Saturday, October 28
Muncie, IN
7 p.m.
Ball State University
15-10 (7-5MAC)
3
vs
2
Eastern Michigan University
11-17 (3-9MAC)
1
2
3
4
5
F
Eastern Michigan
25
17
20
25
13
2
Ball State
18
25
25
23
15
3
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Volleyball Survives Five-Set Thriller Against Eastern Michigan
October 28, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In a match full of twist and turns, Jessica Lindsey (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) smashed a career-high 14 kills to help ensure her senior night ended with a nail-biting 3-2 (18-25, 25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13) victory over Eastern Michigan in Mid-American Conference action Saturday night at Worthen Arena.
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With the Cardinals (15-10; 7-5 MAC) trailing 9-6 in the fifth set, Lindsey smashed back-to-back markers to draw her squad within one at 9-8. After the Eagles (11-17; 3-9 MAC) battled back to pull ahead 11-8, Lindsey added her 14th and final kill of the night to help the hosts rally back within one for a second time.
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"Jess is someone that is always ready to play," head coach Kelli Miller said. "I have no doubt that whenever her number is called, she is going to be ready. This weekend just reiterated that fact. She works hard every single day, so I am not shocked at all. She earned her performance she had this weekend."
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EMU managed one more three-point lead, at 13-10, but the Cardinals countered with the final five points to escape with the five-set victory. Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) played a pivotal role in the match-ending run, with a pair of kills surrounding a block assist over the final three points.
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"I am most proud of how we played in set five tonight," Miller said. "While we were down late, it just felt like we were going to pull this one out for our seniors. We willed ourselves through at the end, which is something we did not do yesterday. We were going to do everything we could to win this game and we did it. I would like us to play with that kind of intensity, that kind of effort, for a full match. Not just when our backs are up against the wall."
Overall, Dunn led the Cardinals with 15 kills, while Lindsey was right behind with 14 and a team-high .324 (14-3-34) attack percentage. Junior middle Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) added 12 kills to give Ball State three players in double figures at the end of the night.
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All the late-match heroics might not have happened, however, if not for the play of sophomore defensive specialist Anna Jensen (Carmel, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral) early in the second set. With the Cardinals coming off a 25-18 opening set loss, Jensen entered the match to serve with Ball State leading 8-4. By the time she was done, she had served up three aces and extended the lead to 16-4.
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That effort gave the Cardinals the momentum to take the next two sets and ultimately win the match. Jensen finished the night with a career-high 12 digs to go along with her career-high three aces in the second-set serving run. She also turned in a .928 reception percentage, successfully passing 12 of the 13 serves she faced.
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Another key performance off the bench came from junior middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) who led the Ball State defense with seven total blocks, while adding a season-high nine kills.
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"Early on, I felt like we were too busy second guessing ourselves," Miller added. "However, a lot of people came in and provided huge sparks, especially Anna with her big serving run in the second set. I definitely think we took a step in the right direction tonight, and were much improved from last night."
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Rounding out Ball State's top defensive performers was sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) who made it seven straight matches with at least 20 digs, collecting 22 on the night. With the 22 digs, Avila raised her career total to 996 which leaves her four shy of becoming the 17th player, and third-fastest, to reach 1,000 career digs in program history.
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In another strong senior night performance, defensive specialist Bailey Baumer (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) corralled nine digs and a .957 (22-for-23) reception percentage.
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In addition to Baumer and Lindsey, the Cardinals honored senior setter McCallen Kennedy (Boca Raton, Fla./North Broward Preparatory School) and student coach Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) following the conclusion of Saturday's win over the Eagles.
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Overall, Ball State held a slim .204 (65-28-181) to .192 (57-25-167) attacking advantage in the match, but came through when it counted the most with 10 kills and a .348 (10-2-23) rate of success in the fifth set.
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Samantha Falco led four Eagles attackers in double figures with 12 kills, while Alyssa LaFace paced four EMU defenders in double figures with a match-high 23 digs. Eastern Michigan did manage to out-block, 14.0 to 9.0, the Cardinals in the match, led by 10 total blocks from Falco.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team wraps up the home portion of its 2017 schedule Thursday with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Toledo.
