CLEVELAND –  The Mid-American Conference released its 2019 volleyball preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday with Western Michigan volleyball picked to finish second in the west division with one first place vote.

The Broncos also earned one vote to win the MAC Regular Season Title and MAC Tournament title. Along with the coaches' poll, junior outside hitter Rachel Bontrager was named to the preseason All-MAC West.

Bontrager ranked third in the MAC a season ago with 435 kills en route to First Team All-MAC honors. Bontrager needs just 145 kills to join WMU's 1,000-kill club. The Valparaiso, Ind., native registered double digit kills in 27 of the 31 games played and had 13 double-doubles.

Ball State grabbed 10 of the possible 12 votes in the West, placing them atop the division. In the east division, Miami picked up nine of 12 votes. Miami also received six votes to claim the 2019 title followed by Bowling Green with four. Miami also was picked to win the 2019 regular season title.

Western Michigan begins the 2019 campaign on the road on Friday, Aug. 30 with a doubleheader at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational presented by Hyatt Place. The Broncos will square off with South Alabama in the season opener before taking on host school Purdue Fort Wayne. To end the invitational, WMU challenges Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Aug. 31.

WMU's first home match is set for Sept. 20-21 as IUPUI, Auburn and Michigan State come to visit Kalamazoo as part of the Delta Hotel by Marriott Kalamazoo Conference Center Tournament.

For ticket information visit wmubroncos.com/tickets, call 1-888-4-WMU-Tix or visit the Bronco Ticket Office.

(first place votes) – points
\WEST DIVISION

1. Ball State (10) – 68
2. Western Michigan (1) – 57
3. Eastern Michigan (1) – 43
4. Central Michigan – 39
5. Northern Illinois – 24
6. Toledo – 21

EAST DIVISION

1. Miami (9) – 68
2. Bowling Green (2) – 57
3. Ohio (1) – 52
4. Buffalo – 33
5. Kent State – 28
6. Akron – 14

REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS: Miami (8), Bowling Green (2), Ohio (1), Western Michigan (1)

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS: Miami (6), Bowling Green (4), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)

PRESEASON ALL-MAC WEST
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
Amber Seaman, Ball State
Sydnee VanBeek, Ball State
Kalina Smith, Central Michigan
Cassie Haut, Eastern Michigan
Zoe Birnbrich, Toledo

PRESEASON ALL-MAC EAST
Polina Prokudina, Buffalo
Gaby Harper, Miami
Margaret Payne, Miami
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio
Tia Jimerson, Ohio
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio