Ball State University
IUPUI
Volleyball Suffers 3-1 Setback to IUPUI in Home Opener
August 31, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team looked like an offensive juggernaut in the first two sets Wednesday night in its home opener versus IUPUI. Unfortunately, the Cardinals (0-4) could not keep up the pace over the final two sets and ultimately fell to the Jaguars (2-2) by a score of 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 25-16) at Worthen Arena.
Over the first two sets, the Ball State offense connected for a .338 (33-9-71) rate of success with redshirt junior outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) setting a blistering pace of .588 (11-1-17). In fact, the Cardinals offense hit a season-best .341 (19-5-41) in the opening set and turned in its second-best effort of the season in the second frame at .333 (14-4-30).
While the Cardinals ultimately finished the match with a season-best .214 (53-23-140) attack percentage, the Ball State offense faltered over the final two sets with marks of .030 (9-8-33) and .139 (11-6-36), respectively.
"We took too may points off tonight and we were picking and choosing when we wanted to work hard," first-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "We are not going to win many ball games with a young team if we continue to play like that. Tonight, we can definitely take away that if you don't work hard, you're going to get beat."
Mangapora finished the match with a team-high 13 kills and added 11 digs for her first career double-double. She also tallied a pair of blocks and a .917 (30-for-33) reception percentage after facing a team-high 33 serves from IUPUI.
Sophomore outside hitter Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) finished the match with double-figure kills for the fourth consecutive match, blasting 11 total markers with five coming in the opening set. She also earned a pair of solo blocks and a block assist.
In the backcourt, freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her solid play by leading the Ball State defense with 16 digs and a perfect reception percentage on 15 attempts. Overall, the Ball State backcourt turned in a strong performance and out-dug the visiting Jaguars 65 to 48.
Avila was aided in the backcourt by freshman defensive specialist Hannah Smith (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) who collected a career-high 13 digs and sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) who earned 11. Adding Mangapora's 11 digs to the mix, four Ball State players earned double-figure digs in the same match for the first time this season.
The Ball State women's volleyball team will have a quick turnaround this week, as it opens play in the Omaha Classic with matches versus host Omaha (1 p.m. CT) and Drake (5 p.m. CT) Friday. The Cardinals close the two-day event against South Dakota (Noon CT) Saturday.
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 (Adult - $6 / Youth - $4) or season tickets (Adult - $39 / Youth - $25) by calling (888-BSU-TICKET) or visiting the Ball State's Stoops Buick/GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena.
- BallStateSports.com -
