Ball State University
10-2
Wyoming vs. Wright State
1-13
WVB?s Offense Shines In Sweep Of Pitt
September 15, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Behind a season-high .325 (48-10-117) team hitting mark, the Ball State women's volleyball team (5-6) opened play in the Ball State Tournament with a dominating 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-16) sweep of Pittsburgh (8-3) Friday night at Worthen Arena.
In the opening match of the Ball State Tournament earlier in the day, Wyoming (10-2) scored a 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-22) victory over Wright State (1-13).
In its best performance to date this season, the Cardinals were able to effectively spread out their offense with six players recording at least seven kills in the sweep.
"We really needed a win like this," said Ball State head coach Steve Shondell. "Pitt is an extremely talented team with a lot of weapons, and to come out and play like we did against them gives us a big boost of confidence moving forward. The girls have been working their tails off in practice and playing with more discipline and controlling the ball better. Tonight, it translated into our best performance of the season."
Once again, senior outside hitter Kara Bates (Bradley, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais Community/Maryland) led the Ball State offense on the kills chart, blasting a match-high 11 to go along with 10 digs for her first kill/dig double-double of the season. She also came up with a solo stuff and an ace in the contest.
Senior transfer middle hitter Lisa Scott (McLean, Va. /Langley/Maryland) and junior opposite Lauren Grant (Eagan, Minn./Eastview/Cincinnati) also came through with strong performances, posting identical .533 (8-0-15) hitting marks. Scott led all players with four total blocks, while Grant also tallied a block assist.
Junior middle hitter Mindy Marx (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) added nine kills, while junior setter Jacqui Seidel (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) scored four in addition to leading BSU to its best hitting effort of the season. The duo also tallied a pair of block assists each, while Seidel earned eight digs and Marx recorded three.
In addition to Bates, three other Cardinals finished the match with double-digit digs led by junior libero Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) with 15. Junior outside hitter Kylee Baker (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) logged 12 digs, to go along with seven kills, while freshman defensive specialist Taylor Richardson (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) tallied 10.
Kate Yeazel led the Pittsburgh attack with nine kills, while Panthers' libero Margy Action racked up a match-best 16 digs.
Overall, the Ball State defense limited the Pitt attack to a .103 (31-19-116) hitting mark and held a 7-5 edge in blocks and a 60-53 advantage in digs. BSU also served up four aces, compared to none for the Panthers.
The teams opened the match by playing to a 6-6 stalemate, before kills from Grant and Baker helped spark a 6-1 BSU run to give the hosts a 12-7 advantage. Pitt would draw within three points, at 13-10, only to see BSU answer with another 6-1 run, which included an ace and kill from Bates. Ball State reached set-point at 24-14, before winning the frame 25-17 on a Baker smash to the Worthen Arena hardwood floor.
Ball State kept the momentum going in the second set, building a 5-2 edge thanks in part to a pair of kills from Scott. Pitt would pull within two on the next play, but back-to-back Baker blasts set the tone for the remainder of the set. BSU went on to win the game 25-14 on a kill from Scott.
Pitt looked determined to force a fourth set, scoring the first three points of the third game, and maintaining an 8-6 advantage. However, a Grant kill and a block and kill from Marx helped shift the momentum back to the Cardinals as they posted the next five points to pull ahead 11-8.
Pittsburgh managed to battle back within one, at 11-10, but back-to-back kills from Marx ended the threat as BSU went on to pull ahead 19-11. The Cardinals reached match-point at 24-16 off the arm of freshman setter Jenna Spadafora (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) who produced perhaps the hardest kill of the night with a rocket shot to the floor. Grant would then close the set (25-16) and the match (3-0) out with a kill on the next rally.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Saturday, when it battles both Wright State (11 a.m.) and Wyoming (7 p.m.) in the second and final day of the Ball State Tournament.
