Friday, September 6
Spokane, WA
1:00 PM
Ball State University
2-2
3
vs
2
Grand Canyon University
3-1
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ball St.
16
25
14
36
15
3
Grand Canyon
25
19
25
34
12
2
Photo by: Brad Caudill - Ball State Athletics
Volleyball Picks Up Pair of Wins in Friday Action
September 06, 2019 | Women's Volleyball
SPOKANE, WASH. - - While it was two different types of matches for the Ball State women's volleyball team Friday in the Gonzaga Invitational, the outcome of the both were the same; a Cardinals (3-2) victory.
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In the tournament opener versus Grand Canyon (3-1), Ball State suffered a pair of lopsided set losses to fall behind two sets to one in the match. However, the Cardinals were able to pull out a thrilling extra-point win in the fourth set, on the way to a 3-2 (16-25, 25-19, 14-25, 36-34, 15-12) victory.
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"We were definitely up and down in our performance early versus Grand Canyon," said head coach Kelli Miller Phillips. "But I was proud of how our team just stayed the course, kept battling and believing in ourselves. We had several players step up and make big plays in the fourth set and we really carried that momentum into the fifth."
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In the nightcap versus Montana (0-4), Ball State came out firing on all cylinders, turning in a dominating 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-10) victory. The Cardinals hit a season-high .337 (38-9-86) in the match, while limiting the Grizzlies to a .043 (23-19-92) rate of success.
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"Our big focus versus Montana was getting off to a good start," Phillips said. "We did not start the GCU match like we wanted, so our focus was to start off strong and we definitely did that tonight."
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Behind both wins, a lot of freshmen stepping up and playing major roles. Leading the charge was outside Natalie Risi who paced the Cardinals in kills in both matches, finishing the day with 27.
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"The freshmen are getting better and better every time out," Phillips added. "We still have a lot to learn, but I love how hard they compete and their willingness to be coached and learn daily."
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The Ball State women's volleyball team will battle for the Gonzaga Invitational title on Saturday with a scheduled 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) showdown versus the host Bulldogs.
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MATCH 1: Ball State 3, Grand Canyon 2
Leading the way for Ball State in the win over Grand Canyon was its highly talented freshman class which saw five members smash double digit kills. It's the first time the Cardinals have had five players score double figure kills in the same match since Oct. 15, 2016 vs. Ohio and the first time five freshman have done it in program history.
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Risi led the way with a career-high 17 markers, while collecting 14 digs for her first career double-double. Right behind was freshman opposite Allison Hamaker with a career-high 16 kills in her second collegiate match.
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Freshman outside Natalie Mitchem, Ball State's top attacker entering the weekend, was not far back, smashing 14 kills including the match-winner. Also collecting career-high kills were BSU's freshmen middles Marie Plitt and MyKel Ivy with 11 and 10, respectively.
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Another big freshman contributor in the win, redshirt setter Esther Grussing, who split time in the first two sets before taking over the final three. She ended the match with career-highs of 51 assists and 14 digs, while also coming up with an impressive solo block to give Ball State the fourth set victory.
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Leading the backcourt for the Cardinals was senior libero Kate Avila, who corralled a season-high 31 digs. It's just the sixth time in her career Avila has registered 30-or-more digs in a match. Freshman Maggie Huber also tallied 13 digs, giving Ball State four defenders in double figures.
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As a team, the Cardinals connected for a .235 (73-26-200) rate of success on offense and were credited with 83 digs, one more than the 'Lopes. Grand Canyon managed to hit .284 (66-18-169) for the match and held a 13.0 to 8.0 edge in total blocks.
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MATCH 2: Ball State 3, Montana 0
In the nightcap, it was all Ball State as the Cardinals hit a blistering .337 (38-9-86) while limiting the Grizzlies to a .043 (23-19-92) rate of success.
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Risi once again led the offense, registering 10 kills and hitting for a .350 (10-3-20) attack percentage. Mitchem was second on the squad with eight kills, including the match-winning point for the second time on the day.
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Hamaker and Ivy were both virtually flawless, hitting .583 (7-0-12) and .857 (6-0-7) on the night. Huber was the only defender with double-digit digs, logging 12. Avila and Risi were both one shy with nine.
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In addition to out-hitting Montana, the Cardinals held a 7-to-4 advantage in aces and a 43-to-35 edge in digs. Four of the seven aces came from sophomore defensive specialist Cathryn Starck, who also finished the match with five digs.
