Sunday, November 6
Muncie, Ind.
1:00 PM
Ball State University
12-16 (8-6MAC)
3
vs
0
Akron
8-14 (3-11MAC)
1
2
3
F
Akron
20
27
17
0
Ball State
25
29
25
3
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Volleyball Zips Past Akron in Straight Sets
November 06, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
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.
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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.
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"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. Â We stayed relaxed, we stayed in the game and we really played well today." Â
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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.
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"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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
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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.
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- BallStateSports.com -
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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.
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"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. Â We stayed relaxed, we stayed in the game and we really played well today." Â
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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.
Â
"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."
Â
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
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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.
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- BallStateSports.com -
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Team Stats
AKRON
BSU
Kills
47
45
Errors
20
9
Attempts
121
110
Hitting %
.223
.327
Points
52.0
60.0
Assists
46
42
Aces
2
4
Blocks
3.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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