Kennedy’s Strong Play Lifts Volleyball to 3-0 Sweep at Bowling Green

Friday, October 21

Bowling Green, Ohio

5:00 PM

Ball State University

9-14 (5-4MAC)

Bowling Green

15-7 (5-4MAC)

Ball State

Bowling Green

Kennedy’s Strong Play Lifts Volleyball to 3-0 Sweep at Bowling Green

October 21, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score WVB Box Score - BGSU

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - - Junior setter McCallen Kennedy (Boca Raton, Fla./North Broward Preparatory School) made the most of her first career Mid-American Conference start, leading the Ball State women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-15) sweep at Bowling Green's Stroh Center Friday afternoon.

Along the way, Kennedy led the Cardinals (9-14 / 5-4 MAC) to a .282 (41-12-103) attack percentage and kept the Falcons (15-7 / 5-4) off balance on defense all night. Ball State's .282 team attack percentage was its second-best effort of the season and four different Cardinals finished the match hitting .381-or-better.

Ball State also turned in a solid all-around effort on defense, out-digging the league's top defensive squad 52 to 47. The Cardinals' play at the net was just as strong, as freshman middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind. / Illiana Christian) recorded a career-high six total blocks to help limit the MAC's top attacking team to a season-low .060 (31-24-117) rate of success.

Prior to Friday, BGSU's worst attack effort of the season was a .128 (45-27-141) mark in a three set loss to MAC West Division leader Northern Illinois (Sept. 24). All told, the Cardinals out-blocked the Falcons 8.0 to 3.0 for the match.

On her way to running one of Ball State's most efficient offensive efforts of the season, Kennedy dished out a career-high 35 assists and ranked second in the match with 12 digs for her first career double-double. She also tied her career-high with two service aces.

Sophomore right side Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) continued her solid offensive run, leading the Ball State offense with 11 kills and scoring a .409 (11-2-22) attack percentage. She also led all players with 13 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.

Redshirt junior outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) also had a strong offensive night, smashing nine kills and hitting .381 (9-1-21) in the victory. VanBeek ranked third on the team with seven kills, while redshirt sophomore middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) and redshirt senior outside attacker Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) each scored six.

Rounding out Ball State's top contributors on defense was freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) who scored 12 digs and a perfect reception percentage in 13 attempts.

The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Saturday, when it travels to MAC East Division leader Miami for another 5 p.m. first serve.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.

Ball State volleyball fans can purchase single match tickets (Adult - $6 / Youth - $4) by calling (888-BSU-TICKET) or visiting the Ball State's Stoops Buick/GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena.

- BallStateSports.com -