Friday, November 10
DeKalb, IL
7 p.m.
Ball State University
18-10, 10-5MAC
3
at
1
Northern Illinois University
7-23, 6-9MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Ball State
13
25
25
25
3
Northern Illinois
25
18
17
13
1
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Volleyball Secures MAC West Title, First-Round Bye in MAC Tournament
November 10, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
DEKALB, Ill. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team overcame a shaky start to secure the Mid-American Conference West Division title outright with a 3-1 (13-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-13) victory over three-time defending division champion Northern Illinois Friday night at Victor E. Court.
"I am really proud of our team's toughness tonight," head coach Kelli Miller said. "We got off to a slow start but bounced back and never looked back. This was a big win for us against a tough Northern Illinois team which had won the last three MAC West Division titles and was fighting for its tournament life."
In snapping a four-match losing streak to the Huskies (7-23; 6-9 MAC), the Cardinals (18-10; 10-5 MAC) also locked up a first-round bye in next week's MAC Tournament which will be hosted by Miami at Millett Hall Nov. 16-19. With its 10-5 league record, Ball State will either be the third or the fourth seed depending on the outcome of tomorrow's matches.
"The MAC West has been very competitive this season, so it feels good to be sitting at the top right now," Miller said. "However, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal of winning a MAC Tournament Championship. That's why winning tonight and securing a first-round bye in the tournament is huge. You want to put yourself in the best possible position to win the tournament, so getting a bye is a good starting step."
One big key to the Cardinals' success this season has been the team's depth. That depth played a big role again tonight, as freshman Ali Finch (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) guided the Ball State offense to a .222 (49-17-144) attack percentage in her first career start at setter.
"Ali had a great performance tonight," Miller said. "She got into a great rhythm with our hitters, was making plays on defense, and showed great composure all night. What an awesome way to come out and play in your first career match."
Finch helped four Cardinals secure double digit kills by dishing out 40 assists in her collegiate debut. She also secured 10 digs for her first career double-double, while also being credited with four block assists.
Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) led the Ball State offense for the fourth consecutive match with a team-high 13 kills. She also hit .300 (13-4-30), while adding two digs and a pair of block assists.
Sophomore middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ill./Illiana Christian) was the Cardinals' top point scorer, finishing right behind Dunn with 12 kills, while serving up three aces and being credited with a match-high seven total blocks (one solo and six assists) for 19 total points.
Junior right side Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) chipped in her ninth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs, while also adding four block assists and a service ace.
Junior middle Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) rounded out Ball State's top attackers with 10 kills and a team-best .474 (10-1-19) attack percentage. Holland also tallied three block assists.
In addition to the double digit dig efforts from Finch and Goodsel, sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her solid play by finishing the night with a match-high 25 digs. The reigning MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week, Avila was also perfect in reception while facing a team-high 23 serves.
It was also a big night for the Ball State block, which accumulated 14.0 total blocks to tie its second-best total of the season. Seven different Cardinals were credited with blocks, helping limit the Huskies to a .042 (28-23-120) rate of success over the final three sets, including a -.061 (8-10-33) effort in the third set.
Overall, NIU hit .115 (44-26-156) on the night with Meg Wolowicz smashing a match-high 19 kills. Ann Brereton led the Huskies defense with 17 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball closes the 2017 regular season tomorrow night with a scheduled 7 p.m. first serve at Western Michigan. With a win or an Ohio loss tomorrow, the Cardinals will secure the third seed in next week's MAC Tournament.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
"I am really proud of our team's toughness tonight," head coach Kelli Miller said. "We got off to a slow start but bounced back and never looked back. This was a big win for us against a tough Northern Illinois team which had won the last three MAC West Division titles and was fighting for its tournament life."
In snapping a four-match losing streak to the Huskies (7-23; 6-9 MAC), the Cardinals (18-10; 10-5 MAC) also locked up a first-round bye in next week's MAC Tournament which will be hosted by Miami at Millett Hall Nov. 16-19. With its 10-5 league record, Ball State will either be the third or the fourth seed depending on the outcome of tomorrow's matches.
"The MAC West has been very competitive this season, so it feels good to be sitting at the top right now," Miller said. "However, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal of winning a MAC Tournament Championship. That's why winning tonight and securing a first-round bye in the tournament is huge. You want to put yourself in the best possible position to win the tournament, so getting a bye is a good starting step."
One big key to the Cardinals' success this season has been the team's depth. That depth played a big role again tonight, as freshman Ali Finch (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) guided the Ball State offense to a .222 (49-17-144) attack percentage in her first career start at setter.
"Ali had a great performance tonight," Miller said. "She got into a great rhythm with our hitters, was making plays on defense, and showed great composure all night. What an awesome way to come out and play in your first career match."
Finch helped four Cardinals secure double digit kills by dishing out 40 assists in her collegiate debut. She also secured 10 digs for her first career double-double, while also being credited with four block assists.
Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) led the Ball State offense for the fourth consecutive match with a team-high 13 kills. She also hit .300 (13-4-30), while adding two digs and a pair of block assists.
Sophomore middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ill./Illiana Christian) was the Cardinals' top point scorer, finishing right behind Dunn with 12 kills, while serving up three aces and being credited with a match-high seven total blocks (one solo and six assists) for 19 total points.
Junior right side Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) chipped in her ninth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs, while also adding four block assists and a service ace.
Junior middle Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) rounded out Ball State's top attackers with 10 kills and a team-best .474 (10-1-19) attack percentage. Holland also tallied three block assists.
In addition to the double digit dig efforts from Finch and Goodsel, sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her solid play by finishing the night with a match-high 25 digs. The reigning MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week, Avila was also perfect in reception while facing a team-high 23 serves.
It was also a big night for the Ball State block, which accumulated 14.0 total blocks to tie its second-best total of the season. Seven different Cardinals were credited with blocks, helping limit the Huskies to a .042 (28-23-120) rate of success over the final three sets, including a -.061 (8-10-33) effort in the third set.
Overall, NIU hit .115 (44-26-156) on the night with Meg Wolowicz smashing a match-high 19 kills. Ann Brereton led the Huskies defense with 17 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball closes the 2017 regular season tomorrow night with a scheduled 7 p.m. first serve at Western Michigan. With a win or an Ohio loss tomorrow, the Cardinals will secure the third seed in next week's MAC Tournament.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
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Team Stats
BSU
NIU
Kills
49
44
Errors
17
26
Attempts
144
156
Hitting %
.222
.115
Points
69.0
50.0
Assists
44
42
Aces
6
1
Blocks
14.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
3
Blocks
7
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballDS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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