Broncos Picked As Preseason MAC Favorites

Cleveland, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference announced the 2012 Preseason Volleyball Poll as voted on by the league's head coaches, with the Western Michigan Broncos selected to finish first in the West Division as well as winning the MAC Regular Season and tournament titles. WMU received 10 first-place votes in the poll.

"It is an honor to have the respect and recognition from the coaches in our league," said WMU head coach Colleen Munson. "Our players are respected for what they are capable of doing individually and collectively on the court. However, we haven't accomplished anything yet and have a lot of work to do to prepare for a very competitive league this fall."

The Broncos return all but two players from last year's team which finished with a 24-9 recorded and an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Setter Terin Norris returns as a redshirt sophomore for the Broncos, and the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MAC selection looks to build on a rookie season that saw her become one of the top setters in the Mid-American Conference. Norris brings the element of attack in addition to her setting abilities, with her 135 kills in 2011 the most for a Bronco since 2006.

Also returning is two-time First Team All-MAC selection Jessica Brown. Brown is the lone senior on this year's team, and will look to enter the top-five in career kills at Western Michigan before all is said and done. Junior libero Lena Oliver returns after having a record setting season in 2011 with 700 digs, and boasts a career total of 1,345 digs. She was named First Team All-MAC and the COBRA Magazine National Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and COBRA similarly honored Oliver in 2012, as she was named to an eight-player watch list for Preseason Player of the Year.

East Division Preseason Poll
1. Ohio (11)
2. Miami (1)
3. Bowling Green
4. Buffalo
5. Kent State
6. Akron

West Division Preseason Poll
1. Western Michigan (10)
2. Ball State (1)
3. Central Michigan (1)
4. Northern Illinois
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Toledo


Regular Season Champion - Western Michigan

Tournament Champion - Western Michigan