CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference announced its 2019 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team on Wednesday with junior Rachel Bontrager, senior Kathleen Reilly and sophomore Meredith Phillips of Western Michigan volleyball earning the academic honor.

A total of 77 student-athletes were named to this year's squad as the Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.

For the third year in a row Reilly earned Academic All-MAC honors after posting a 3.59 GPA in nursing. Two weeks ago Reilly was named MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, closing out the regular season ranking second in the MAC at 5.37 digs per set and first in the MAC with 601 total digs.

Bontrager earns Academic All-MAC for the second consecutive year, registering a 3.74 GPA in elementary professional education. In November the Valparaiso, Ind. native was named First Team All-MAC for the second straight year after leading the conference with 414 kills. Bontrager earned double-digit kills in 25 of WMU's 28 matches including a career-high 17 straight matches from Sept. 20 through Nov. 9.

Sophomore outside hitter Meredith Phillips earns Academic All-MAC status for the first time in her career, recording a 3.78 GPA in biomedical services. Phillips ranked third on the team with 235 kills, averaging 2.40 kills per set in 98 sets played. The Fishers, Ind., native had 10 matches with double-digit kills including a career-high 20 at Akron on Oct. 19.

Since 2015, Western Michigan has had 23 earn Academic All-MAC honors with at least three student-athletes earning the award each season since 2013.