Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
15-2 (4-0MAC)
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Western Michigan
13-4 (3-1MAC)
First Place WVB Scores 3-1 Win Over Western Michigan
October 02, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team took control of the Mid-American Conference West Division with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19) victory over Western Michigan Saturday night at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals are the lone undefeated team in the league's West Division with a 4-0 MAC mark. Ball State's 15-2 overall record is the best 17-match record in program history, while BSU extended the nation's fifth-longest active homecourt winning streak to 20 matches. The Broncos fall to 13-4 (3-1 MAC) with the loss.
"We turned in another great team effort," said Ball State head coach Steve Shondell. "It was great to go into the halftime locker room up two games, but we knew Western Michigan would come out very focused and intense in game three and they did. We had trouble matching their intensity in the third game, and they actually got us down at the start of game four. However, we were able to get our game back together and put pressure on them with our serve. We played maybe as well as we have all year from start to finish. It was really a great team victory today."
One key component to the Cardinals' win was the team's effort at the net. Ball State held a 12.0-4.0 advantage in total blocks, marking just the sixth match this season BSU has out-blocked its opponent. Combined with a 95-81 edge in total digs, Ball State limited the WMU attack to a .141 (57-30-192) hitting effort for the match.
"It was a pleasant surprise to out-block a good team 12-4," added Shondell. "We have been trying to work on our blocking in practice, and it's nice to see our efforts pay off in a match. That was a big factor in our win tonight."
Sophomore middle blocker Mindy Marx led the BSU charge at the next with a match-high seven total blocks, while adding six kills. Senior middle blocker/right side attacker Jennifer Boyd also turned in a solid effort at the net with five total blocks. Boyd also collected double-digit kills for the second straight night with 10.
Sophomore outside hitter Kylee Baker led the Ball State attack with 14 kills, but made a bigger impact in the backcourt by keeping several rallies alive with her career-high 23 digs. Sophomore libero Catie Fredrich also had a career-night in the backcourt, racking up a match-best and career-high 30 digs, while going a perfect 20-for-20 in service receptions.
Sophomore Jacqui Seidel made her second career start at setter for BSU and responded with her first career double-double, as she dished out 33 assists to go along with 13 digs. In addition to setting BSU to a .194 (54-20-175) rate of success, Seidel served up a match-high two aces and put together several strong service runs, including eight straight points to close out the second set.
Junior transfer outside hitter Kara Bates added 11 kills and four blocks, while senior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl posted six kills and four blocks.
Jessica Brown led the Western Michigan attack with 22 kills, while Lena Oliver earned a team-best 22 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to the road this weekend, when it concludes its first tour through the MAC West Division with matches at Central Michigan (Friday) and Eastern Michigan (Saturday).