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Senior setter Amber Seaman and junior setter Ali Finch each helped guide the offense, handing out 21 and nine assists, respectively. Finch added two kills, while Seaman collected one.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
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In the tournament opener versus Grand Canyon (3-1), Ball State suffered a pair of lopsided set losses to fall behind two sets to one in the match. However, the Cardinals were able to pull out a thrilling extra-point win in the fourth set, on the way to a 3-2 (16-25, 25-19, 14-25, 36-34, 15-12) victory.
Â
"We were definitely up and down in our performance early versus Grand Canyon," said head coach Kelli Miller Phillips. "But I was proud of how our team just stayed the course, kept battling and believing in ourselves. We had several players step up and make big plays in the fourth set and we really carried that momentum into the fifth."
Â
In the nightcap versus Montana (0-4), Ball State came out firing on all cylinders, turning in a dominating 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-10) victory. The Cardinals hit a season-high .337 (38-9-86) in the match, while limiting the Grizzlies to a .043 (23-19-92) rate of success.
Â
"Our big focus versus Montana was getting off to a good start," Phillips said. "We did not start the GCU match like we wanted, so our focus was to start off strong and we definitely did that tonight."
Â
Behind both wins, a lot of freshmen stepping up and playing major roles. Leading the charge was outside Natalie Risi who paced the Cardinals in kills in both matches, finishing the day with 27.
Â
"The freshmen are getting better and better every time out," Phillips added. "We still have a lot to learn, but I love how hard they compete and their willingness to be coached and learn daily."
Â
The Ball State women's volleyball team will battle for the Gonzaga Invitational title on Saturday with a scheduled 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) showdown versus the host Bulldogs.
Â
MATCH 1: Ball State 3, Grand Canyon 2
Leading the way for Ball State in the win over Grand Canyon was its highly talented freshman class which saw five members smash double digit kills. It's the first time the Cardinals have had five players score double figure kills in the same match since Oct. 15, 2016 vs. Ohio and the first time five freshman have done it in program history.
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Risi led the way with a career-high 17 markers, while collecting 14 digs for her first career double-double. Right behind was freshman opposite Allison Hamaker with a career-high 16 kills in her second collegiate match.
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Freshman outside Natalie Mitchem, Ball State's top attacker entering the weekend, was not far back, smashing 14 kills including the match-winner. Also collecting career-high kills were BSU's freshmen middles Marie Plitt and MyKel Ivy with 11 and 10, respectively.
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Another big freshman contributor in the win, redshirt setter Esther Grussing, who split time in the first two sets before taking over the final three. She ended the match with career-highs of 51 assists and 14 digs, while also coming up with an impressive solo block to give Ball State the fourth set victory.
Â
Leading the backcourt for the Cardinals was senior libero Kate Avila, who corralled a season-high 31 digs. It's just the sixth time in her career Avila has registered 30-or-more digs in a match. Freshman Maggie Huber also tallied 13 digs, giving Ball State four defenders in double figures.
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As a team, the Cardinals connected for a .235 (73-26-200) rate of success on offense and were credited with 83 digs, one more than the 'Lopes. Grand Canyon managed to hit .284 (66-18-169) for the match and held a 13.0 to 8.0 edge in total blocks.
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MATCH 2: Ball State 3, Montana 0
In the nightcap, it was all Ball State as the Cardinals hit a blistering .337 (38-9-86) while limiting the Grizzlies to a .043 (23-19-92) rate of success.
Â
Risi once again led the offense, registering 10 kills and hitting for a .350 (10-3-20) attack percentage. Mitchem was second on the squad with eight kills, including the match-winning point for the second time on the day.
Â
Hamaker and Ivy were both virtually flawless, hitting .583 (7-0-12) and .857 (6-0-7) on the night. Huber was the only defender with double-digit digs, logging 12. Avila and Risi were both one shy with nine.
Â
In addition to out-hitting Montana, the Cardinals held a 7-to-4 advantage in aces and a 43-to-35 edge in digs. Four of the seven aces came from sophomore defensive specialist Cathryn Starck, who also finished the match with five digs.
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Senior setter Amber Seaman and junior setter Ali Finch each helped guide the offense, handing out 21 and nine assists, respectively. Finch added two kills, while Seaman collected one.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @VBCoachMiller on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
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Team Stats
Mont
BSU
Kills
23
38
Errors
19
9
Attempts
92
86
Hitting %
.043
.337
Points
31
50
Assists
20
35
Aces
2
7
Blocks
6
5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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