Saturday, September 30
Muncie, IN
7 p.m.
Ball State University
11-6 (3-1MAC)
3
vs
0
University at Buffalo
9-6 (2-2MAC)
1
2
3
F
Buffalo
17
17
19
0
Ball State
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Volleyball Sweeps Buffalo with Dominating Offensive Performance
September 30, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball offense was firing on all cylinders Saturday night at Worthen Arena, connecting for a season-best .396 (45-7-96) attack percentage in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-19) sweep of Mid-American Conference East Division co-leader Buffalo.
"I am really happy with the way we bounced back following a disappointing performance Thursday," second-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "We responded with a solid all-around effort against a tough Buffalo team. Our service pressure caused them a lot of issues, especially our short zone serves. We also put a huge emphasis on taking smart swings and limiting unforced errors which equated to our best offensive efficiency of the season."
After being held to a season-low .074 (38-28-135) rate of success in Thursday's loss at Toledo, the Cardinals (11-6; 3-1 MAC) rebounded in dramatic fashion, committing just seven attack errors against a Bulls (9-6; 2-2 MAC) squad which entered the match limiting its opponents to a .206 attack percentage on the season.
Overall, the win was Ball State's ninth straight in MAC home openers and helped the Cardinals improve to 29-7 in such matches. In addition, Ball State has won eight straight matches against Buffalo and is 13-0 versus the Bulls in Worthen Arena.
Junior outside attacker Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) provided some of the biggest points for the Cardinals, finishing the night with a match-high 14 kills and a season-best .462 (14-2-26) attack percentage. The 14 kills are the most for Dunn in a three-set match in her career. In addition, Dunn's .462 attack percentage is her best effort in a match where she has recorded at least 10 attack attempts.
"Ellie is becoming more and more confident every time out," Miller said. "When she makes better decisions on her bad balls and keeps herself low error, she is going to be nearly unstoppable like she was tonight. Overall, her performance tonight is a tribute to her hard work at making herself a better all-around player."
Dunn was not the only virtually unstoppable force for the Ball State attack Saturday night, as junior opposite Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) finished the match with 10 kills and a .526 (10-0-19) attack percentage.
Sophomore middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) led the Ball State offense with a career-best .643 attack percentage, logging nine kills on 14 swings with no errors. She also led the Cardinals at the net with a match-high three total blocks.
Sophomore setter Amber Seaman (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf) was the catalyst for the Cardinals' offense, dishing out 33 assists and connecting for three kills of her own. She also led Ball State with three service aces, including aces on the first and final points of the opening set.
In the backcourt, sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her solid play by leading all players with 15 digs and pacing Ball State's primary passers with a .929 (12 of 13) reception percentage.
Overall, the Ball State defense limited the Buffalo attack to a .204 (32-12-98) rate of success and held a 46 to 37 edge in team digs. Andrea Mitrovic led the Bulls with 10 kills, while Larra Bickelhaupt was credited with a team-high 10 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes its current three-match home stand next weekend with a Friday (Oct. 6) match versus MAC West Division leader Western Michigan and a Saturday (Oct. 7) showdown with defending MAC Tournament Champion Northern Illinois.
Both matches are set for 7 p.m. first serves and will be carried live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
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 -
"I am really happy with the way we bounced back following a disappointing performance Thursday," second-year head coach Kelli Miller said. "We responded with a solid all-around effort against a tough Buffalo team. Our service pressure caused them a lot of issues, especially our short zone serves. We also put a huge emphasis on taking smart swings and limiting unforced errors which equated to our best offensive efficiency of the season."
After being held to a season-low .074 (38-28-135) rate of success in Thursday's loss at Toledo, the Cardinals (11-6; 3-1 MAC) rebounded in dramatic fashion, committing just seven attack errors against a Bulls (9-6; 2-2 MAC) squad which entered the match limiting its opponents to a .206 attack percentage on the season.
Overall, the win was Ball State's ninth straight in MAC home openers and helped the Cardinals improve to 29-7 in such matches. In addition, Ball State has won eight straight matches against Buffalo and is 13-0 versus the Bulls in Worthen Arena.
Junior outside attacker Ellie Dunn (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) provided some of the biggest points for the Cardinals, finishing the night with a match-high 14 kills and a season-best .462 (14-2-26) attack percentage. The 14 kills are the most for Dunn in a three-set match in her career. In addition, Dunn's .462 attack percentage is her best effort in a match where she has recorded at least 10 attack attempts.
"Ellie is becoming more and more confident every time out," Miller said. "When she makes better decisions on her bad balls and keeps herself low error, she is going to be nearly unstoppable like she was tonight. Overall, her performance tonight is a tribute to her hard work at making herself a better all-around player."
Dunn was not the only virtually unstoppable force for the Ball State attack Saturday night, as junior opposite Emily Holland (Madison, Ind./Madison) finished the match with 10 kills and a .526 (10-0-19) attack percentage.
Sophomore middle Sydnee VanBeek (St. John, Ind./Illiana Christian) led the Ball State offense with a career-best .643 attack percentage, logging nine kills on 14 swings with no errors. She also led the Cardinals at the net with a match-high three total blocks.
Sophomore setter Amber Seaman (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf) was the catalyst for the Cardinals' offense, dishing out 33 assists and connecting for three kills of her own. She also led Ball State with three service aces, including aces on the first and final points of the opening set.
In the backcourt, sophomore libero Kate Avila (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) continued her solid play by leading all players with 15 digs and pacing Ball State's primary passers with a .929 (12 of 13) reception percentage.
Overall, the Ball State defense limited the Buffalo attack to a .204 (32-12-98) rate of success and held a 46 to 37 edge in team digs. Andrea Mitrovic led the Bulls with 10 kills, while Larra Bickelhaupt was credited with a team-high 10 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes its current three-match home stand next weekend with a Friday (Oct. 6) match versus MAC West Division leader Western Michigan and a Saturday (Oct. 7) showdown with defending MAC Tournament Champion Northern Illinois.
Both matches are set for 7 p.m. first serves and will be carried live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
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 -
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Team Stats
UB
BSU
Kills
32
45
Errors
12
7
Attempts
98
96
Hitting %
.204
.396
Points
41.0
56.0
Assists
31
42
Aces
6
7
Blocks
3.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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