Center Isaiah Johnson of The University of Akron men’s basketball team and Hannah Plybon of the Zips’ women’s basketball team have each been named to the Mid-American Conference’s Preseason All-MAC Squad.

The men’s team has also been selected to win the MAC-East Division for the fourth straight year and the MAC Tournament crown. The women’s team is picked to finish third in the MAC-East, behind Ohio and Buffalo.

Johnson, a 6-foot-10, 290-pound center from Cincinnati, Ohio, dominated last season while starting in only nine of the team’s 35 games. Johnson averaged 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He shot 57.4 percent from the field and 59.8 percent from the foul line.

Johnson is joined in the All-MAC East Division Team by Ohio’s Antonio Campbell and Jaaron Simmons, Buffalo’s Blake Hamilton, and Kent State’s Jimmy Hall. The Preseason All-MAC West Division Team is comprised of Ball State’s Franko House, Eastern Michigan’s James Thompson IV, Northern Illinois’ Marin Maric, Toledo’s Jonathan Williams, and Western Michigan’s Thomas Wilder.

Plybon, a 5-foot-9 senior from Orrville, Ohio, is expected to lead the Zips this season following the graduation of Anita Brown, the team’s leading scorer from last season. Plybon averaged 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game last season. Also, she set a school record by making 104 three-pointers.

Plybon is joined on the Preseason All-MAC East Team by Kent State’s Jordan Korinek, Ohio’s Quiera Lampkins, and Buffalo’s Stephanie Reid and JoAnna Smith. The Preseason All-MAC West Team is comprised of Toledo’s Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and Janice Monakana, Northern Illinois’ Ally Lehman, and Central Michigan’s Tinara Moore and Presley Hudson.

The men’s team is expected to finish first in the Conference’s East Division, ahead of Ohio, Buffalo, Kent State, Bowling Green, and Miami. Out of 36 votes, the Zips received 15 to finish as the MAC Tournament Champion. Ohio received 11 votes as well.

The women’s team kicks off its season with an exhibition game versus Walsh on Saturday at 12 p.m. Its regular season will begin on Saturday, Nov. 12 at home versus Malone. Johnson and the men’s team will also open their season on the 12th on the road versus Youngstown State.