Ball State University Athletics

Photo by: Brad Caudill - Ball State Athletics
Volleyball Ends Season with 3-0 Loss to WMU in MAC Tournament
November 17, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
DEKALB, Ill. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team saw its 2016 season come to a close Thursday evening with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-17) loss to Western Michigan in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament hosted by Northern Illinois at Victor E. Court.
Redshirt junior outside attacker Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) led the Cardinals (13-18) offense with 13 kills and hit team-best .407 (13-2-27), but it was not enough to lift the team to its third win of the season over the Broncos (12-18).
Sophomore right side Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) also turned in a solid performance on offense, connecting for nine kills and hitting at a .400 (9-1-20) clip. She also led Ball State's defense with 14 digs.
Freshman middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) started the match with a kill, while the teams battled to an early 9-9 tie. Unfortunately, the Broncos separated themselves with an 8-3 run to pull ahead 17-12. Ball State battled back within two, at 19-17, after an ace from sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North). However, WMU went on to close the frame 25-19 with a 6-2 run.
The Broncos continued to carry the momentum in the second set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and pulling ahead by 10 points at 13-3. Trailing 19-12, the Cardinals used four straight kills, including a pair of markers from sophomore outside hitter Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland), to claw back within three at 19-16. That was a close as Ball State would get as WMU won the frame 25-19.
The Cardinals came out strong after the 10-minute break, as a pair of kills from Mangapora and an ace from VanBeek gave the home team in the match a 3-0 edge. Unfortunately, WMU answered with the next six and led by three at 11-8. While kills from Dunn, Mangapora and VanBeek allowed the Cardinals to tie the score at 11, it was not enough to stop WMU's momentum as they scored the next four points and won the set 25-17.
VanBeek capped her freshman campaign with five kills, while freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) closed her first year with 10 digs.
In her final match, senior Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) led the Ball State defense with a pair of block assists while adding a kill and a dig. Kitchel finished her four-year playing career with 615 kills, 183 digs and 115 total blocks.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
Redshirt junior outside attacker Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) led the Cardinals (13-18) offense with 13 kills and hit team-best .407 (13-2-27), but it was not enough to lift the team to its third win of the season over the Broncos (12-18).
Sophomore right side Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) also turned in a solid performance on offense, connecting for nine kills and hitting at a .400 (9-1-20) clip. She also led Ball State's defense with 14 digs.
Freshman middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) started the match with a kill, while the teams battled to an early 9-9 tie. Unfortunately, the Broncos separated themselves with an 8-3 run to pull ahead 17-12. Ball State battled back within two, at 19-17, after an ace from sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North). However, WMU went on to close the frame 25-19 with a 6-2 run.
The Broncos continued to carry the momentum in the second set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and pulling ahead by 10 points at 13-3. Trailing 19-12, the Cardinals used four straight kills, including a pair of markers from sophomore outside hitter Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland), to claw back within three at 19-16. That was a close as Ball State would get as WMU won the frame 25-19.
The Cardinals came out strong after the 10-minute break, as a pair of kills from Mangapora and an ace from VanBeek gave the home team in the match a 3-0 edge. Unfortunately, WMU answered with the next six and led by three at 11-8. While kills from Dunn, Mangapora and VanBeek allowed the Cardinals to tie the score at 11, it was not enough to stop WMU's momentum as they scored the next four points and won the set 25-17.
VanBeek capped her freshman campaign with five kills, while freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) closed her first year with 10 digs.
In her final match, senior Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) led the Ball State defense with a pair of block assists while adding a kill and a dig. Kitchel finished her four-year playing career with 615 kills, 183 digs and 115 total blocks.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
WMU
BSU
Kills
48
36
Errors
8
17
Attempts
108
115
Hitting %
.370
.165
Points
60.0
42.0
Assists
45
34
Aces
3
4
Blocks
9.0
2.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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