Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
5-0
Robert Morris
2-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Morris | 21 | 20 | 19 | 0 |
| Ball State | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
WVB Improves To 5-0, Sweeps Robert Morris Saturday Morning
September 04, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Five players recorded at least six kills as the Ball State (5-0) women's volleyball team spread out its offense in a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19) sweep of Robert Morris (2-4) in its opening match of the second day of the 2010 Active Ankle Challenge.
In the morning session's first contest, Oakland (3-3) scored a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 26-24) victory over Tennessee State (0-3).
Junior right side/middle blocker Jennifer Boyd (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley H.S.) was the catalyst in the Cardinals victory, smashing a season-high 12 kills, including the match-winner. She also tallied a season-best .647 (12-1-17) attack percentage and a block assist.
"Jennifer had a solid match for us on the right side, replacing Charde' who was unable to play due to injury," said head coach Steve Shondell. "Jennifer played brilliantly today in a match which was tough on us mentally, trying to bounce back from the high of last night. Jennifer put the team on her shoulders and carried us through."
Junior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North H.S.) was also a big hitter for the Cardinals, racking up 11 kills. She finished the day with a .417 (11-1-24) attack percentage, three digs and a pair of blocks.
Junior setter Brittany McGinnis (Fraser, Mich./Fraser H.S.) was able to spread out BSU's offense, with five different attackers collecting double-digit swings. McGinnis set the Cardinals to a .271 (46-14-118) rate of success for the contest, with BSU improving its numbers throughout the afternoon. She also turned in a strong effort from the service line with a match-best three aces.
"Kelsey was solid again for us offensively," said Shondell "I also thought Brittany served the ball extremely well and scored a lot of points. We had some really good performances from several different players today, which is the mark of a good team."
BSU's freshmen trio of middle blocker Mindy Marx (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven H.S.), outside hitter Kylee Baker (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North H.S.) and outside hitter Whitney Heeres (Flushing, Mich./Flushing Senior H.S.) concluded the contest with eight, seven and six kills, respectively.
Marx's eight kills and .375 (8-2-16) hitting percentage were a career-highs, while she also added a pair of blocks. Baker tied a career-best with nine digs, while serving up a pair of aces.
"Robert Morris did a good job of stopping our left sides, but we were able to get a lot of offense from the middle and right side," said Shondell. "Brittany was able to run a really nice, balanced offense."
In the backcourt, senior libero Alyssa Rio (Wayne, Ill./St. Francis H.S.) added a match-best 18 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls H.S.) tallied six.
Robert Morris finished the match with a .238 (36-11-105) hitting mark and was led at the attack line by Amanda Craig's 10 kills. Corinne Moser tallied a team-high 11 digs, while Charla Drabant added 10.
After falling behind 2-1 in the opening frame, the Cardinals rattled off the next five points behind kills from three different players and a pair of service aces from McGinnis to pull ahead 6-2. Two kills apiece from Baker and Boyd, plus a Kaylee Schembra (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli H.S.) ace, helped BSU extend the advantage to eight at 13-5.
From there, a Drabant kill sparked a 5-0 RMU run, brining the guests within three at 13-10. Kills from BSU's freshman trio of Baker, Heeres and Marx helped build the lead back to six at 16-10. With Ball State maintaining a 20-15 edge, the guests went on a 4-0 run, closing the gap to 20-19.
After a Cardinals' timeout, the hosts used a service error and kills from Baker and Boyd to pull back ahead by four at 23-19. Four rallies later, the Cardinals won the frame 25-21 on a block from Marx and McGinnis.
Ball State came out on fire to open the second set, as a Heeres kill and a pair of Boyd smashes helped BSU pull ahead 5-0. While RMU was able to battle back within two, at 6-4, the Cardinals responded with six of the next eight points, moving the score 12-6.
Robert Morris would draw within four at 13-9, only to have kills from Heeres and Brandl push the lead back to six at 15-9. From there, Ball State went on to win the set 25-20 on a Boyd shot off the block.
A pair of kills from Brandl helped Ball State pull ahead 5-2 early in the third set. The Colonials were able to climb back within one at 7-6 on a Moser service ace, only to have a service error and a Heeres kill extend the BSU lead back to three at 9-6.
With Ball State leading 11-9, kills from Brandl and Rio helped force a Robert Morris timeout at 14-9. The teams traded the next four points before a Baker kill and another Schembra ace pushed the host's lead to seven at 18-11. The Cardinals eventually won the set 25-19 on Boyd's match-best 12th kill of the contest.
Play in the 2010 Active Ankle Challenge concludes later this evening with a pair of matches. Robert Morris battles Tennessee State at 5 p.m., while Ball State and Oakland square off in the championship match at 7:30 p.m.
