Friday, August 31
Springfield, MO
5:30 p.m.
Ball State University
3-1
3
vs
0
Grambling State University
0-4
1
2
3
F
Grambling
13
8
12
0
Ball State
25
25
25
3
WVB's Offense Dominates in Sweep of Grambling State
August 31, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - - The Ball State women's volleyball offense connected for a .469 (44-6-81) attack percentage, the third-best single match performance in program history, as the Cardinals opened play in the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-8, 25-12) sweep of Grambling State Friday evening at Missouri State's Hammons Student Center.
In a day full of impressive offensive performances, redshirt senior Meg Starling stole the show. The 6-foot-6 middle attacker from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, hit an impressive .714 (11-1-14) to help guide the Cardinals (3-1) to the win. It's the second straight match Starling has hit above .700, as she connected for a .727 (8-0-11) rate of success in last Saturday's sweep of Marshall.
Junior middle Sydnee VanBeek led all attackers with 13 kills, while hitting for a season-best .579 (13-2-19) rate of success. In all, nine different Cardinals recorded at least two kills in the match.
Ball State was just as impressive on defense, limiting the Tigers (0-4) to a season-low -.061 (18-23-82) attack percentage. In fact, the Cardinals held Grambling State to a negative attack percentages in two of the three sets, including a -.241 (3-10-29) mark in the second stanza.
Junior libero Kate Avila led all players with 10 digs, while also serving up a match-high two aces.
Head Coach Kelli Miller:
"The offense was really clicking today. We handled the ball well, which allowed our middles to really get involved and they set the tone early. I also felt like we hit smart shots throughout the match, which allowed us to be low error."
"Meg has really been working to be up earlier and be more aggressive on her swings. When she reaches high, it's hard for any blocker to out-reach her. I also think the setters are getting more and more comfortable setting her, which is allowing her to get into a better rhythm."
"Looking to tomorrow, we have to refocus and take each match one at a time. We have to continue to put the emphasis on ourselves and playing to our standards, and not be overly concerned with what opponent is on the other side of the net. We will prepare fully for Oral Roberts, then hit reset again before looking ahead to Missouri State."
Inside the Numbers:
- Ball State's .469 (44-6-81) team attack percentage is the third-best match performance in program history. The only two matches that were better, a .512 mark versus Southeast Missouri (Sept. 9, 2000) and a .506 effort at Indiana State (Oct. 11, 1988).
- With a .727 (8-0-11) attacking mark versus Marshall (Aug. 25) and a .714 (11-1-14) rate of success versus Grambling State (Aug. 31), Meg Starling became just the second player in program history to record a .700-or-better attacking mark in back-to-back matches with at least 10 attempts in each one. The first was Julie Zylka (1998-2001) who hit .727 versus Tennessee Tech (Sept. 3, 1999) and .724 versus Austin Peay (Sept. 4, 1999).
- Junior libero Kate Avila's match-high 10 digs mark the 33rd consecutive match, and the 62nd time in her career, Avila has produced double-figure digs in a match.
- By limiting Grambling State to a season-low -.061 (18-23-82) attack percentage, the Ball State defense turned in its best all-around effort since holding Tennessee State to a -.084 (14-21-83) rate of success on Sept. 3, 2010.
Up Next:
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes play in the Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational Saturday with matches versus Oral Roberts (11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT) and tournament host Missouri State (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT).
Saturday's tournament finale versus the host Bears will be broadcast live on ESPN+ ($4.99 per month) at the following link: https://es.pn/2Ns5KAa
Follow The Cardinals:
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
In a day full of impressive offensive performances, redshirt senior Meg Starling stole the show. The 6-foot-6 middle attacker from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, hit an impressive .714 (11-1-14) to help guide the Cardinals (3-1) to the win. It's the second straight match Starling has hit above .700, as she connected for a .727 (8-0-11) rate of success in last Saturday's sweep of Marshall.
Junior middle Sydnee VanBeek led all attackers with 13 kills, while hitting for a season-best .579 (13-2-19) rate of success. In all, nine different Cardinals recorded at least two kills in the match.
Ball State was just as impressive on defense, limiting the Tigers (0-4) to a season-low -.061 (18-23-82) attack percentage. In fact, the Cardinals held Grambling State to a negative attack percentages in two of the three sets, including a -.241 (3-10-29) mark in the second stanza.
Junior libero Kate Avila led all players with 10 digs, while also serving up a match-high two aces.
Head Coach Kelli Miller:
"The offense was really clicking today. We handled the ball well, which allowed our middles to really get involved and they set the tone early. I also felt like we hit smart shots throughout the match, which allowed us to be low error."
"Meg has really been working to be up earlier and be more aggressive on her swings. When she reaches high, it's hard for any blocker to out-reach her. I also think the setters are getting more and more comfortable setting her, which is allowing her to get into a better rhythm."
"Looking to tomorrow, we have to refocus and take each match one at a time. We have to continue to put the emphasis on ourselves and playing to our standards, and not be overly concerned with what opponent is on the other side of the net. We will prepare fully for Oral Roberts, then hit reset again before looking ahead to Missouri State."
Inside the Numbers:
- Ball State's .469 (44-6-81) team attack percentage is the third-best match performance in program history. The only two matches that were better, a .512 mark versus Southeast Missouri (Sept. 9, 2000) and a .506 effort at Indiana State (Oct. 11, 1988).
- With a .727 (8-0-11) attacking mark versus Marshall (Aug. 25) and a .714 (11-1-14) rate of success versus Grambling State (Aug. 31), Meg Starling became just the second player in program history to record a .700-or-better attacking mark in back-to-back matches with at least 10 attempts in each one. The first was Julie Zylka (1998-2001) who hit .727 versus Tennessee Tech (Sept. 3, 1999) and .724 versus Austin Peay (Sept. 4, 1999).
- Junior libero Kate Avila's match-high 10 digs mark the 33rd consecutive match, and the 62nd time in her career, Avila has produced double-figure digs in a match.
- By limiting Grambling State to a season-low -.061 (18-23-82) attack percentage, the Ball State defense turned in its best all-around effort since holding Tennessee State to a -.084 (14-21-83) rate of success on Sept. 3, 2010.
Up Next:
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes play in the Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational Saturday with matches versus Oral Roberts (11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT) and tournament host Missouri State (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT).
Saturday's tournament finale versus the host Bears will be broadcast live on ESPN+ ($4.99 per month) at the following link: https://es.pn/2Ns5KAa
Follow The Cardinals:
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
GRAM
BSU
Kills
18
44
Errors
23
6
Attempts
82
81
Hitting %
-.061
.469
Points
22.0
55.0
Assists
17
39
Aces
2
6
Blocks
2.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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