Friday, September 28
Muncie, IN
7 p.m.
Ball State University
11-5 (2-1MAC)
3
vs
0
Eastern Michigan University
10-7 (2-1MAC)
1
2
3
F
Eastern Michigan
23
21
20
0
Ball State
25
25
25
3
Volleyball Soars Over Eagles in Straight Sets
September 28, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team set the tone early with three blocks in the first seven points on its way to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-20) sweep of Eastern Michigan in Mid-American Conference play Friday night in Worthen Arena.
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In improving to 11-5 (2-1 MAC), the Cardinals out-blocked the Eagles (10-7; 2-1 MAC) by an 8.0 to 3.0 margin for the match. EMU entered the contest as the league's top blocking team at 2.35 blocks per set. Thanks to its solid play on both offense and defense, however, Ball State was able to raise its season total to a league-leading 2.35 blocks per set while dropping Eastern Michigan's mark to 2.28.
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Redshirt senior Meg Starling led the way at the net with five total blocks (one solo and four assists), including combining with classmate Jessica Lindsey for a block that ended the contest. Starling also finished the night with six kills and a .429 (6-0-14) attack percentage.
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Senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn led the Ball State offense for the 11th time this season with a match-high 13 kills, while adding two block assists of her own. Junior middle Sydnee VanBeek was next for the Cardinals with nine kills, while freshman opposite Reece Kral added seven.
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Junior setter Amber Seaman led Ball State to a .278 (44-12-115) attack percentage by dishing out 35 assists and connecting for a .600 (6-0-10) rate of success herself. She also contributed 10 digs for her second double-double of the season.
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Junior libero Kate Avila led the Cardinals backcourt with 11 digs to help limit the Eastern Michigan offense to a .155 (40-22-116) attacking mark. Ariel Hamby led the Eagles with 11 kills, while Franki Strefling was credited with a match-high 13 digs.Â
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Head Coach Kelli Miller:
"I really liked our effort tonight. I thought we had a lot of focus, and a much better focus than last weekend. Eastern Michigan is a tough, scrappy team and they don't let their intensity level drop for a second. I thought we came out with as much energy and intensity as we have had all season, and we were able to set the tone early with a couple big blocks."
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"I thought we were a lot more disciplined on defense tonight, and I think that certainly paid off."
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"We learned a lot from last week and tonight we came out and showed that. The challenge is going to be; can we do this every night? Can we do this two nights in a row? I am looking forward to seeing how we carry our level of focus and intensity from tonight into another tough rivalry match versus Central Michigan tomorrow."
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Inside the Numbers:
- With her 35 assists in Friday's win over Eastern Michigan, junior setter Amber Seaman raised her career total to 3,668 to climb from 10th to seventh in program history … Just the 11th player in program history to record over 1,000 assists in a single season with 1,111 last year, Seaman's 9.99 career assists-per-set average ranks sixth in program history and she is on pace to become only the fifth Cardinal to hand out over 4,000 career assists.
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- With her match-high five total blocks Friday, Meg Starling raised her season total to 73 and is now averaging 1.28 blocks per set on the year … Starling is looking to become the first player since Christine Kennedy (2006-07) averaged 1.31 blocks per set in 2006 to finish the year with a 1.24-or-better blocks-per-set average which would rank among the top 20 single season averages in program history.
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- In addition, with 18 solo blocks, 55 block assists and 73 total blocks through 16 matches this season, Starling is on pace to shatter her previous season-best blocking totals of 20 solo blocks, 59 block assists and 79 total blocks set last season.
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- With her team-leading 13 kills against the Eagles, senior outside attacker Ellie Dunn raised her career kill total to 884 which moves her up one spot to 15th on Ball State's career charts … Next up are Stacy Jordan (1982-85) and Michele Winkle (1982-84) in a tie for 13th at 916 career kills.
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- With her 11 digs in Friday's win over Eastern Michigan, junior libero Kate Avila has recorded double-digit digs in 45 consecutive matches and 74 times over her career … Her 1,397 career digs rank sixth in program history, while her 4.60 career digs-per-set average is fourth.
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Up Next:
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena Saturday night with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Central Michigan. Fans who attend Saturday's 3 p.m. Ball State football game versus Kent State can show their ticket stubs at the Worthen Arena ticket office for free admission to the match.
