Ball State University Athletics
Thursday, September 14
Muncie, IN
7 p.m.
Ball State University
7-4
3
vs
0
University of Evansville
6-4
1
2
3
F
Evansville
15
18
14
0
Ball State
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Volleyball Aces Its Way Past Evansville in Straight Sets
September 14, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team turned a dominating performance from behind the service line into an impressive 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-14) sweep of in-state rival Evansville Thursday night in the opening match of the Ball State & Butler Tournament at Worthen Arena.
Six different Cardinals (7-4) served up at least one ace Thursday, helping Ball State hold a 7-2 advantage in the category on the night. The win over the Purple Aces (6-4) also helped the Cardinals improve to 3-2 versus in-state opponents this season.
"We put a ton of service pressure on Evansville tonight," second-year head coach Kelli Miller said after the match. "We focused a lot on our serving this week at practice, as it's the one thing you are in complete control of. Service pressure determines so much in a match, and we saw that tonight in our ability to consistently keep Evansville's offense out of system."
In all, Ball State's pressure from the service line helped limit the Evansville attack to a .128 (27-15-94) attack percentage, with the 27 kills being its second-lowest mark of the season. It was also the fifth time Ball State has held an opponent below a .149 attack percentage this season, with all five being wins.
On the offensive side, redshirt junior middle Meg Starling (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights) turned in another banner performance, leading all players with nine kills while hitting .571 (9-1-14) for the night. She also served up her third career ace in the win, while adding two digs and a pair of block assists.
Next on the attacking list for the Ball State, which saw 16 players contribute in the win, was redshirt junior middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) who smashed seven kills, hit .462 (7-1-13) and recorded a pair of blocks. Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) also added seven kills, two blocks and a pair of digs.
Overall, the Cardinals offense connected for a .302 (44-12-106) rate of success for the match, with sophomore Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) setting a majority of the first two sets and senior McCallen Kennedy (Boca Raton, Fla./North Broward Preparatory School) setting the tail end of the second and all of the third frame. Seaman finished the match with 23 assists, two kills and a dig, while Kennedy collected 13 assists, four digs and a kill.
In the backcourt, sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led all players with 16 digs and turned in a perfect reception percentage on eight attempts. Junior outside attacker Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) added 10 digs and a perfect reception percentage of her own on 20 attempts. Both players also served up an ace, while Goodsel scored six kills.
Junior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) served up a team-high two aces and collected four digs in the win, while freshman defensive specialist Grace Nelson (Bennington, Neb./Elkhorn) secured seven digs and her first collegiate kill.
Rachel Tam and Adeline Payne led the Evansville attack with eight kills apiece, while Indianapolis native Cassie Brooks collected a team-high 11 digs. Brooks is the daughter of Ball State women's volleyball alum Jill Burress (1985-87).
The Ball State women's volleyball team continues play in the Ball State & Butler Tournament Friday, with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Duquesne at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals conclude the three-day event Saturday, with a scheduled 7 p.m. first serve against Butler at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
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 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
- BallStateSports.com -
Six different Cardinals (7-4) served up at least one ace Thursday, helping Ball State hold a 7-2 advantage in the category on the night. The win over the Purple Aces (6-4) also helped the Cardinals improve to 3-2 versus in-state opponents this season.
"We put a ton of service pressure on Evansville tonight," second-year head coach Kelli Miller said after the match. "We focused a lot on our serving this week at practice, as it's the one thing you are in complete control of. Service pressure determines so much in a match, and we saw that tonight in our ability to consistently keep Evansville's offense out of system."
In all, Ball State's pressure from the service line helped limit the Evansville attack to a .128 (27-15-94) attack percentage, with the 27 kills being its second-lowest mark of the season. It was also the fifth time Ball State has held an opponent below a .149 attack percentage this season, with all five being wins.
On the offensive side, redshirt junior middle Meg Starling (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights) turned in another banner performance, leading all players with nine kills while hitting .571 (9-1-14) for the night. She also served up her third career ace in the win, while adding two digs and a pair of block assists.
Next on the attacking list for the Ball State, which saw 16 players contribute in the win, was redshirt junior middle Avery Devoe (Canton, Mass./Canton) who smashed seven kills, hit .462 (7-1-13) and recorded a pair of blocks. Junior outside Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) also added seven kills, two blocks and a pair of digs.
Overall, the Cardinals offense connected for a .302 (44-12-106) rate of success for the match, with sophomore Amber Seaman (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf) setting a majority of the first two sets and senior McCallen Kennedy (Boca Raton, Fla./North Broward Preparatory School) setting the tail end of the second and all of the third frame. Seaman finished the match with 23 assists, two kills and a dig, while Kennedy collected 13 assists, four digs and a kill.
In the backcourt, sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) led all players with 16 digs and turned in a perfect reception percentage on eight attempts. Junior outside attacker Brooklyn Goodsel (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) added 10 digs and a perfect reception percentage of her own on 20 attempts. Both players also served up an ace, while Goodsel scored six kills.
Junior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) served up a team-high two aces and collected four digs in the win, while freshman defensive specialist Grace Nelson (Bennington, Neb./Elkhorn) secured seven digs and her first collegiate kill.
Rachel Tam and Adeline Payne led the Evansville attack with eight kills apiece, while Indianapolis native Cassie Brooks collected a team-high 11 digs. Brooks is the daughter of Ball State women's volleyball alum Jill Burress (1985-87).
The Ball State women's volleyball team continues play in the Ball State & Butler Tournament Friday, with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Duquesne at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals conclude the three-day event Saturday, with a scheduled 7 p.m. first serve against Butler at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
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 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
- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
UE
BSU
Kills
27
44
Errors
15
12
Attempts
94
106
Hitting %
.128
.302
Points
32.0
57.0
Assists
26
39
Aces
2
7
Blocks
3.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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