The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball predicted to finish fifth in MAC preseason poll
August 28 | Women's Volleyball
Follow Akron Volleyball on Twitter and Facebook | Buy Tickets
View the complete 2013 Volleyball Media Guide
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Following a run to the Mid-American Conference Tournament last year, the University of Akron volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the East Division by the league's head coaches in the 2013 preseason poll, the MAC office announced Wednesday.
Defending MAC Tournament champion and NCAA Tournament team Bowling Green was picked to finish at the top of the East, receiving seven first place votes, followed by Ohio with five first place votes.
In the West Division, Western Michigan was narrowly chosen to win the regular season with five first place votes, followed by Northern Illinois with four votes and Central Michigan with three.
BGSU and Ohio each received four votes in the coaches' predictions to win the MAC Tournament, while NIU and WMU received a pair of votes each.
Akron is days away from its season-opener on Saturday, Aug. 31 when it takes on Indiana State and Southern Illinois Edwardsville in doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. UA will then come home next weekend to host the Akron Invitational Sept. 6-7, welcoming Milwaukee, Niagara and Tennessee Tech to James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips went 16-13 overall last season and 9-7 in the conference after being picked to finish last in the preseason poll. Akron went on to earn a No. 5 seed in the tournament before falling in the quarterfinals to fourth-ranked NIU in four sets. The 2013 MAC Tournament is set to be held Nov. 22-24 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, where the Zips will look to make a repeat appearance.
MAC East
1. Bowling Green (7 first place votes)
2. Ohio (5)
3. Miami
4. Buffalo
5. Akron
6. Kent State
MAC West
1. Western Michigan (5 first place votes)
2. Northern Illinois (4)
3. Central Michigan (3)
4. Ball State
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Toledo
Predicted MAC Tournament Champions:
Bowling Green/ Ohio (4 Votes Each)
Northern Illinois/Western Michigan (2 Votes Each)
