Ball State University
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Loyola-Chicago
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WVB Sweeps Loyola-Chicago In Season Opener
August 27, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team opened the 2011 season with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Loyola-Chicago Friday evening in the opening match of the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge at Worthen Arena.
"I give a lot of credit tonight to the crowd," said Ball State head coach Steve Shondell. "They really got behind our team and provided great support and enthusiasm. It really meant a lot to our team to see the support they received from the community."
Behind the very vocal crowd, the Cardinals got off to a fast start as an ace from sophomore libero Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls H.S.) set the tone early. Sophomore setter Jacqui Seidel (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles H.S.) added two more aces early in the frame, as BSU jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never trailed in the match. The Cardinals finished the night with 10 aces, including three from Fredrich.
"Even though we won in three, I felt we could have played much better defensively," added Shondell. "Loyola is a young team and got better as the match went along. They came into a great crowd in a big arena and were a little shell shocked during the first set. After they loosened up, they played great volleyball."
On offense, the Cardinals were led by senior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North H.S.) who blasted a match-high 12 kills on 16 swings with two errors for a .625 hitting mark. Brandl dominated play in the third set, blasting seven of her 12 kills in the frame.
In addition to Brandl, sophomore outside hitter Kylee Baker (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North H.S.) turned in a strong offensive effort, posting nine kills and a pair of aces, while adding three digs in the back court.
"Kylee is a crowd favorite here at Worthen Arena," said Shondell. "She is very flamboyant and has a lot of energy. She just loves to play in front of the Ball State fans."
Senior defensive specialist Kaylee Schembra (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli H.S.) led the Cardinals with seven digs on the night, while senior setter Brittany McGinnis (Fraser, Mich./Fraser H.S.) added six to go along with a team-high 21 assists. Fredrich added five digs to go along with her three aces in her first match as the team's libero.
With McGinnis setting the first two sets and Seidel the third, the Cardinals finished the contest with a .351 (39-12-77) attack percentage.
BSU's defense limited the Ramblers to a .161 (30-16-87) hitting mark for the night. Ball State also held a 35-24 advantage in digs, while out-acing Loyola-Chicago 10-2. The Ramblers held the advantage at the net with four team blocks, compared to one for BSU.
Laura Purcell paced the Loyola-Chicago attack with eight kills, while Mary Kate Styler and Melissa Hastings added seven each. Purcell also collected a match-best nine digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes play in the 2011 Ball State Active Ankle Challenge Sunday, when it hosts in-state rival IPFW in a 2 p.m. first serve. Tomorrow afternoon, the Mastodons battle the Ramblers in another 2 p.m. contest at Worthen Arena.
