Friday, October 6
Muncie, IN
7 p.m.
Ball State University
12-6 (4-1MAC)
3
vs
1
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Western Michigan University
11-5 (4-1MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Western Michigan
20
25
15
17
1
Ball State
25
17
25
25
3
Photo by: Michael Hickey
Volleyball Tops Western Michigan to Move Back Atop MAC Standings
October 06, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team moved back atop the Mid-American Conference standings with a 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-15, 25-17) victory over Western Michigan Friday night in Worthen Arena.
After splitting the opening two sets, the Cardinals (12-6; 4-1 MAC) defense came to life and limited a previously undefeated MAC team in the Broncos (11-5; 4-1 MAC) to a -.032 (15-17-62) attack percentage over the final two frames.
"We had a great defensive presence, especially in the final two sets, and our serving and passing really hung tight tonight," Ball State head coach Kelli Miller said. "After a rough second set, I was really proud of the way we were able to bounce back and stay the course against a tough, gritty and talented Western Michigan squad."
For the second straight match, it was junior outside attacker Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) who led the charge for Ball State, as she connected for a match-high 14 kills and led the Cardinals defense with five total blocks.
The biggest of Dunn's plays came early in the fourth set, when she combined with redshirt junior Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) for back-to-back blocks to put the Cardinals ahead 5-2. She then followed with two kills over the next four rallies to help extend Ball State's lead to 8-3. WMU was never able to recover from there, dropping the final set 25-17.
"Ellie had a really big blocking presence right out of the gate in the fourth set, and then added some big kills to set the tone for the rest of the set," Miller added. "When we are not running on all cylinders offensively like tonight, we need our block to step up and that's what it did tonight."
Another Cardinal who made some key defensive plays at the net was sophomore middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) who came up with back-to-back solo blocks to end the third set. She finished the night with eight kills and four total blocks.
Junior outside Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) also finished the match with double-digit kills, scoring 12 on the night to go along with 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Sophomore setter Amber Seaman (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf) also recorded a double-double, her 10th of the year, with 38 assists and 12 digs.
Overall, four Cardinals finished the match with double figure digs, led by 15 from sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) and 13 from junior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North).
While the Ball State offense finished the night with a .113 (43-29-124) attack percentage, the Cardinals defense made up for it by holding Western Michigan to a season-low .079 (38-28-127) rate of success. Sydnee LeMay led the Broncos with 10 kills, while Kathleen Reilly secured a match-high 16 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team will close out its current three-match home stand Saturday night with a 7 p.m. first serve against defending MAC Tournament Champion Northern Illinois.
Prior to Saturday's match, the Cardinals will host a FREE youth clinic for children ages 13 and under from Noon until 1 p.m. inside Worthen Arena. Saturday's contest has also been dubbed Camper Reunion Night, as fans 13 and under who attended either the morning clinic or Ball State's 2017 Women's Volleyball Summer Camp Program will receive free admission to the match.
The match will also serve as the team's Dig Pink contest to help promote National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Cardinals, who will be wearing pink warm-up shirts, socks, and shoelaces for the match, have once again teamed up with The Side-Out Foundation to raise money in the fight against breast cancer.
Fans can help the program reach its goal of $1,250 in donations by contributing at the following link:
https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/12811
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 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
- BallStateSports.com -
After splitting the opening two sets, the Cardinals (12-6; 4-1 MAC) defense came to life and limited a previously undefeated MAC team in the Broncos (11-5; 4-1 MAC) to a -.032 (15-17-62) attack percentage over the final two frames.
"We had a great defensive presence, especially in the final two sets, and our serving and passing really hung tight tonight," Ball State head coach Kelli Miller said. "After a rough second set, I was really proud of the way we were able to bounce back and stay the course against a tough, gritty and talented Western Michigan squad."
For the second straight match, it was junior outside attacker Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) who led the charge for Ball State, as she connected for a match-high 14 kills and led the Cardinals defense with five total blocks.
The biggest of Dunn's plays came early in the fourth set, when she combined with redshirt junior Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) for back-to-back blocks to put the Cardinals ahead 5-2. She then followed with two kills over the next four rallies to help extend Ball State's lead to 8-3. WMU was never able to recover from there, dropping the final set 25-17.
"Ellie had a really big blocking presence right out of the gate in the fourth set, and then added some big kills to set the tone for the rest of the set," Miller added. "When we are not running on all cylinders offensively like tonight, we need our block to step up and that's what it did tonight."
Another Cardinal who made some key defensive plays at the net was sophomore middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) who came up with back-to-back solo blocks to end the third set. She finished the night with eight kills and four total blocks.
Junior outside Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) also finished the match with double-digit kills, scoring 12 on the night to go along with 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Sophomore setter Amber Seaman (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf) also recorded a double-double, her 10th of the year, with 38 assists and 12 digs.
Overall, four Cardinals finished the match with double figure digs, led by 15 from sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) and 13 from junior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North).
While the Ball State offense finished the night with a .113 (43-29-124) attack percentage, the Cardinals defense made up for it by holding Western Michigan to a season-low .079 (38-28-127) rate of success. Sydnee LeMay led the Broncos with 10 kills, while Kathleen Reilly secured a match-high 16 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team will close out its current three-match home stand Saturday night with a 7 p.m. first serve against defending MAC Tournament Champion Northern Illinois.
Prior to Saturday's match, the Cardinals will host a FREE youth clinic for children ages 13 and under from Noon until 1 p.m. inside Worthen Arena. Saturday's contest has also been dubbed Camper Reunion Night, as fans 13 and under who attended either the morning clinic or Ball State's 2017 Women's Volleyball Summer Camp Program will receive free admission to the match.
The match will also serve as the team's Dig Pink contest to help promote National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Cardinals, who will be wearing pink warm-up shirts, socks, and shoelaces for the match, have once again teamed up with The Side-Out Foundation to raise money in the fight against breast cancer.
Fans can help the program reach its goal of $1,250 in donations by contributing at the following link:
https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/12811
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 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
- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
WMU
BSU
Kills
38
43
Errors
28
29
Attempts
127
124
Hitting %
.079
.113
Points
50.0
55.0
Assists
35
42
Aces
0
2
Blocks
12.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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