Ball State University
13-11 (7-4MAC)
Northern Illinois
17-8 (10-1MAC)
Defense Lifts NIU Past Women?s Volleyball
November 01, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team could not get past a hot Northern Illinois defense Friday night, suffering a 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20) setback to the Huskies in a pivotal Mid-American Conference West Division showdown at Worthen Arena.
“Defense was the difference in tonight's match,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said. “I thought we played solid defense, but Northern Illinois' was superb. NIU took our best shots and really started to frustrate us by coming up with the ball time after time. They made some spectacular digs, and out-blocked us at the net.”
With the loss, the Cardinals (13-11 / 7-4 MAC) fall essentially four matches behind the Huskies (17-8 / 10-1) in the race for the MAC West Division crown with five matches remaining in the regular season. With NIU sweeping the season series, the Cardinals would have to win out and the Huskies would need to go either 1-4 or 0-5 for Ball State to claim the division title.
The Cardinals started the match strong, pulling out to a 5-1 lead and claiming a 25-21 opening-set victory. However, the Huskies defense settled in and managed out out-dig (55 to 40) and out-block (9 to 5) Ball State over the final three sets to claim the match victory.
For the first time this season, four Cardinals finished a match with double-digit kills, led by 13 from redshirt junior middle attacker Kelly Hopkins (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo). Hopkins also led the Ball State offense with a .435 (13-3-23) attack percentage and earned a team-high five total blocks (two solo and three assists).
Redshirt junior outside hitter Alex Fuelling (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont/Morehead State) logged her second consecutive double-double, with 12 kills and 10 digs. She also served up one of Ball State's four aces.
Redshirt junior middle blocker Hayley Benson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) and redshirt freshman outside attacker Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) each added 11 kills.
Junior setter Jenna Spadafora (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) led the Ball State offense to a .193 (56-25-161) attack percentage, dishing out 51 assists and adding 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the year. Junior libero Kati Vasalakis (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led the Cardinals' defense with 14 digs.
Northern Illinois finished the match with a .259 (54-19-135) attack percentage, with Mackenzie Roddy producing a match-high 18 kills. NIU libero Anna Brereton led all players with 22 digs. The Huskies held a 68 to 56 edge in digs and a 12.0 to 7.0 advantage in total blocks on the night.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Saturday, when it hosts Western Michigan for a 7 p.m. first serve which will be televised live by the Ball State Sports Network on WIPB-Muncie. The match will also be streamed for free on BallStateSports.com.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
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