Volleyball Gains Valuable Experience at No. 18 Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. - - While the Ball State women's volleyball team fought until the end, it could not keep pace with one of the nation's top programs, suffering a 3-0 (25-12, 25-21. 25-19) setback to 18th-ranked Purdue Tuesday evening at Holloway Gymnasium.

"Tonight, was definitely a learning experience for us," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We played a ton of freshmen and I thought in the first set we were kind of back on our heels. We didn't compete as well as I would have liked. But in sets two and three, I thought we started to relax a little bit and come into our own. Most of the time, we had at least four freshmen on the court. As they got more and more comfortable, we started making more and more plays and handling the ball better off the serve which allowed us to do more things offensively."

After a rough opening set, the Cardinals (1-2) used an ace from senior setter Amber Seaman to take its first lead of the night to begin the second. Ball State continued to put pressure on the Boilermakers (2-0), including a pair of late kills from freshman outside attacker Natalie Mitchem which pulled the guest within three at 24-21. Unfortunately, Purdue was able to get the next point and win the frame.

"Natalie Mitchem really stood out," Phillips said. "She was very consistent tonight and was able to score at a pretty high percentage on the left side. Really, I thought as the match went on, everyone just got better and better."

Ball State continued to pressure nationally-ranked Purdue in the third set, holding within two at 14-12. Then, after a 3-0 run by the host Boilermakers, freshman opposite Allison Hamaker came through with back-to-back kills in her collegiate debut to answer the charge. Unfortunately, the Cardinals could get no closer, dropping the set 25-19.

Overall, the Cardinals rebounded from the rough start to hit .173 (25-12-75) over the final two sets, including a .216 (11-3-37) rate of success in the third.

Mitchem led the Ball State attack with eight kills and hit a career-best .316 (8-2-19) for the match. Hamaker was Ball State's second-best attacker with five kills.

Defensively, freshman Natalie Risi led the backcourt for a second consecutive match with seven digs. In addition to her ace, Seaman dished out 21 assists and scored three kills. RIsi and freshman defensive specialist Maggie Huber were also credited with aces for the Cardinals.

Next up for the Ball State women's volleyball team, the Gonzaga Invitational Friday and Saturday at the Charlotte Y. Marti Center in Spokane, Washington. The Cardinals battle Grand Canyon (1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT) and Montana (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT) Friday, before closing with the host Bulldogs (2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT) Saturday.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.

- BallStateSports.com -

Volleyball Gains Valuable Experience at No. 18 Purdue

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Team Stats

Natalie Mitchem

Allison Hamaker

MyKel Ivy

Marie Plitt

Players Mentioned

Allison Hamaker

Maggie Huber

Natalie Mitchem

Natalie Risi

Amber Seaman

Players Mentioned

Allison Hamaker

Maggie Huber

Natalie Mitchem

Natalie Risi

Amber Seaman