Saturday, September 10
Morehead, Ky.
11:30 AM
Ball State University
2-9
3
vs
2
Appalachian State
2-8
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ball State
21
25
29
25
15
3
Appalachian State
25
17
31
21
9
2
Volleyball’s Defense Shines in Five-Set Win over Appalachian State
September 10, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
MOREHEAD, Ky. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team capitalized on its defense's ability to keep the ball alive Saturday, rallying for a 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 29-31, 25-21, 15-9) win over Appalachian State to end play in the Eagle Challenge hosted by Morehead State at Wetherby Gym.
In picking up its second consecutive victory, the Cardinals (2-9) defense recorded 110 digs which is the most in a match for Ball State since the team collected 123 versus Toledo on Sept. 28, 2006.
Freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led all players with a career-high 36 digs, which ties as the 19th-best single match total in program history. It's the best individual effort in a match since Oct. 29, 2010 when then-senior Alyssa Rio collected a career-high 44 digs versus Western Michigan. Avila also finished the match with a .967 reception percentage, successfully passing 28 of the 29 serves she faced.
Avila was one of two Cardinals named to the Eagle Challenge All-Tournament team after finishing the two-day event with a 4.54 digs-per-set average and a .954 reception percentage. She also handed out a career-high eight assists and served up a career-best three service aces in Saturday's win over the Mountaineers (2-8).
Redshirt junior outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) was also named to the Eagle Challenge All-Tournament team after blasting a career-high 22 kills Saturday. She saved her best play for the tournament's final set, as she tallied five kills and was credited with a solo block to turn a 5-5 tie into an 11-6 Ball State advantage. Mangapora finished the set with six kills and closed the two-day tournament with a team-high 3.31 kills-per-set average and six total blocks.
Freshman setter Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) also turned in a solid performance in the tournament finale, dishing out a career-high 57 assists and collecting 15 digs for her third double-double of the weekend and her seventh of the season. She also set the Ball State offense to a season-high .265 (73-23-189) attack percentage versus Appalachian State, including tying a career-high with six kills of her own.
In addition to the strong backcourt play from Avila and Seaman, freshman defensive specialist Hannah Smith (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) collected a career-high 18 digs and earned a perfect reception percentage on 15 attempts. Sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) added 10 digs and a perfect reception percentage on 10 attempts as the Cardinals finished the match with four players logging double-digit digs for the fourth time this season.
Ball State also had four players collect double-digit kills for the first time this season Saturday, led by Mangapora's career-high effort. Senior outside Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) was second with 13 markers, while sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) and sophomore middle hitter Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) earned 10 apiece.
The Cardinals' 73 kills as a team were the most for the program since an 80-kill outing versus Toledo on Nov. 7, 2013.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns home Friday to open the two-day Active Ankle Challenge. The opening day of the tournament will see the Cardinals battle UNCG (10 a.m.) and Valparaiso (8 p.m.). Ball State's match against the Crusaders will be carried live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.
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 -
In picking up its second consecutive victory, the Cardinals (2-9) defense recorded 110 digs which is the most in a match for Ball State since the team collected 123 versus Toledo on Sept. 28, 2006.
Freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led all players with a career-high 36 digs, which ties as the 19th-best single match total in program history. It's the best individual effort in a match since Oct. 29, 2010 when then-senior Alyssa Rio collected a career-high 44 digs versus Western Michigan. Avila also finished the match with a .967 reception percentage, successfully passing 28 of the 29 serves she faced.
Avila was one of two Cardinals named to the Eagle Challenge All-Tournament team after finishing the two-day event with a 4.54 digs-per-set average and a .954 reception percentage. She also handed out a career-high eight assists and served up a career-best three service aces in Saturday's win over the Mountaineers (2-8).
Redshirt junior outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) was also named to the Eagle Challenge All-Tournament team after blasting a career-high 22 kills Saturday. She saved her best play for the tournament's final set, as she tallied five kills and was credited with a solo block to turn a 5-5 tie into an 11-6 Ball State advantage. Mangapora finished the set with six kills and closed the two-day tournament with a team-high 3.31 kills-per-set average and six total blocks.
Freshman setter Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) also turned in a solid performance in the tournament finale, dishing out a career-high 57 assists and collecting 15 digs for her third double-double of the weekend and her seventh of the season. She also set the Ball State offense to a season-high .265 (73-23-189) attack percentage versus Appalachian State, including tying a career-high with six kills of her own.
In addition to the strong backcourt play from Avila and Seaman, freshman defensive specialist Hannah Smith (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) collected a career-high 18 digs and earned a perfect reception percentage on 15 attempts. Sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) added 10 digs and a perfect reception percentage on 10 attempts as the Cardinals finished the match with four players logging double-digit digs for the fourth time this season.
Ball State also had four players collect double-digit kills for the first time this season Saturday, led by Mangapora's career-high effort. Senior outside Mackenzie Kitchel (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) was second with 13 markers, while sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) and sophomore middle hitter Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) earned 10 apiece.
The Cardinals' 73 kills as a team were the most for the program since an 80-kill outing versus Toledo on Nov. 7, 2013.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns home Friday to open the two-day Active Ankle Challenge. The opening day of the tournament will see the Cardinals battle UNCG (10 a.m.) and Valparaiso (8 p.m.). Ball State's match against the Crusaders will be carried live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.
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 -
Team Stats
BSU
APP
Kills
73
68
Errors
23
26
Attempts
189
214
Hitting %
.265
.196
Points
85.0
76.0
Assists
70
67
Aces
6
3
Blocks
6.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
22
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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