CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference released its 2024 Preseason Volleyball Coaches poll on Monday, with Western Michigan selected as the unanimous favorite to repeat as conference champions. Additionally, four Broncos have been named to the Preseason All-MAC Team, with Anna Calcagno, Logan Case, Keona Salesman and Andelyn Simkins all receiving recognition.  
 
Western Michigan was a unanimous pick to repeat as MAC champions, garnering first-place votes from each of the other 11 teams in the league (coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves or their own players). WMU also earned nine votes to once again win the MAC Tournament.
 
The Broncos went 31-3, including a perfect 18-0 in conference play, in 2023 on the way to winning both the MAC regular season and tournament titles. It was the first 30-win season for WMU since 1983, and it saw the Brown and Gold upend No. 7 seed Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
The quartet of Calcagno, Case, Salesman and Simkins all received All-MAC accolades at the end of last season. Case, who is a Preseason All-MAC selection for the fourth consecutive year, is the reigning MAC Player and Setter of the Year, and was named an All-American by VolleyballMag.com and the AVCA. Simkins is coming off of a season which saw her join Case on the All-MAC First Team, win MAC Defensive Player of the Year and earn Honorable Mention All-American recognition from VolleyballMag.com. Salesman and Calcagno were both selected to the All-MAC Second Team after ranking 10th and 11th, respectively, in the league in kills per set.
 
The Broncos open up the 2024 campaign on Friday night as they welcome LMU to University Arena at 6 pm. Single-game tickets for Western Michigan volleyball are on sale now at wmubroncos.com/tickets.
 
2024 MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll
First Place Votes in ()
1. Western Michigan (11) - 121 pts.
2. Bowling Green (1) - 102 pts.
3. Ball State - 98 pts.
4. Buffalo - 92 pts.
5. Ohio - 84 pts.
6. Toledo - 79 pts.
7. Central Michigan - 50 pts.
8. Northern Illinois - 49 pts.
9. Akron - 48 pts.
10. Miami - 32 pts.
11. Eastern Michigan - 22 pts.
12. Kent State - 15 pts.
Champion Votes: Western Michigan (9), Bowling Green (2), and Ball State (1)
 
2024 Preseason All-MAC Team
Logan Case, Fifth-Year, Setter, Western Michigan
Aniya Kennedy, Redshirt-Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Ball State
Taylor Alt, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Lauryn Hovey, Junior, Opposite Hitter, Bowling Green
Anna Kharchynska, Junior, opposite Hitter, Ohio
Andelyn Simkins, Fifth-Year, Libero, Western Michigan
Megan Wielonski, Senior, Setter, Ball State
Katrin Trebichavska, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Buffalo
Keona Salesman, Fifth-Year, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Mandy Leigh, Senior, Setter, Buffalo
Anna Calcagno, Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Western Michigan
Abby Leigh, Sixth-Year, Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker, Buffalo