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Volleyball picked to finish second in MAC West

August 26, 2014
MacKenzie Roddy

MacKenzie Roddy

The Northern Illinois University volleyball team was once again predicted to finish among the top teams in the Mid-American Conference, as the Huskies were picked to claim second in the MAC West Division by the league’s coaches.

In addition, senior Mackenzie Roddy (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) was selected to the Preseason All-MAC West team.

The Huskies ended up second in the preseason coaches’ poll for the second-straight year, grabbing four first place votes to trail only Ball State’s seven first place votes. Western Michigan was predicted to finish third, followed by Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Toledo. In the East, Ohio claimed 11 of the 12 first place votes, followed by Buffalo, Bowling Green, Miami, Kent State and Akron.

NIU also picked up two votes to win the 2014 MAC Tournament. Ohio garnered nine votes to lead the way, while Ball State picked up the final vote.

Individually, Roddy earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC West team for the second time in as many years. In 2013, the San Bernardino, California, native led the Huskies and finished fifth in the MAC in kills. Roddy also paced NIU with 483 points and became the 21st player in program history to record 1,000 career kills. She also earned spots on the NIU Invitational and Huskie Invitational All-Tournament teams.

The Huskies open their 2014 season this weekend when they host Colorado, Northwestern and Presbyterian for the NIU Invitational.

For more information on NIU volleyball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.