Ball State University
7-7, 1-0MAC
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Western Michigan
8-6, 0-1MAC
Volleyball Opens MAC Play With 3-2 Win At WMU
September 27, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - - In another nail-biting finish, the Ball State women's volleyball team opened league play with a hard-fought 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 18-16) victory at Western Michigan's University Arena Friday night.
The defending Mid-American Conference West Division Co-Champion Cardinals (7-7 / 1-0 MAC) led the fifth frame 14-12, only to have the Broncos (8-6 / 0-1 MAC) rally back to reach match-point at 15-14. A kill from redshirt junior middle hitter Kelly Hopkins (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) kept Ball State alive, while three WMU attacking errors helped the Cardinals escape Kalamazoo with their first MAC-opening road win versus the Broncos in four tries.
“In a roller coaster match that seemed like we were going uphill much more than downhill, our team found a way to come back and win a thrilling fifth set.,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said. “Trailing early in the fifth, our team dug deep to come fighting back against a very talented Western Michigan team. Tonight's win was truly a total team effort, as many players stepped up at various times throughout the match.”
In Friday's win at Western Michigan, the Ball State offense was led by 23.0 points from redshirt junior middle hitter Hayley Benson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley), who tied for match-high honors with 16 kills and six total blocks (two solo and four assists). Benson also finished the match with a .429 (16-4-28) attack percentage and three service aces.
In addition to Benson, redshirt freshman outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) logged career-highs of 16 kills and six total blocks (five solo and one assists). Her five solo blocks were also the most for a Ball State player this season.
“When the dust settled and the smoke finally cleared, it may have been our blocking that turned the tide,” Shondell continued. “Sabrina's five solo blocks gave us a much-needed defensive spark, and Hayley's big block late in set five was monumental. As a coach, I am extremely proud of the mental toughness our team displayed in our opening road match of MAC play.”
As a team, the Cardinals connected for a season-best .290 (69-27-145) attack percentage in the victory and also logged a season-best 15.0 total blocks.
Reigning MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week redshirt junior libero Alex Fuelling (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont/Morehead State) led all players with 14 digs, while junior setter Jenna Spadafora (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) dished out a match-best 55 assists, while adding eight kills, a .500 (8-2-12) attack percentage and five digs.
Alysia Baznik led the Western Michigan attack with 14 kills, while Sierra Hubbard-Neil collected a team-high 10 digs. WMU finished the match hitting .242 (54-24-124) as a team.
Ball State played to a 9-7 lead in the opening set, only to see an 11-1 run give the Broncos control of the scoreboard at 18-10. The teams would go on to trade the final 13 points as Western Michigan won the frame 25-16.
With the score of the second set tied at 13, a five-point run looked to give WMU the momentum at 18-13. However, the Cardinals answered to tie the score at 21. With the score tied at 22, back-to-back kills from Mangapora give Ball State set point, while a Benson marker ended the frame at 25-22.
The teams played to a 14-14 stalemate in the third frame, before the Broncos edged ahead by four at 22-18. The Cardinals brought the score within one, at 22-21, only to see Western Michigan answer with the next three points to close out the frame at 25-21.
With the score of the fourth set tied at 10, a pair of blocks from Benson helped Ball State post the next four points and eventually pull ahead by six at 17-11. WMU would battle back within three, at 17-14, only to see a kill from Spadafora and some strong serving from Benson help the Cardinals pull ahead 22-14. Ball State went on to win the set 25-18 on a kill from Mangapora.
The fifth set was a back-and-forth battle early, as the teams played to an 8-8 tie. A 4-1 run gave the Cardinals a 12-9 edge, and Ball State reached match-point at 14-12. However, Western Michigan rallied with the next three points to turn the momentum to their side of the court.
Hopkins kept the Cardinals alive with a clutch kill, tying the score at 15, while a solo block from redshirt sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove/Cincinnati) gave Ball State its third match-point at 16-15. After a WMU block tied the score once again, the Broncos committed back-to-back attack errors to help the Cardinals escape with an 18-16 fifth-set victory.
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes its 12-match road swing Saturday, when it travels to Northern Illinois for an 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT divisional showdown against the Huskies.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
