Kent State Selected as MAC Contender in Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll
8/24/2021 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND — Head coach Don Gromala's veteran Kent State volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division, as the conference announced its 2021 preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday morning. Redshirt senior setter Alex Haffner and junior outside hitter Savannah Matthews were named to the seven-member Preseason All-MAC East Division Team.
Kent State received one vote to win the MAC Tournament. The Flashes were passed for the last spot in the truncated four-team tournament on the final day of the season this past spring and finished with a 12-9 record. This year's tournament has expanded back to six teams and will be played on the regular season champion's home court either Nov. 21-23 or Nov. 22-24.
Bowling Green was unanimously picked to win the East Division and received 10 votes to win the conference tournament. Four teams received votes to finish atop the West Division standings with Central Michigan finishing first with 63 points.
Kent State returns its entire starting lineup from the spring. Alex Haffner has received All-MAC honorable mention recognition the past two seasons and ranked fourth in the conference with 10.32 assists per set in the spring. Savannah Matthews posted team-high averages of 3.97 points and 3.56 kills per set while adding 2.84 digs per set. Junior opposite Morgan Copley, junior outside hitter Taylor Heberle, senior opposite Melissa Kolurbasi, senior middle blocker Lana Strejcek and senior middle blocker Danie Tyson all added 124 or more kills. Senior libero Erin Gardner tallied 4.76 digs per set and ranks fourth in program history with 1,367 career digs.
The Flashes will open the season against Evansville at 4:30 p.m. Friday as part of the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational. All three of Kent State's matches of the weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
2021 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
East Division
1. Bowling Green (12 first place votes) - 72
2. Kent State - 53
3. Miami - 51
4. Ohio - 37
5. Akron - 25
6. Buffalo - 14
West Division
1. Central Michigan (5 first place votes) - 63
2. Ball State (3) - 60
3. Western Michigan (3) - 49
4. Toledo (1) - 36
5. Northern Illinois - 26
6. Eastern Michigan - 18
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
