Friday, September 1
Muncie, IN
7:30 p.m.
Ball State University
4-1
3
vs
1
Bradley University
2-3
1
2
3
4
F
Bradley
24
28
22
14
1
Ball State
26
26
25
25
3
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Big Blocking Leads Volleyball Past Bradley Friday Night
September 01, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team used a season-high 17.0 total blocks to end the opening day of the Ball State Tournament with a 3-1 (26-24, 26-28, 25-22, 25-14) victory over Bradley Friday night in Worthen Arena.
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With the win, the Cardinals (4-1) completed a Friday sweep after topping Navy 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 27-25) earlier in the day. Ball State closes action in its first home tournament of the season Saturday, with a scheduled 7 p.m. first serve versus in-state rival Fort Wayne.
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"We did a nice job of staying composed, even though we had a lot of tight points going back and forth tonight," second-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "Bradley did a really nice job of battling us and they had a good blocking presence. I thought they did a good job defensively and got some good dig on us."
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With the Braves' (2-3) defense stepping up and limiting the Ball State attack to a .214 (57-23-159) rate of success, the Cardinals turned to their defense down the stretch. The defense did not disappoint, both out-blocking (17.0 to 10.0) and out-digging (78 to 70) their guests from Peoria, Illinois.
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Leading the way for the Cardinals at the net were junior opposite Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) and junior middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton). Both tied for match-high honors with eight total blocks, with Holland posting a career-high eight block assists and Devoe earning three solo blocks and five block assists to tie her career high with eight total blocks.
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Holland also recorded Ball State's best attacking numbers with a season-high 11 kills and a season-best .409 (11-2-22) attack percentage. Devoe added four kills, while both players also collected a dig.
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Redshirt junior middle Meg Starling (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights) also had a strong night at the net, boasting a career-high seven total blocks; two solo stuffs and five block assists. Starling added four kills and earned a pair of digs.
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Overall, Ball State's 17.0 total blocks were the most in a match for the Cardinals since a 19.0 blocking effort versus South Dakota on Sept. 19, 2015.
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Offensively, junior outside Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) paced the Cardinals for the fifth time this season with a match-high 17 kills. She finished the day with 35 total kills for a 5.00 kills-per-set average. She also recorded eight digs and a career-high four service aces against Bradley.
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Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) was the third Ball State player to knock down double-digit kills against the Braves, ending the match with her 14th kill of the night. She also added to the blocking total with two solo blocks and one assist.
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"Ellie really stepped up at the end of the match," Miller said. "We really worked on her hitting away from that libero and making all kinds of plays. She really came through at the end to make that final point."
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In the backcourt, four Cardinals finished the match with double-digit digs, led by sophomore libero Kate Avila's (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) match-high 21. It's the first time this season and the 10th time in her career Avila has recorded 20-plus digs in a contest.
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Freshman defensive specialist Grace Nelson (Bennington, Neb./Elkhorn) added a career-high 15 digs, while junior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) was credited with 10.
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Sophomore setter Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) added 17 digs, while dishing out a season-high 47 assists for her fourth consecutive double-double. She also smashed four kills, served up an ace and logged a block assist.
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Alissa Schovanec and Erica Haslag paced the Bradley offense with 12 kills apiece, while five Braves reached double-digit digs led by 20 from Yavianliz Rosado. Overall, the Ball State defense limited the Bradley attack to a .106 (53-34-179) attack percentage on the night.
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"Every time we go out, I expect tight matches where you are going to have to battle and claw to win points," Miller concluded. "Tonight was a good example of that, and I expect to see the same thing tomorrow in a big rivalry match with Fort Wayne."
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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 season or 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 win, the Cardinals (4-1) completed a Friday sweep after topping Navy 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 27-25) earlier in the day. Ball State closes action in its first home tournament of the season Saturday, with a scheduled 7 p.m. first serve versus in-state rival Fort Wayne.
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"We did a nice job of staying composed, even though we had a lot of tight points going back and forth tonight," second-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "Bradley did a really nice job of battling us and they had a good blocking presence. I thought they did a good job defensively and got some good dig on us."
Â
With the Braves' (2-3) defense stepping up and limiting the Ball State attack to a .214 (57-23-159) rate of success, the Cardinals turned to their defense down the stretch. The defense did not disappoint, both out-blocking (17.0 to 10.0) and out-digging (78 to 70) their guests from Peoria, Illinois.
Â
Leading the way for the Cardinals at the net were junior opposite Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) and junior middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton). Both tied for match-high honors with eight total blocks, with Holland posting a career-high eight block assists and Devoe earning three solo blocks and five block assists to tie her career high with eight total blocks.
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Holland also recorded Ball State's best attacking numbers with a season-high 11 kills and a season-best .409 (11-2-22) attack percentage. Devoe added four kills, while both players also collected a dig.
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Redshirt junior middle Meg Starling (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights) also had a strong night at the net, boasting a career-high seven total blocks; two solo stuffs and five block assists. Starling added four kills and earned a pair of digs.
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Overall, Ball State's 17.0 total blocks were the most in a match for the Cardinals since a 19.0 blocking effort versus South Dakota on Sept. 19, 2015.
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Offensively, junior outside Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) paced the Cardinals for the fifth time this season with a match-high 17 kills. She finished the day with 35 total kills for a 5.00 kills-per-set average. She also recorded eight digs and a career-high four service aces against Bradley.
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Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) was the third Ball State player to knock down double-digit kills against the Braves, ending the match with her 14th kill of the night. She also added to the blocking total with two solo blocks and one assist.
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"Ellie really stepped up at the end of the match," Miller said. "We really worked on her hitting away from that libero and making all kinds of plays. She really came through at the end to make that final point."
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In the backcourt, four Cardinals finished the match with double-digit digs, led by sophomore libero Kate Avila's (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) match-high 21. It's the first time this season and the 10th time in her career Avila has recorded 20-plus digs in a contest.
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Freshman defensive specialist Grace Nelson (Bennington, Neb./Elkhorn) added a career-high 15 digs, while junior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) was credited with 10.
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Sophomore setter Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) added 17 digs, while dishing out a season-high 47 assists for her fourth consecutive double-double. She also smashed four kills, served up an ace and logged a block assist.
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Alissa Schovanec and Erica Haslag paced the Bradley offense with 12 kills apiece, while five Braves reached double-digit digs led by 20 from Yavianliz Rosado. Overall, the Ball State defense limited the Bradley attack to a .106 (53-34-179) attack percentage on the night.
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"Every time we go out, I expect tight matches where you are going to have to battle and claw to win points," Miller concluded. "Tonight was a good example of that, and I expect to see the same thing tomorrow in a big rivalry match with Fort Wayne."
Â
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 season or 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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Team Stats
BRAD
BSU
Kills
53
57
Errors
34
23
Attempts
179
159
Hitting %
.106
.214
Points
66.0
80.0
Assists
49
55
Aces
3
6
Blocks
10.0
17.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
4
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
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