Saturday, September 1
Springfield, MO
11 a.m.
Ball State University
4-1
3
vs
1
Oral Roberts University
1-4
1
2
3
4
F
Oral Roberts
25
19
14
18
1
Ball State
18
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
VanBeek Powers Women’s Volleyball Past Oral Roberts
September 01, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - - Powered by a career-high 20 kills from junior middle Sydnee VanBeek, the Ball State women's volleyball team shook off a slow start to open the second day of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational with a 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-18) victory over Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon at Missouri State's Hammons Student Center.
In picking up its third straight win, the Cardinals head into Saturday's tournament finale against the host Bears with a 4-1 overall record. Ball State and Missouri State will play at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT in a match broadcast on ESPN+ (https://es.pn/2Ns5KA).
In addition to smashing a match-high 20 kills versus the Golden Eagles (1-4), VanBeek hit an impressive .500 (20-2-36) and tied for match-high honors with three total blocks (one solo and two assists). She is one of only two players on Ball State's active roster to have scored at least 20 kills in a match over her career, with the other being senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn.
Like the team itself, Dunn shook off a slow start herself by blasting nine kills and hitting .333 (9-3-18) over the final two sets. She finished the day ranked second on the team with 12 kills. She also registered a career-high 15 digs for her third career double-double.
Rounding out Ball State's top contributors on offense was senior Jessica Lindsey who produced 10 kills and tied for match-high honors with three total blocks (one solo and two assists).
On defense, junior libero Kate Avila was credited with a team-high 22 digs, while junior defensive specialist Anna Jensen fell one shy of her career high with 11 digs.
Head Coach Kelli Miller:
"In set one, I felt like we were a little tentative and Oral Roberts was much more aggressive. In set two, we made some blocking adjustments versus their left sides which slowed them down. We also attacked them with our short serving which allowed our block to make better reads. Oral Roberts was extremely scrappy, and I am thankful we were able to come out on top."
"Sydnee was extremely locked in from the first serve. She had an intent to score on every swing and it paid off. She worked hard to make herself an option in transition and that was huge for her success too."
"I think the key for our offense is balance. I have confidence that all our front row attackers can score. When you have a balanced offense, it makes it much more difficult to defend."
Inside the Numbers:
- Ball State finished Saturday's win over Oral Roberts with a .306 (62-17-147) attack percentage, marking the third straight match the Cardinals have hit .300-or-better. Ball State, which boasted the second-best offense in the league based on a .212 attack percentage last season, only hit above .300 five times last season. It also marks the first time in the rally scoring era (2001-present) Ball State has finished three consecutive matching hitting above .300.
- Overall, Ball State is connecting at a .370 (154-34-324) clip over the last three matches, led by redshirt senior middle Meg Starling at .625 (22-2-32). Junior middle Sydnee VanBeek is not far behind, hitting .479 (42-7-73) over the span, with her 42 kills leading the Cardinals' offense.
- Junior libero Kate Avila's team-high 22 digs marked the 34th consecutive match, and the 63rd time in her career, Avila has produced double-figure digs in a match.
- Eight different Cardinals recorded at least one kill in Saturday's win over the Golden Eagles, with three in double figures for the first time this season.
- Junior setter Amber Seaman dished out a season-high 52 assists in the win, while also hitting for a .507 (4-0-7) rate of success herself.
Up Next:
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes play in the Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational later this evening with an 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT match versus tournament host Missouri State. The match 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 picking up its third straight win, the Cardinals head into Saturday's tournament finale against the host Bears with a 4-1 overall record. Ball State and Missouri State will play at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT in a match broadcast on ESPN+ (https://es.pn/2Ns5KA).
In addition to smashing a match-high 20 kills versus the Golden Eagles (1-4), VanBeek hit an impressive .500 (20-2-36) and tied for match-high honors with three total blocks (one solo and two assists). She is one of only two players on Ball State's active roster to have scored at least 20 kills in a match over her career, with the other being senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn.
Like the team itself, Dunn shook off a slow start herself by blasting nine kills and hitting .333 (9-3-18) over the final two sets. She finished the day ranked second on the team with 12 kills. She also registered a career-high 15 digs for her third career double-double.
Rounding out Ball State's top contributors on offense was senior Jessica Lindsey who produced 10 kills and tied for match-high honors with three total blocks (one solo and two assists).
On defense, junior libero Kate Avila was credited with a team-high 22 digs, while junior defensive specialist Anna Jensen fell one shy of her career high with 11 digs.
Head Coach Kelli Miller:
"In set one, I felt like we were a little tentative and Oral Roberts was much more aggressive. In set two, we made some blocking adjustments versus their left sides which slowed them down. We also attacked them with our short serving which allowed our block to make better reads. Oral Roberts was extremely scrappy, and I am thankful we were able to come out on top."
"Sydnee was extremely locked in from the first serve. She had an intent to score on every swing and it paid off. She worked hard to make herself an option in transition and that was huge for her success too."
"I think the key for our offense is balance. I have confidence that all our front row attackers can score. When you have a balanced offense, it makes it much more difficult to defend."
Inside the Numbers:
- Ball State finished Saturday's win over Oral Roberts with a .306 (62-17-147) attack percentage, marking the third straight match the Cardinals have hit .300-or-better. Ball State, which boasted the second-best offense in the league based on a .212 attack percentage last season, only hit above .300 five times last season. It also marks the first time in the rally scoring era (2001-present) Ball State has finished three consecutive matching hitting above .300.
- Overall, Ball State is connecting at a .370 (154-34-324) clip over the last three matches, led by redshirt senior middle Meg Starling at .625 (22-2-32). Junior middle Sydnee VanBeek is not far behind, hitting .479 (42-7-73) over the span, with her 42 kills leading the Cardinals' offense.
- Junior libero Kate Avila's team-high 22 digs marked the 34th consecutive match, and the 63rd time in her career, Avila has produced double-figure digs in a match.
- Eight different Cardinals recorded at least one kill in Saturday's win over the Golden Eagles, with three in double figures for the first time this season.
- Junior setter Amber Seaman dished out a season-high 52 assists in the win, while also hitting for a .507 (4-0-7) rate of success herself.
Up Next:
The Ball State women's volleyball team concludes play in the Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational later this evening with an 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT match versus tournament host Missouri State. The match 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
ORU
BSU
Kills
46
62
Errors
26
17
Attempts
149
147
Hitting %
.134
.306
Points
58.0
69.0
Assists
44
60
Aces
6
1
Blocks
6.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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