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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 individual match tickets now by calling (888-BSU-TICKET), visiting the Ball State's Stoops Buick/GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena or ordering online at: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/bsuathletics/EN/link/buy/details/17WVB
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- BallStateSports.com -
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With the Cardinals (15-10; 7-5 MAC) trailing 9-6 in the fifth set, Lindsey smashed back-to-back markers to draw her squad within one at 9-8. After the Eagles (11-17; 3-9 MAC) battled back to pull ahead 11-8, Lindsey added her 14th and final kill of the night to help the hosts rally back within one for a second time.
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"Jess is someone that is always ready to play," head coach Kelli Miller said. "I have no doubt that whenever her number is called, she is going to be ready. This weekend just reiterated that fact. She works hard every single day, so I am not shocked at all. She earned her performance she had this weekend."
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EMU managed one more three-point lead, at 13-10, but the Cardinals countered with the final five points to escape with the five-set victory. Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) played a pivotal role in the match-ending run, with a pair of kills surrounding a block assist over the final three points.
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"I am most proud of how we played in set five tonight," Miller said. "While we were down late, it just felt like we were going to pull this one out for our seniors. We willed ourselves through at the end, which is something we did not do yesterday. We were going to do everything we could to win this game and we did it. I would like us to play with that kind of intensity, that kind of effort, for a full match. Not just when our backs are up against the wall."
Overall, Dunn led the Cardinals with 15 kills, while Lindsey was right behind with 14 and a team-high .324 (14-3-34) attack percentage. Junior middle Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) added 12 kills to give Ball State three players in double figures at the end of the night.
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All the late-match heroics might not have happened, however, if not for the play of sophomore defensive specialist Anna Jensen (Carmel, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral) early in the second set. With the Cardinals coming off a 25-18 opening set loss, Jensen entered the match to serve with Ball State leading 8-4. By the time she was done, she had served up three aces and extended the lead to 16-4.
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That effort gave the Cardinals the momentum to take the next two sets and ultimately win the match. Jensen finished the night with a career-high 12 digs to go along with her career-high three aces in the second-set serving run. She also turned in a .928 reception percentage, successfully passing 12 of the 13 serves she faced.
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Another key performance off the bench came from junior middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) who led the Ball State defense with seven total blocks, while adding a season-high nine kills.
Â
"Early on, I felt like we were too busy second guessing ourselves," Miller added. "However, a lot of people came in and provided huge sparks, especially Anna with her big serving run in the second set. I definitely think we took a step in the right direction tonight, and were much improved from last night."
Â
Rounding out Ball State's top defensive performers was sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) who made it seven straight matches with at least 20 digs, collecting 22 on the night. With the 22 digs, Avila raised her career total to 996 which leaves her four shy of becoming the 17th player, and third-fastest, to reach 1,000 career digs in program history.
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In another strong senior night performance, defensive specialist Bailey Baumer (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) corralled nine digs and a .957 (22-for-23) reception percentage.
Â
In addition to Baumer and Lindsey, the Cardinals honored senior setter McCallen Kennedy (Boca Raton, Fla./North Broward Preparatory School) and student coach Sabrina Mangapora (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) following the conclusion of Saturday's win over the Eagles.
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Overall, Ball State held a slim .204 (65-28-181) to .192 (57-25-167) attacking advantage in the match, but came through when it counted the most with 10 kills and a .348 (10-2-23) rate of success in the fifth set.
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Samantha Falco led four Eagles attackers in double figures with 12 kills, while Alyssa LaFace paced four EMU defenders in double figures with a match-high 23 digs. Eastern Michigan did manage to out-block, 14.0 to 9.0, the Cardinals in the match, led by 10 total blocks from Falco.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team wraps up the home portion of its 2017 schedule Thursday with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Toledo.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
Â
Ball State volleyball fans can purchase individual match tickets now by calling (888-BSU-TICKET), visiting the Ball State's Stoops Buick/GMC Ticket Center inside Worthen Arena or ordering online at: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/bsuathletics/EN/link/buy/details/17WVB
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- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
Kills
57
65
Errors
25
28
Attempts
167
181
Hitting %
.192
.204
Points
79.0
82.0
Assists
49
58
Aces
8
8
Blocks
14.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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