Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
10-13 (4-5MAC)
Miami (Oh)
14-8 (6-3MAC)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 19 | 22 | 21 | 0 |
| Ball State | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Kitchel Leads Volleyball in Sweep of Miami
October 24, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - There appears to be no place like home for the Ball State women's volleyball team, which earned another win over one of the Mid-American Conference's top teams with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-21) sweep of Miami Friday night in Worthen Arena.
Entering the contest on a five-match losing streak, the Cardinals (10-13 / 4-5 MAC) continued to prove they can compete with the league's top teams by sweeping a RedHawks (14-8 / 6-3 MAC) squad which entered the week in second place in the league's East Division. Earlier this season, the Cardinals also swept the MAC West Division leader Northern Illinois by a score of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) in an Oct. 2 showdown at Worthen Arena.
“Tonight we were able to defeat a very physical and extremely well-coached Miami team,” sixth-year head coach Steve Shondell said. “After losing two heartbreaking matches last weekend to a couple outstanding teams, it felt good to finally be rewarded for a good team performance. Playing six of the first eight MAC matches on the road is a tough task for any team. To be able to return home and play in front of a big crowd that was very boisterous and cheering us on, was exactly what our team needed.”
The Cardinals, which lost a pair of five-set matches to MAC East Division leader Ohio (Oct. 16) and second-place team Kent State (Oct. 17) last weekend, were determined to make a statement early in Friday's contest with the RedHawks. They did just that by scoring five of the matches' first six points. After Miami battled back to take a one-point lead, at 13-12, the Cardinals reclaimed the momentum with a six-point run which was aided by a solo block and kill from redshirt junior outside attacker Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove/Cincinnati).
From there, the Cardinals cruised to a 25-19 opening-set victory, with senior outside attacker Alex Fuelling (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont /Morehead State) depositing back-to-back kills to end the set.
Ball State continued to dominate play early in the second set, as a pair of kills from both Kitchel and senior middle Amanda Raker (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian/Butler) helped the hosts jump out to an 8-2 advantage. The Cardinals led by as many as nine points, at 18-9, before the RedHawks put together an 11-5 run to pull with three. Ball State's lead held, however, as senior middle Kelly Hopkins (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) provided a kill to give the Cardinals set-point, at 24-20, before ending the frame with another marker, at 25-22.
With the Cardinals holding a 5-3 lead in the third set, the RedHawks put together their strongest run of the match, notching eight straight points to pull ahead 11-5. Ball State would not be deterred, battling back to tie the score at 14 before four straight Kitchel kills gave the hosts an 18-14 edge. Miami would make one more run at the Cardinals, knotting the score at 19, but four consecutive RedHawks miscues effectively ended the match.
After Fuelling's ninth and final kill gave Ball State match-point, at 24-20, another Miami attack error ended the set two rallies later, at 25-21, and helped Ball State improve to 6-1 in Worthen Arena this season.
Kitchel led the Ball State offense with 12 kills while connecting for a .310 (12-3-29) attack percentage. She also recorded a pair of blocks and three digs. Fuelling fell one kill shy of her eighth double-double of the year by adding nine kills and 11 digs.
“Kitchel put together her best match of the year,” added Shondell. “She was huge tonight, not only with her attacking, but she did a good job defending Miami's hitters. It was a really special night for Kitchel, but overall it was a great team effort which carried us to victory.”
Senior libero Kati Vasalakis (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her climb up the Ball State all-time digs list, finishing the night with a match-high 15 to raise her career total to 1,123 which ranks 10th in program history. Freshman defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) also had a strong defensive match, finishing with 10 digs to mark her fourth career contest with double-digit digs.
Overall, the Ball State offense connected for a .207 (41-17-116) attack percentage, with Hopkins hitting a team-best .462 (8-2-13) followed by Raker at .312 (7-2-16). The Cardinals also out-aced the RedHawks 6-to-2, with six different Ball State players serving up an ace.
Miami finished the night with a .165 (38-19-115) attack percentage, while holding a 58-to-56 edge in total digs. Paige Kill led the team with nine kills, while Mackenzie Zielinski and Krista Brakauskas each collected a team-best 12 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team continues its four-match home stand Saturday, when it hosts Bowling Green in another 7 p.m. first serve at Worthen Arena.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
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