Ball State University
12-9 (6-2MAC)
Kent State
11-10 (3-5MAC)
Spadafora Sets Volleyball To Sweep Of Kent State
October 19, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team turned in a season-best .358 (48-10-106) attack percentage into a dominating 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-23) victory over Kent State Saturday night in Mid-American Conference action at Worthen Arena.
In leading the Cardinals (12-9 / 6-2 MAC) to their best attacking mark of the year, junior setter Jenna Spadafora (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) dished out 44 assists to help four of the team's attackers hit .400-or-better against the Golden Flashes (11-10 / 3-5 MAC).
“I think Ohio gave us a little bit of a wakeup call, and I am really pleased with the way we responded after an emotional loss last night,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said. “Jenna ran the best offense she has run this season. We were in a nice rhythm throughout the evening, and the credit goes to Jenna and our passers for helping deliver our best offensive match of the year.”
Ball State wasted little time taking control of the scoreboard, scoring the first four points of the opening set, while playing to an 11-3 advantage. The Cardinals claimed their first 10-point lead of the set at 18-8, and went on to win the game 25-13.
Set two was tight early, with Kent State holding a 10-8 lead. However, a kill from Spadafora and back-to-back blasts from redshirt freshman outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) helped the Cardinals post the next five points and pull ahead for good. Ball State eventually won the frame 25-18 on a kill from redshirt junior outside hitter Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove/Cincinnati).
With the score of the third set tied at 13, a kill from redshirt junior middle hitter Hayley Benson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) and a pair of service aces from junior libero Kati Vasalakis (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) helped the Cardinals to pull ahead 18-13. However, the Golden Flashes battled back to tie the score at 20 and again at 22. Ball State would close out the match from there, scoring three of the final four points to win the frame 25-23 on a Benson shot off the Kent State block.
Benson and Mangapora finished the night tied for match-high honors with 12 kills apiece. Benson's match-best .667 (12-0-18) attack percentage tied her career-high, while Mangapora's .500 (12-1-22) rate of success was a career-best effort.
Redshirt junior middle hitter Kelly Hopkins (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) also turned in a strong offensive effort by hitting .571 (9-1-14), while redshirt junior opposite Amanda Raker (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian/Butler) finished the match at .417 (7-2-12).
On defense, the Cardinals limited Kent State to a .110 (32-19-118) attack percentage led by the backcourt play of Vasalakis who produced a match-best 17 digs. As a team, Ball State out-dug the Golden Flashes 56 to 44.
Liz Reikow led the KSU attack with 11 kills, while Challen Geraghty collected a team-high 15 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to the road next weekend for matches at Miami (Friday) and Bowling Green (Saturday). Both contests are set for 7 p.m. first serves.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
