Sharrits Named Preseason All-MAC as MAC Releases Coaches Poll

Sharrits Named Preseason All-MAC as MAC Releases Coaches Poll
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AKRON, Ohio – Senior libero Taylor Sharrits (Concord, Ohio) was named to the Mid-American Conference East Division Preseason All-MAC team as the league unveiled the 2021 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday.

Sharrits was named 2020-21 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and second-team All-MAC, marking the first time in program history an Akron women's volleyball player claimed the MAC's top defensive honor.

In 90 sets (22 matches) played last season, Sharrits anchored the Zips' defense with a career-high 535 total digs and 5.94 digs per set. She finished regular season play ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in total digs and No. 5 in the nation in digs per set, and after the NCAA women's volleyball championships, she ranked No. 2 in total digs and No. 6 in digs per set.

Sharrits led the MAC in both categories and rewrote Akron's record book in digs and digs per set, moving to eighth all-time in single-season dig performances, while claiming the best single-season digs per set performance in program history. In addition, Sharrits owns 1,883 career digs in 399 sets played (105 matches), which ranks third all-time at Akron.

Sharrits collected two MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and registered 20 or more digs in 15 matches with six performances delivering 30-plus digs. She posted a career-best 41 digs against Toledo. That performance ranks third all-time at Akron.

The Zips were selected to finish fifth in the 2021 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
by the league's coaches, while Bowling Green and Central Michigan were selected to win their respective divisions.

The Falcons were a unanimous selection to win the East Division's regular-season crown, and they also received 10 of a possible 12 votes to win the conference tournament. The Chippewas, who last year finished tied for second place in the West Division, earned five first-place votes and 63 points from the league's 12 head coaches

In addition, fourteen of the league's top volleyball student-athletes were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions.

The Zips are scheduled to open the season on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27-28 at the Youngstown State Doubletree Invitational. On Friday, Akron is slated to battle St. Francis (PA) at 2 p.m. and YSU at 7 p.m. followed by Saturday's lone match against Duquesne at noon. The match against YSU will be broadcasted on ESPN+ while the St. Francis and Duquesne matches can be viewed on YouTube.com/YSUsports.

2021 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green – 72 points (12 first place votes)
2. Kent State – 53 points
3. Miami – 51 points
4. Ohio – 37 points
5. Akron – 25 points
6. Buffalo – 14 points

2021 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Central Michigan – 63 points (5 first place votes)
2. Ball State – 60 points (3)
3. Western Michigan – 49 points (3)
4. Toledo – 36 points (1)
5. Northern Illinois – 26 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 18 points

Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (10), Kent State (1), Western Michigan (1)

East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Taylor Sharrits, Akron
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Milla Malik, Buffalo
Alex Haffner, Kent State
Savannah Matthews, Kent State

West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Lauren Gilliland, Ball State
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan

The University of Akron Athletics

Sharrits Named Preseason All-MAC as MAC Releases Coaches Poll

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