Thursday, November 29
Oxford, Ohio
5:30 p.m.
Ball State University
22-10
1
vs
3
Valparaiso University
26-10
1
2
3
4
F
Ball State
9
25
23
18
1
Valparaiso
25
13
25
25
3
Volleyball’s Season Ends with 3-1 Loss to Valparaiso in NIVC
November 29, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio - - The Ball State women's volleyball team recovered from a big opening set loss to take the second frame, but could not maintain the momentum in a 3-1 (25-9, 12-25, 25-23, 25-18) loss to in-state rival Valparaiso Thursday evening in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) played at Millett Hall.
With the loss, the Cardinals finish the season with a 22-10 overall record. The Crusaders improve to 26-10 on the year and will face Miami (23-8) in Friday's NIVC second round matchup at 7 p.m. The RedHawks used its home court advantage to open the NIVC with a sweep of Northern Kentucky Thursday night.
"I told the team in the locker room that we had a great year," head coach Kelli Miller said. "When you look at the full body of work, we certainly took steps in the right direction in all facets. Certainly they're baby steps and you probably want to take a little bit bigger steps each and every year, but it's a step in the right direction."
In the loss to Valpo, Ball State junior middle Sydnee VanBeek led all players with 12 kills and collected a team-high four total blocks for a match-best 14.5 points.
Senior outside Ellie Dunn was right behind with 11 kills in her final match as a Cardinal. Dunn, who also scored seven digs and a pair of blocks Thursday, finished her four-year career ranked 11th in program history with 1,108 kills. She also tied for eighth on BSU's career list with double-figure kills in 63 matches, plus logged 13 career double-doubles, all coming this season.
Defensively, junior libero Kate Avila corralled a match-high 16 digs to finish the season with double-digit digs in all 31 matches. She also collected a perfect reception percentage for the 20th time this season.
Overall, 14 different players saw action for Ball State, including all seven seniors.
Senior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner collected a season-high 12 digs in the loss, ending her career with 735 digs. In addition, senior defensive specialist Carly Cappello was credited with one dig, upping her career total to 103.
Redshirt senior middle Meg Starling blasted five kills, while adding a pair of block assists. She finished the season with a 1.25 blocks-per-set average which ties as the 16th-best single season total in program history and is the best average for a Ball State player since Christine Kennedy (2006-07) averaged 1.31 in 2006. Starling finished her career with 397 kills and 243 total blocks, with her 56 career solo blocks tying for 15th on BSU's career charts.
Senior middle Emily Holland and redshirt senior outside Jessica Lindsey each collected four kills, with Holland adding a solo blocks and Lindsey scoring a block assists. Holland finished her career with 583 kills and 208 total blocks to her credit, while Lindsey scored 414 kills and 102 total blocks over her career.
Senior opposite Avery Devoe added three kills and a season-high .250 (3-1-8) attack percentage in her final collegiate match, raising her career kill total to 190.
Aside from the seniors, junior setter Amber Seaman guided the Ball State offense to a .150 (47-26-140) rate of success by handing out 36 assists. She also registered eight digs, five kills and a pair of block assists. Rounding out Ball State's top performers was junior defensive specialist Anna Jensen who tallied 10 digs and served up two of the team's three aces.
Katherine Carlson and Allison Ketcham led the Valparaiso attack with 10 kills each, and both also tied for team-high honors with 14 digs. The Crusaders finished the match with a .233 (45-14-133) attack percentage and out-blocked (11.0 to 7.5) and out-aced (6 to 3) the Cardinals. Ball State held a 64 to 55 edge in digs.
"Getting to extend your season even a little bit is something that can be easily taken for granted when its in the grind of the season and you're playing and playing and playing, but when you reflect back, the second that it's over that perspective is so different," Miller said. "Being able to extend your season and play longer, that's what we do. Knowing what it's like to train past Thanksgiving, to have that already in you mind so that you're mentally prepared for that all year. The only way you learn how to do that is by doing it."
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
With the loss, the Cardinals finish the season with a 22-10 overall record. The Crusaders improve to 26-10 on the year and will face Miami (23-8) in Friday's NIVC second round matchup at 7 p.m. The RedHawks used its home court advantage to open the NIVC with a sweep of Northern Kentucky Thursday night.
"I told the team in the locker room that we had a great year," head coach Kelli Miller said. "When you look at the full body of work, we certainly took steps in the right direction in all facets. Certainly they're baby steps and you probably want to take a little bit bigger steps each and every year, but it's a step in the right direction."
In the loss to Valpo, Ball State junior middle Sydnee VanBeek led all players with 12 kills and collected a team-high four total blocks for a match-best 14.5 points.
Senior outside Ellie Dunn was right behind with 11 kills in her final match as a Cardinal. Dunn, who also scored seven digs and a pair of blocks Thursday, finished her four-year career ranked 11th in program history with 1,108 kills. She also tied for eighth on BSU's career list with double-figure kills in 63 matches, plus logged 13 career double-doubles, all coming this season.
Defensively, junior libero Kate Avila corralled a match-high 16 digs to finish the season with double-digit digs in all 31 matches. She also collected a perfect reception percentage for the 20th time this season.
Overall, 14 different players saw action for Ball State, including all seven seniors.
Senior defensive specialist Lauren Schreiner collected a season-high 12 digs in the loss, ending her career with 735 digs. In addition, senior defensive specialist Carly Cappello was credited with one dig, upping her career total to 103.
Redshirt senior middle Meg Starling blasted five kills, while adding a pair of block assists. She finished the season with a 1.25 blocks-per-set average which ties as the 16th-best single season total in program history and is the best average for a Ball State player since Christine Kennedy (2006-07) averaged 1.31 in 2006. Starling finished her career with 397 kills and 243 total blocks, with her 56 career solo blocks tying for 15th on BSU's career charts.
Senior middle Emily Holland and redshirt senior outside Jessica Lindsey each collected four kills, with Holland adding a solo blocks and Lindsey scoring a block assists. Holland finished her career with 583 kills and 208 total blocks to her credit, while Lindsey scored 414 kills and 102 total blocks over her career.
Senior opposite Avery Devoe added three kills and a season-high .250 (3-1-8) attack percentage in her final collegiate match, raising her career kill total to 190.
Aside from the seniors, junior setter Amber Seaman guided the Ball State offense to a .150 (47-26-140) rate of success by handing out 36 assists. She also registered eight digs, five kills and a pair of block assists. Rounding out Ball State's top performers was junior defensive specialist Anna Jensen who tallied 10 digs and served up two of the team's three aces.
Katherine Carlson and Allison Ketcham led the Valparaiso attack with 10 kills each, and both also tied for team-high honors with 14 digs. The Crusaders finished the match with a .233 (45-14-133) attack percentage and out-blocked (11.0 to 7.5) and out-aced (6 to 3) the Cardinals. Ball State held a 64 to 55 edge in digs.
"Getting to extend your season even a little bit is something that can be easily taken for granted when its in the grind of the season and you're playing and playing and playing, but when you reflect back, the second that it's over that perspective is so different," Miller said. "Being able to extend your season and play longer, that's what we do. Knowing what it's like to train past Thanksgiving, to have that already in you mind so that you're mentally prepared for that all year. The only way you learn how to do that is by doing it."
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
Team Stats
BSU
VALPO
Kills
47
45
Errors
26
14
Attempts
140
133
Hitting %
.150
.233
Points
57.5
62.0
Assists
42
44
Aces
3
6
Blocks
7.5
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH / DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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