Mandy Leigh and Courtney Okwara Named to the Preseason All-MAC Team; Bulls Selected Third in MAC East Preseason Coaches’ Poll

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American announced the 2023 preseason coaches' poll and division preseason All-MAC teams on Thursday afternoon. Headlining the announcement for UB was Mandy Leigh and Courtney Okwara being named to the East Division Preseason All-MAC Team. As a team, the Bulls were selected third in the MAC East Division with 42 points, behind Ohio (50 points) and defending MAC Champion Bowling Green (61 points). The poll was voted on by the 12 head coaches in the league.

Junior setter Mandy Leigh enters the season ninth in program history on the all-time assists list with 2,318 assists. She earned 1,132 assists last season which was 52^nd in the nation and third in the MAC. She was named to the First-Team All-MAC list last November. Fifth year middle blocker Courtney Okwara had an overall hitting percentage of .420 last season, good for seventh in the NCAA and first in the MAC. This led to Second-Team All-MAC honors last season.

Defending MAC East Champion Bowling Green was picked to finish first in the MAC East with 11 first place votes. Ohio was picked second, as Kent State was selected third with one first place vote. Buffalo, Miami (OH) and Akron round out the division.

The Bulls begin the 2023 season on Friday, Aug. 25 as they travel to Birmingham, Ala. for the UAB Invitational. The team will open the season against Austin Peay, followed by UAB and Florida A&M.

For the full MAC release, click here.

2023 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)

2023 MAC Volleyball East Division Predictions
1. Bowling Green (11) – 61 points
2. Ohio (1) – 50 points
3. BUFFALO – 42 points
4. Kent State – 28 points
5. Miami – 18 points
6. Akron – 17 points

2023 MAC Volleyball West Division Predictions
1. Ball State (11) – 61 points
2. Western Michigan (1) – 43 points
3. Central Michigan – 41 points
4. Toledo – 38 points
5. Northern Illinois – 20 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 13 points

Predicted Tournament Champion: Bowling Green (6), Ball State (5), Western Michigan (1)

East Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Jessica Andrews, Bowling Green
Lauryn Hovey, Bowling Green
Mandy Leigh, Buffalo
Courtney Okwara, Buffalo
Caroline Clippard, Ohio
Caitlin O'Farrell, Ohio

West Division Preseason All-MAC Team
Marie Plitt, Ball State
Megan Wielonski, Ball State
Claire Ammeraal, Central Michigan
Taylor Alt, Toledo
Logan Case, Western Michigan
Maggie King, Western Michigan

Calendar

Mandy Leigh and Courtney Okwara Named to the Preseason All-MAC Team; Bulls Selected Third in MAC East Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Players Mentioned

Mandy Leigh

Courtney Okwara