Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
9-13, 3-5MAC
Kent State
12-8, 6-2MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 25 | 13 | 25 | 25 | 9 | 2 |
| Kent State | 13 | 25 | 22 | 27 | 15 | 3 |
Volleyball Loses Another Tough Five-Setter At Kent State
October 18, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio - - In another strong performance against one of the Mid-American Conference East Division's top teams, the Ball State women's volleyball team fell two points short in a 3-2 (13-25, 25-13, 22-25, 27-25, 15-9) loss at Kent State's M.A.C Center Saturday night.
The Cardinals (9-13 / 3-5 MAC) entered the weekend with a 5-1 record in five set matches this season, but fell one point shy in Friday's five-set loss to league-leading Ohio and was two points away from winning Saturday's match versus the Golden Flashes (12-8 / 6-2 MAC).
“For the second straight night, we had a chance to pick up a big road win against one of the top teams in the MAC,” sixth-year head coach Steve Shondell said. “Unfortunately, we could not find a way to muster the final points we needed to win. As well as we played this weekend, it is heartbreaking to not have a win to show for it. Our team continues to make progress every week and demonstrated this weekend how well we are capable of playing. We are very excited about our future, and returning home to play six of our final eight matches in Worthen Arena.
After the teams traded 25-13 wins in the first two sets, the third was a battle early with the teams playing to a 14-14 stalemate. Ball State was able to build a little momentum, pulling ahead 20-16 thanks in part to kills from senior outside Alex Fuelling (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont /Morehead State) and sophomore right side Jessica Lindsey (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East). However, KSU would battle back within two, at 21-19.
Luckily, a pair of kills from freshman outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) helped the Cardinals reclaim control of the set at 23-20. A Lindsey kill would give Ball State set point, at 24-21, while a Kent State ball handling error ended the frame at 25-22.
The fourth set was another tough battle, with the teams playing to a 22-22 tie. Kent State scored the next two points, only to have back-to-back Ball State blocks even the score at 24-24. After the teams traded the next two points, a costly Ball State service error gave the Golden Flashes their second opportunity to push the match to a fifth frame. KSU then capitalized with a block to win the set 27-25.
Playing in its second five-set match in two days, the Cardinals could not find the energy to push through in the fifth game against a fresher Kent State team which was coming off a sweep of Toledo the night before. KSU scored the first two points and never trailed, eventually turning an 8-7 advantage into a 15-9 victory.
Fuelling led the Ball State offense with 16 kills and a season-high .395 (16-1-38) attack percentage, while also collecting 11 digs for her seventh kill/dig double-double of the year. Lindsey was not far behind, recording a career-high 12 kills to go along with three block assists.
Senior middle Kelly Hopkins (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) led the Ball State defense with six total blocks (one solo and five assists), while also producing eight kills. Senior libero Kati Vasalakis (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led the Ball State backcourt with 20 digs, while senior setter Jenna Spadafora (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) fell one kill shy of her second career triple-double with nine kills, 13 digs and 44 assists. The effort marked Spadafora's team-leading 10th double-double of the season.
Overall, the Ball State offense finished the match with a .206 (61-26-170) attack percentage, while Kent State hit .252 (62-22-159). The Golden Flashes also held a 77-to-67 lead in digs and an 11.0-to-10.0 advantage in team blocks. The Cardinals managed a 4-to-3 edge in service aces, behind a career-high three aces from freshman defensive specialist Carly Cappello (Whiting, Ind./Bishop Noll Institute).
Bridget Wilhelm and Kelsey Bittinger led Kent State's attack with 14 kills each, while KSU libero Challen Geraghty notched a match-high 23 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action next Friday (Oct. 24), when it opens a four-match homestand versus Miami in a 7 p.m. first serve which will be broadcast live on ESPN3. The match will also serve a Ball State's “Dig Pink” match, with the Cardinals once again teaming up with the Side-Out Foundation to take donations for the battle against breast cancer. Fans looking to help support the cause can donate to the Side-Out Foundation at the following link: https://www.side-out.org/cb/campaigns/campaign/10584
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
