Volleyball Zips Past Akron in Straight Sets

Sunday, November 6

Muncie, Ind.

1:00 PM

Ball State University

12-16 (8-6MAC)

Akron

8-14 (3-11MAC)

Akron

Ball State

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

November 06, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score WVB Box Score - Akron

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team used a season-best .327 (45-9-110) attack percentage to score a 3-0 (25-20, 29-27, 25-17) sweep over visiting Akron Sunday afternoon in Mid-American Conference play at Worthen Arena.

In picking up just its third three-set win of the season, the Cardinals improved to 12-16 (8-6 MAC) on the year and remain in a tight battle for the fourth seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament (Nov. 17-20). The Zips fell to 8-14 (3-11 MAC) with the loss.

"It feels good to get the win, especially against an Akron team which came into today on a hot streak with wins in three of its last four matches," first-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "It's nice to get our feet back underneath us after a tough loss at Toledo and to be back at home after five straight road matches. While we still have a ton of things to work on before the MAC Tournament, today was a step in the right direction. We stayed relaxed, we stayed in the game and we really played well today."

Leading the charge for the Ball State offense Sunday was freshman middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) who smashed a career-high 10 kills and connected for a team-leading .421 (10-2-19) attack percentage. She also scored three block assists to help the Cardinals hold an 11.0 to 3.0 advantage in total blocks.

"Sydnee worked really hard to get herself into good positions to attack," Miller added about the team's leading attacker Sunday. "I thought she did a really nice job of making herself an option and being up early every time to give McCallen a good window."

Also turning in a strong effort from the middle was redshirt sophomore Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) who led all players with six total blocks. Devoe also connected for eight kills and a .412 (8-1-17) attack percentage.

Sophomore right side Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) fell just shy of her ninth double-double of the season with eight kills and 11 digs. She also tallied three block assists.

Rounding out Ball State's top attackers on the afternoon were redshirt junior outside Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) and redshirt senior outside attacker Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) with seven kills apiece. Both players also recorded three total blocks, with one solo block and a pair of block assists each.

Junior setter McCallen Kennedy (Boca Raton, Fla./North Broward Preparatory School) guided the Ball State attack to its best effort of the season by dishing out a career-high 36 assists and scoring two kills of her own. She also served up a pair of aces and tallied two blocks and collected two digs in an all-around solid performance.

In the backcourt, freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led the Ball State defense with 12 digs and was perfect in reception, successfully passing all 17 serves she faced. Sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) and freshman defensive specialist Hannah Smith (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) each finished the day with nine digs.

The Ball State women's volleyball team closes out the 2016 regular season next weekend with home matches versus Western Michigan (Friday) and Northern Illinois (Saturday). Both contests are slated for 7 p.m. first serves and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

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 -