Ball State University
17-12 (11-5MAC)
Akron
8-23 (2-14MAC)
Volleyball Closes MAC Play With 3-1 Win Over Akron
November 16, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team closed the 2014 regular season with a 3-1 (25-15, 18-25, 25-17, 25-22) win over Akron Saturday night in Mid-American Conference action at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (17-12/11-5 MAC) now turn their attention to next week's MAC Tournament where it will enter as the No. 4 seed and have a first-round bye before playing the winner of No. 5 Western Michigan vs. No. 8 Buffalo. Ball State's first match in the tournament is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Akron always seems to play well against us, and tonight was no exception,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said. “I was proud of the way our team fought back in game four. It looked like we were heading to a fifth set, trailing 20-16, but all of a sudden our players stepped up when push came to shove. It was not one of our better matches, but we got a good performance from Alex, who was our saving grace tonight. It was just a hard-fought match, one of those you are thankful to come out with a win.”
After Ball State won the first set 25-15 without relinquishing the lead, the Zips (8-23/2-14 MAC) came to life in the second. Akron took its first lead of the match at 4-3, and with the score tied at 15, posted three consecutive points to pull ahead for good in a 25-18 victory.
With the match tied at one set apiece, the Cardinals used the hot serving of redshirt junior outside hitter Alex Fuelling (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont/Morehead State) to take control of the third frame. With Ball State clinging to a 15-12 lead, Fuelling went back to the service line and nailed three straight aces to push the score to 18-12. Ball State went on to win the set 25-17 on a solo block from Fuelling.
Akron looked poised to force a fifth frame, leading 20-16 late in the fourth set. However, a timely kill from redshirt junior middle attacker Kelly Hopkins (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) sent Fuelling back to the service line where she served up seven straight Ball State points to give the hosts match-point at 24-20. Akron kept its season alive for two more rallies, but a block from redshirt freshman outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) and Hopkins ended the contest.
Fuelling finished the night with a career-high six service aces and added a match-best 21 digs, six more than the next closest competitor. She also blasted five kills and capped the third set with a solo block.
Mangapora led all players with 11 kills, while Hopkins was the only other player in double figures at 10. Hopkins added a team-best four total blocks (one solo and three assists), while Mangapora recorded three block assists.
Junior setter Jenna Spadafora (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) guided the Ball State offense to a .202 (48-25-114) attack percentage for the match, handing out 38 assists to go along with four kills and four digs.
Julie Shallman led the Akron offense with eight kills, while Brenna Mack recorded a team-high 11 digs. Overall, the Ball State defense limited the Zips' attack to a .117 (35-22-111) rate of success on the night.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
