Ball State University
1-15
Wright State vs. Pittsburgh
9-4
Women?s Volleyball Captures Ball State Tournament Title
September 16, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Behind another solid offensive effort, the Ball State (7-6) women's volleyball team took home the Ball State Tournament title with a 3-1 (25-14, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23) victory over Wyoming (11-3) Saturday evening at Worthen Arena.
"I am extremely proud of the way the team played this weekend," said Ball State head coach Steve Shondell. "We put together three really solid matches, including a win over a strong Wyoming team tonight. It's great to see the results of our hard work in practice show up on the court come match time. Our play over the last two days should give us a confidence boost going into conference play next week."
For her efforts in the two-day tournament, Ball State senior outside hitter Kara Bates (Bradley, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais Community/Maryland) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after racking up a tournament-best 40 kills (4.00 kills-per-set), including 14 in Saturday night's championship match against Wyoming.
Joining Bates on the all-tournament team from Ball State was junior libero Catie Fredrich (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) who led all players with 54 digs (5.40 digs-per-set) in the tournament, including a match-high 22 tonight's victory.
Representing the tournament runner-up Wyoming was Jodi Purdy and Reese Plante, while Pittsburgh's Margy Action and Wright State's Heidi Splinter rounded out the all-tournament squad.
In addition to being one of four Cardinals to record double-figure kills in the championship match versus the Cowgirls, Bates racked up a season-high 18 digs for her second double-double of the tournament to help the BSU backcourt out-dig Wyoming 77-55 in the match.
Junior opposite Lauren Grant (Eagan, Minn./Eastview/Cincinnati) tied Bates for match-high honors with a season-best 14 kills of her own, while junior middle hitter Mindy Marx (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) added 11 kills and senior transfer middle hitter Lisa Scott (McLean, Va. /Langley/Maryland) blasted 10.
Marx would also end the night tied for match-high honors with six total blocks, while hitting for a .556 (11-1-18) rate of success. Scott hit .348 (10-2-23) for the night with one block assist.
Junior setter Jacqui Seidel (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) led the Ball State offense to a solid .264 (58-21-140) hitting mark for the night, while picking up her seventh assist/dig double-double of the season with a career-high 50 assists and a career-high tying 16 digs. For the tournament, Seidel guided BSU to a .304 (158-45-372) hitting effort.
Purdy led the Wyoming attack with 14 kills, while Camille Coffman added 10. Becky Stewart posted a team-high 15 digs.
Thanks to its solid defensive play, the Cardinals limited the Cowgirls to a .192 (49-19-156) hitting mark for the night. Wyoming did have a 9.5-8 edge in total blocks, while serving up three aces to BSU's one.
The Ball State women's volleyball team opens Mid-American Conference play Thursday, when it hosts Toledo at 7 p.m. in a match that will be televised live by the Ball State Sports Network.
