt - Ball State
Natalie Risi - Ball State
Kalina Smith - Central Michigan
Lisbeth Rosaio-Martinez - Central Michigan
Franki Strefling - Eastern Michigan
Rachel Bontrager - Western Michigan
Players Mentioned
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