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Follow The Cardinals:
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
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- BallStateSports.com -
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In improving to 11-5 (2-1 MAC), the Cardinals out-blocked the Eagles (10-7; 2-1 MAC) by an 8.0 to 3.0 margin for the match. EMU entered the contest as the league's top blocking team at 2.35 blocks per set. Thanks to its solid play on both offense and defense, however, Ball State was able to raise its season total to a league-leading 2.35 blocks per set while dropping Eastern Michigan's mark to 2.28.
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Redshirt senior Meg Starling led the way at the net with five total blocks (one solo and four assists), including combining with classmate Jessica Lindsey for a block that ended the contest. Starling also finished the night with six kills and a .429 (6-0-14) attack percentage.
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Senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn led the Ball State offense for the 11th time this season with a match-high 13 kills, while adding two block assists of her own. Junior middle Sydnee VanBeek was next for the Cardinals with nine kills, while freshman opposite Reece Kral added seven.
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Junior setter Amber Seaman led Ball State to a .278 (44-12-115) attack percentage by dishing out 35 assists and connecting for a .600 (6-0-10) rate of success herself. She also contributed 10 digs for her second double-double of the season.
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Junior libero Kate Avila led the Cardinals backcourt with 11 digs to help limit the Eastern Michigan offense to a .155 (40-22-116) attacking mark. Ariel Hamby led the Eagles with 11 kills, while Franki Strefling was credited with a match-high 13 digs.Â
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Head Coach Kelli Miller:
"I really liked our effort tonight. I thought we had a lot of focus, and a much better focus than last weekend. Eastern Michigan is a tough, scrappy team and they don't let their intensity level drop for a second. I thought we came out with as much energy and intensity as we have had all season, and we were able to set the tone early with a couple big blocks."
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"I thought we were a lot more disciplined on defense tonight, and I think that certainly paid off."
Â
"We learned a lot from last week and tonight we came out and showed that. The challenge is going to be; can we do this every night? Can we do this two nights in a row? I am looking forward to seeing how we carry our level of focus and intensity from tonight into another tough rivalry match versus Central Michigan tomorrow."
Â
Inside the Numbers:
- With her 35 assists in Friday's win over Eastern Michigan, junior setter Amber Seaman raised her career total to 3,668 to climb from 10th to seventh in program history … Just the 11th player in program history to record over 1,000 assists in a single season with 1,111 last year, Seaman's 9.99 career assists-per-set average ranks sixth in program history and she is on pace to become only the fifth Cardinal to hand out over 4,000 career assists.
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- With her match-high five total blocks Friday, Meg Starling raised her season total to 73 and is now averaging 1.28 blocks per set on the year … Starling is looking to become the first player since Christine Kennedy (2006-07) averaged 1.31 blocks per set in 2006 to finish the year with a 1.24-or-better blocks-per-set average which would rank among the top 20 single season averages in program history.
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- In addition, with 18 solo blocks, 55 block assists and 73 total blocks through 16 matches this season, Starling is on pace to shatter her previous season-best blocking totals of 20 solo blocks, 59 block assists and 79 total blocks set last season.
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- With her team-leading 13 kills against the Eagles, senior outside attacker Ellie Dunn raised her career kill total to 884 which moves her up one spot to 15th on Ball State's career charts … Next up are Stacy Jordan (1982-85) and Michele Winkle (1982-84) in a tie for 13th at 916 career kills.
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- With her 11 digs in Friday's win over Eastern Michigan, junior libero Kate Avila has recorded double-digit digs in 45 consecutive matches and 74 times over her career … Her 1,397 career digs rank sixth in program history, while her 4.60 career digs-per-set average is fourth.
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Up Next:
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena Saturday night with a 7 p.m. first serve versus Central Michigan. Fans who attend Saturday's 3 p.m. Ball State football game versus Kent State can show their ticket stubs at the Worthen Arena ticket office for free admission to the match.
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Follow The Cardinals:
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
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- BallStateSports.com -
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Team Stats
EMU
BSU
Kills
40
44
Errors
22
12
Attempts
116
115
Hitting %
.155
.278
Points
47.0
54.0
Assists
39
43
Aces
4
2
Blocks
3.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballRS / M
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's VolleyballMH
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