Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, October 26
Muncie, IND
7:00 PM
Ball State University
11-11,5-5MAC
2
vs
3
Bowling Green
12-10,6-4MAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Bowling Green
19
25
19
25
15
3
Ball St.
25
23
25
20
13
2
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Avila Reaches 2,000 Career Digs in Loss to BGSU
October 26, 2019 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State women's volleyball senior libero Kate Avila entered Saturday's match versus Bowling Green needing three digs to become just the third player in program history to reach the 2,000 career mark.
She got those early in the first set and never looked back, registering a career-high 38 digs to lead a solid defensive effort for the Cardinals (11-11; 5-5 Mid-American Conference) in an evening match up versus the Falcons (13-9; 7-3 MAC). Avila, who also had a pair of aces and a perfect reception percentage in 21 attempts, finished the night with 2,035 career digs.
"Kate has been one of our most consistent players since she arrived on campus," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She is a hard worker, she's always focused, and I thought she was our best defender by a good portion tonight. I thought she was really taking ownership back there. She does a lot for us; she handles a ton of serves and is a really steady player and has been her entire career."
Despite the strong defensive effort, which saw Ball State out-dig BGSU 104-to-97 on the night, the Cardinals ultimately suffered a 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13) setback to the defending MAC co-champion at Worthen Arena.
Avila was not the only Ball State defender to finish the night with career-high digs, as freshman defensive specialist Chloe Rickenbach finished with 24.
Speaking of career highs, freshman outside attacker Natalie Risi also put on a show for Ball State fans, blasting a career-high 25 kills to go along with 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. She also served up an ace and successfully passed 33 of the 34 serves she faced.
"Natalie Risi kept finding ways to score," Phillips added. "Whether that was going down the line or blasting it off BGSU's block, she did some great things against a strong Bowling Green defense. I thought she did a really good job of seeing her blocks, and she was aggressive."
Freshman middle Marie Plitt also had a career night, registering a collegiate-high 14 kills and hitting .333 (14-4-30). She also led the Ball State defense with four total blocks. Rounding out Ball State's top attackers was freshman outside Natalie Mitchem with 12 kills.
Overall, the Falcons used 17 total blocks to slow down the Ball State offense just enough to pull out the victory. The Cardinals hit .205 (73-29-215) in the match, while Bowling Green connected for a .230 (65-19-200) rate of success.
Katelyn Meyer led BGSU with 20 kills, while Julia Walz had a team-high 30 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Thursday (Oct. 31), when it hosts Toledo for a 7 p.m. first serve on Halloween.
The night has been dubbed a "Chirp or Treat" Spooktacular, as Ball State Athletics will host FREE Trick or Treating starting at 6 p.m. Ball State fans are invited to dress in their Halloween best to trick or treat on the Worthen Arena concourse (please note props & masks are prohibited for fans age 18+). Student-athletes from a majority of Ball State's 19 athletic programs will be on hand to pass out candy and play games with fans of all ages thanks to the Ball State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Fans are then encouraged to help haunt Worthen Arena starting at 7 p.m. when the Cardinals battle the Rockets. Fans can receive FREE TICKETS to the match by visiting https://www.BallStateSports.com/Halloween, calling the Ball State Athletics ticket office at 888.BSU.TICKETS / 765.285.1474 or by registering at the ticket window on match night.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
She got those early in the first set and never looked back, registering a career-high 38 digs to lead a solid defensive effort for the Cardinals (11-11; 5-5 Mid-American Conference) in an evening match up versus the Falcons (13-9; 7-3 MAC). Avila, who also had a pair of aces and a perfect reception percentage in 21 attempts, finished the night with 2,035 career digs.
"Kate has been one of our most consistent players since she arrived on campus," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She is a hard worker, she's always focused, and I thought she was our best defender by a good portion tonight. I thought she was really taking ownership back there. She does a lot for us; she handles a ton of serves and is a really steady player and has been her entire career."
Despite the strong defensive effort, which saw Ball State out-dig BGSU 104-to-97 on the night, the Cardinals ultimately suffered a 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13) setback to the defending MAC co-champion at Worthen Arena.
Avila was not the only Ball State defender to finish the night with career-high digs, as freshman defensive specialist Chloe Rickenbach finished with 24.
Speaking of career highs, freshman outside attacker Natalie Risi also put on a show for Ball State fans, blasting a career-high 25 kills to go along with 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. She also served up an ace and successfully passed 33 of the 34 serves she faced.
"Natalie Risi kept finding ways to score," Phillips added. "Whether that was going down the line or blasting it off BGSU's block, she did some great things against a strong Bowling Green defense. I thought she did a really good job of seeing her blocks, and she was aggressive."
Freshman middle Marie Plitt also had a career night, registering a collegiate-high 14 kills and hitting .333 (14-4-30). She also led the Ball State defense with four total blocks. Rounding out Ball State's top attackers was freshman outside Natalie Mitchem with 12 kills.
Overall, the Falcons used 17 total blocks to slow down the Ball State offense just enough to pull out the victory. The Cardinals hit .205 (73-29-215) in the match, while Bowling Green connected for a .230 (65-19-200) rate of success.
Katelyn Meyer led BGSU with 20 kills, while Julia Walz had a team-high 30 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Thursday (Oct. 31), when it hosts Toledo for a 7 p.m. first serve on Halloween.
The night has been dubbed a "Chirp or Treat" Spooktacular, as Ball State Athletics will host FREE Trick or Treating starting at 6 p.m. Ball State fans are invited to dress in their Halloween best to trick or treat on the Worthen Arena concourse (please note props & masks are prohibited for fans age 18+). Student-athletes from a majority of Ball State's 19 athletic programs will be on hand to pass out candy and play games with fans of all ages thanks to the Ball State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Fans are then encouraged to help haunt Worthen Arena starting at 7 p.m. when the Cardinals battle the Rockets. Fans can receive FREE TICKETS to the match by visiting https://www.BallStateSports.com/Halloween, calling the Ball State Athletics ticket office at 888.BSU.TICKETS / 765.285.1474 or by registering at the ticket window on match night.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
BGSU
BSU
Kills
65
73
Errors
19
29
Attempts
200
215
Hitting %
.230
.205
Points
85
87
Assists
61
69
Aces
3
6
Blocks
17
8
Game Leaders
Kills
25
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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