Saturday, January 23
Muncie, IN
6 p.m.
Ball State University
2-0,2-0MAC
3
vs
1
Akron
0-2,0-2MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Akron
25
15
23
19
1
Ball St.
21
25
25
25
3
Smart Plays, Team Effort Leads Women’s Volleyball Past Akron In Saturday Action
January 23, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - With the match tied at one set apiece and the Ball State women's volleyball team down 23-20 in the third to visiting Akron, the Cardinals (2-0, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) found themselves in an unfamiliar place in the young season.
However, a Zips (0-2, 0-2 MAC) service error and a heads-up play by redshirt sophomore setter Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) two rallies later helped turn the tide and allowed Ball State to pick up a 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19) victory Saturday evening at Worthen Arena.
"I have a lot of respect for that team," acting head coach Fritz Rosenberg said about Akron after the win. "To go 2-0 against a veteran team with a lot of underclassmen on our side of the net shows the trust that we have in each other; shows the belief that we have in each other and really set some good groundwork for the rest of the season."
Grussing was able to fool the Akron defense and place a perfect dump to the middle of the court to even the third set at 23. Sophomore middle Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) extended the run to four points with a big overpass smash on the next play, while a Zips attack error closed the set and capped a huge rally that ended up determining the outcome of the match.
The Cardinals would then jump out to a 7-3 edge in the fourth set and never look back to pick up its 11th straight win over MAC competition.
Much like last season's run to the MAC Tournament title and NCAA Volleyball Championship berth, Ball State was able to rely on its depth and used a complete team effort in today's come-from-behind rally.
Three Cardinals finished the night with double-digit kills, led by 14 apiece from Plitt and sophomore opposite Natalie Mitchem (Bolingbtook, Ill./Bolingbrook). Senior outside Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township) was not far behind with 12 markers.
Freshman setter Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) guided the offense early, including to a .469 attack percentage in a dominating 25-15 second-set victory. With the Cardinals trailing late in the third however, the veteran setter Grussing entered and helped spark the big comeback.
The Cardinals stuck with a 6-2 the rest of the way, and finished the night with a .252 team attack percentage. Meanwhile, the Ball State defense did another solid job, holding Akron to a .153 rate of success for the match.
Freshman middle Lauren Gilliland had another strong night, leading the team with seven block assists, combining with Holder and Mitchem, who had four each, to form a formidable wall.
In the backcourt, four Cardinals finished the night with double-figure digs, led by 22 from sophomore libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy). Sophomore outside Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) was next with 17, while Vinson added 13 to go along with her 38 assists for her first career double-double.
Sophomore defensive specialist Chloe Rickenbach (Avon, Ind./Avon) was the final defender in double figures with 13.
Next up for the Ball State women's volleyball team, a four-match road swing which starts with matches at Buffalo next Thursday and Friday.
However, a Zips (0-2, 0-2 MAC) service error and a heads-up play by redshirt sophomore setter Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) two rallies later helped turn the tide and allowed Ball State to pick up a 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19) victory Saturday evening at Worthen Arena.
"I have a lot of respect for that team," acting head coach Fritz Rosenberg said about Akron after the win. "To go 2-0 against a veteran team with a lot of underclassmen on our side of the net shows the trust that we have in each other; shows the belief that we have in each other and really set some good groundwork for the rest of the season."
Grussing was able to fool the Akron defense and place a perfect dump to the middle of the court to even the third set at 23. Sophomore middle Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) extended the run to four points with a big overpass smash on the next play, while a Zips attack error closed the set and capped a huge rally that ended up determining the outcome of the match.
The Cardinals would then jump out to a 7-3 edge in the fourth set and never look back to pick up its 11th straight win over MAC competition.
Much like last season's run to the MAC Tournament title and NCAA Volleyball Championship berth, Ball State was able to rely on its depth and used a complete team effort in today's come-from-behind rally.
Three Cardinals finished the night with double-digit kills, led by 14 apiece from Plitt and sophomore opposite Natalie Mitchem (Bolingbtook, Ill./Bolingbrook). Senior outside Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township) was not far behind with 12 markers.
Freshman setter Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) guided the offense early, including to a .469 attack percentage in a dominating 25-15 second-set victory. With the Cardinals trailing late in the third however, the veteran setter Grussing entered and helped spark the big comeback.
The Cardinals stuck with a 6-2 the rest of the way, and finished the night with a .252 team attack percentage. Meanwhile, the Ball State defense did another solid job, holding Akron to a .153 rate of success for the match.
Freshman middle Lauren Gilliland had another strong night, leading the team with seven block assists, combining with Holder and Mitchem, who had four each, to form a formidable wall.
In the backcourt, four Cardinals finished the night with double-figure digs, led by 22 from sophomore libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy). Sophomore outside Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) was next with 17, while Vinson added 13 to go along with her 38 assists for her first career double-double.
Sophomore defensive specialist Chloe Rickenbach (Avon, Ind./Avon) was the final defender in double figures with 13.
Next up for the Ball State women's volleyball team, a four-match road swing which starts with matches at Buffalo next Thursday and Friday.
Team Stats
UA
BSU
Kills
53
58
Errors
27
18
Attempts
170
159
Hitting %
.153
.252
Points
64
69
Assists
50
53
Aces
4
3
Blocks
7
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS / S
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