Wednesday, September 7
Muncie, Ind.
7:00 PM
Ball State University
0-8
0
vs
3
Butler
5-4
1
2
3
F
Butler
25
25
25
3
Ball State
18
17
21
0
Kate Avila led all players with 14 digs Wednesday vs. Butler
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Avila Continues to Impress in Volleyball’s Loss to Butler
September 07, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Freshman libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her strong play in the backcourt, but it was not enough to carry the Ball State women's volleyball team which suffered a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21) setback to Butler Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.
While Avila led all player with 14 digs and logged a perfect reception percentage (12-for-12) for the third consecutive match, the Cardinals (0-8) defense as a whole surrendered 11 service aces in the first meeting with the Bulldogs (5-4) since the 2006 season.
"We have to pass better," first-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "We really didn't give ourselves a chance, especially in the second set. Butler is a solid team and they came in focused and played tough throughout the match. We had moments where we played hard, but we also had too many moments where we let up. That is a part of our maturity. As a young team, that is one thing you have to learn. At this level, teams don't give you easy points. You have to earn them all. It takes toughness and a real emotional stability to maintain focus every single point."
Since taking over as the team's libero in the second match of the season, Avila has climbed to 10th in the Mid-American Conference with a 3.44 digs-per-set average and is the top-ranked passer among the league's leading defenders with a .979 (139-for-142) reception percentage. She has collected double-figure digs in each of the last seven matches and has 110 for the year.
In addition to the struggles passing Wednesday, the Cardinals also had a tough time shutting down one of the nation's top attackers in Butler's Amber Logan. Logan smashed a match-high 13 kills after entering the night ranked 17th among all NCAA Division I players with a 4.76 kills-per-set average.
"We have to keep working to slow down opposing left side attackers," Miller added. "We knew Amber was a big part of their offense coming into the match and she connected for 13 kills. That part of our defense continues to be our Achilles' heel. We have to make a point of adjusting and limiting the big left side attackers which we haven't seemed to slow down so far this season."
Ball State's offense was led by senior outside hitter Mackenzie Kitchel (Center Grove, Ind./Greenwood) who recorded eight kills and hit .250 (8-3-20). It's the first time Kitchel has led the Cardinals offense in kills this season and marks the team-leading 14th time she has accomplished the task over her career. She also earned three digs and a block assist on defense, while passing .941 (15-for-16).
Sophomore middle hitter Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) paced Ball State at the net with a match-high four total blocks (one solo and three assists). She also served up two of the Cardinals' three service aces and scored four kills.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Friday, when it opens play in the Eagles Challenge hosted by Morehead State with matches versus Northern Kentucky (1 p.m.) and the host Eagles (7 p.m.). The Cardinals conclude their final road pre-conference tournament with a Saturday match versus Appalachian State (11:30 a.m.).
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 -
While Avila led all player with 14 digs and logged a perfect reception percentage (12-for-12) for the third consecutive match, the Cardinals (0-8) defense as a whole surrendered 11 service aces in the first meeting with the Bulldogs (5-4) since the 2006 season.
"We have to pass better," first-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "We really didn't give ourselves a chance, especially in the second set. Butler is a solid team and they came in focused and played tough throughout the match. We had moments where we played hard, but we also had too many moments where we let up. That is a part of our maturity. As a young team, that is one thing you have to learn. At this level, teams don't give you easy points. You have to earn them all. It takes toughness and a real emotional stability to maintain focus every single point."
Since taking over as the team's libero in the second match of the season, Avila has climbed to 10th in the Mid-American Conference with a 3.44 digs-per-set average and is the top-ranked passer among the league's leading defenders with a .979 (139-for-142) reception percentage. She has collected double-figure digs in each of the last seven matches and has 110 for the year.
In addition to the struggles passing Wednesday, the Cardinals also had a tough time shutting down one of the nation's top attackers in Butler's Amber Logan. Logan smashed a match-high 13 kills after entering the night ranked 17th among all NCAA Division I players with a 4.76 kills-per-set average.
"We have to keep working to slow down opposing left side attackers," Miller added. "We knew Amber was a big part of their offense coming into the match and she connected for 13 kills. That part of our defense continues to be our Achilles' heel. We have to make a point of adjusting and limiting the big left side attackers which we haven't seemed to slow down so far this season."
Ball State's offense was led by senior outside hitter Mackenzie Kitchel (Center Grove, Ind./Greenwood) who recorded eight kills and hit .250 (8-3-20). It's the first time Kitchel has led the Cardinals offense in kills this season and marks the team-leading 14th time she has accomplished the task over her career. She also earned three digs and a block assist on defense, while passing .941 (15-for-16).
Sophomore middle hitter Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) paced Ball State at the net with a match-high four total blocks (one solo and three assists). She also served up two of the Cardinals' three service aces and scored four kills.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Friday, when it opens play in the Eagles Challenge hosted by Morehead State with matches versus Northern Kentucky (1 p.m.) and the host Eagles (7 p.m.). The Cardinals conclude their final road pre-conference tournament with a Saturday match versus Appalachian State (11:30 a.m.).
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
BU
BSU
Kills
40
28
Errors
19
17
Attempts
104
93
Hitting %
.202
.118
Points
58.5
37.0
Assists
37
26
Aces
11
3
Blocks
7.5
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
2
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
DS
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