Central Michigan University Athletics
Volleyball Picked to Finish Second in MAC Preseason Poll
8/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan volleyball team is tabbed to finish second in the West Division by the league’s coaches in the 2008 Mid-American Conference preseason poll, the league office announced on Monday.
The Chippewas return five starters and eight letterwinners while adding a nationally ranked recruiting class that includes three potential impact freshmen. CMU also returns two All-MAC honorees in first team performer Kate Fissel and second team member Whitney Evers. Both were among the league’s best in several offensive categories, including Fissel’s MAC-best 63 aces.
Head coach Erik Olson returns for his fifth season, having rebuilt the program after orchestrating the biggest turnaround in league history from 2005 to 2006 with a 12.5 game improvement.
CMU went 22-10 in 2007 and won its first MAC Tournament game since 1982 a season ago. Central boasted the fifth-best hitting percentage in the league, and held opponents to the lowest hitting percentage in the 12-team conference. The Chippewas finished third in kills and first in aces, blasting 51 more than the next best squad.
Central opens up the regular season with three road tournaments, starting with the VCU Invitational. The Chippewas will square off with Maryland on Friday in the opener, before facing Liberty and North Carolina State on Saturday.
2008 MAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
West Division (votes for MAC Tournament Champions)
1. Western Michigan (3)
2. Central Michigan
3. Ball State
4. Northern Illinois
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Toledo
East Division (votes for MAC Tournament Champions)
1. Miami (3)
2. Ohio (3)
3. Kent State
4. Bowling Green
5. Akron
6. Buffalo
The Chippewas return five starters and eight letterwinners while adding a nationally ranked recruiting class that includes three potential impact freshmen. CMU also returns two All-MAC honorees in first team performer Kate Fissel and second team member Whitney Evers. Both were among the league’s best in several offensive categories, including Fissel’s MAC-best 63 aces.
Head coach Erik Olson returns for his fifth season, having rebuilt the program after orchestrating the biggest turnaround in league history from 2005 to 2006 with a 12.5 game improvement.
CMU went 22-10 in 2007 and won its first MAC Tournament game since 1982 a season ago. Central boasted the fifth-best hitting percentage in the league, and held opponents to the lowest hitting percentage in the 12-team conference. The Chippewas finished third in kills and first in aces, blasting 51 more than the next best squad.
Central opens up the regular season with three road tournaments, starting with the VCU Invitational. The Chippewas will square off with Maryland on Friday in the opener, before facing Liberty and North Carolina State on Saturday.
2008 MAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
West Division (votes for MAC Tournament Champions)
1. Western Michigan (3)
2. Central Michigan
3. Ball State
4. Northern Illinois
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Toledo
East Division (votes for MAC Tournament Champions)
1. Miami (3)
2. Ohio (3)
3. Kent State
4. Bowling Green
5. Akron
6. Buffalo
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