Friday, January 29
Buffalo, NY
2 p.m.
Ball State University
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Buffalo
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Holder's 14 Kills Lead WVB Past Buffalo
January 29, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y.: The 8-hour bus ride home just got a little easier for the Ball State women's volleyball team which turned in another dominating performance in a 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-15) sweep at Buffalo Friday afternoon.
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The Cardinals (4-0, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) continued to fire on all cylinders, connecting for a .318 (38-10-88) attack percentage against the Bulls (0-4, 0-4 MAC) to complete the two-match series sweep. With the win, BSU has picked up 13 straight victories over league foes dating back to last season.
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"I thought we played an all-around consistent game today and stayed balanced throughout on a quick turnaround from last night," acting head coach Fritz Rosenberg said. "Overall, everyone on the team came ready to play which leads to everyone getting to share in the success we had this weekend."
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In addition to the solid offensive numbers, the Ball State defense turned in a strong performance with seven total blocks and 53 digs to limit Buffalo to a .030 (21-18-99) rate of success. The Cardinals' defense leads the MAC by limiting opponents to a .095 attack percentage so far this season.
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"I thought we got off to some quick starts each set which set the tone for our side today," Rosenberg added. "Credit to the team for being ready to play right from the start and being able to reset each game as well."
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Individually, it was a season-high 14 kills from senior outside hitter Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township) which would pave the way for the Ball State victory. She has collected double-digit kills in three of the Cardinals' four wins this season, and hit a season-best .357 (14-4-28) this afternoon against Buffalo.
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"I thought Kia played well today," Rosenberg said about the team's leading attacker and blocker. "We leaned on her more in today's match and she continues to lead us and played a great match all-around."
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Holder also turned in a solid effort on defense, leading all players with a career-high six total blocks (one solo and five assists).Â
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Ball State's dynamic "Natalie duo" also turned in strong offensive efforts, with sophomore opposite Natalie Mitchem (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) smashing eight kills and sophomore outside hitter Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) scoring seven.
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In the backcourt, sophomore libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) echoed her performance from last night by collecting a match-high 17 digs, while adding four assists.Â
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Sophomore defensive specialist Chloe Rickenbach (Avon, Ind./Avon) also secured double-digit digs with 10, the same total she scored last night. She also served up three of Ball State's eight aces.
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Redshirt sophomore Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) and freshman setter Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) combined to run the offense, dishing out 18 and 11 assists, respectively. Grussing added nine digs and an ace to her stat line, while Vinson logged four digs.
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Rounding out Ball State's top contributors Friday were sophomore opposite Allison Hamaker (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) with five kills and a .714 (5-0-7) attack percentage, sophomore middle Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) with three blocks and a pair of kills, and freshman Lauren Gilliland (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) with three total blocks and a kill.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team will face its first MAC West Division opponent next week, when it travels to Toledo for matches Thursday (6 p.m.) and Friday (4:30 p.m.).
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The Cardinals (4-0, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) continued to fire on all cylinders, connecting for a .318 (38-10-88) attack percentage against the Bulls (0-4, 0-4 MAC) to complete the two-match series sweep. With the win, BSU has picked up 13 straight victories over league foes dating back to last season.
Â
"I thought we played an all-around consistent game today and stayed balanced throughout on a quick turnaround from last night," acting head coach Fritz Rosenberg said. "Overall, everyone on the team came ready to play which leads to everyone getting to share in the success we had this weekend."
Â
In addition to the solid offensive numbers, the Ball State defense turned in a strong performance with seven total blocks and 53 digs to limit Buffalo to a .030 (21-18-99) rate of success. The Cardinals' defense leads the MAC by limiting opponents to a .095 attack percentage so far this season.
Â
"I thought we got off to some quick starts each set which set the tone for our side today," Rosenberg added. "Credit to the team for being ready to play right from the start and being able to reset each game as well."
Â
Individually, it was a season-high 14 kills from senior outside hitter Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township) which would pave the way for the Ball State victory. She has collected double-digit kills in three of the Cardinals' four wins this season, and hit a season-best .357 (14-4-28) this afternoon against Buffalo.
Â
"I thought Kia played well today," Rosenberg said about the team's leading attacker and blocker. "We leaned on her more in today's match and she continues to lead us and played a great match all-around."
Â
Holder also turned in a solid effort on defense, leading all players with a career-high six total blocks (one solo and five assists).Â
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Ball State's dynamic "Natalie duo" also turned in strong offensive efforts, with sophomore opposite Natalie Mitchem (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) smashing eight kills and sophomore outside hitter Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) scoring seven.
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In the backcourt, sophomore libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) echoed her performance from last night by collecting a match-high 17 digs, while adding four assists.Â
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Sophomore defensive specialist Chloe Rickenbach (Avon, Ind./Avon) also secured double-digit digs with 10, the same total she scored last night. She also served up three of Ball State's eight aces.
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Redshirt sophomore Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) and freshman setter Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) combined to run the offense, dishing out 18 and 11 assists, respectively. Grussing added nine digs and an ace to her stat line, while Vinson logged four digs.
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Rounding out Ball State's top contributors Friday were sophomore opposite Allison Hamaker (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) with five kills and a .714 (5-0-7) attack percentage, sophomore middle Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) with three blocks and a pair of kills, and freshman Lauren Gilliland (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) with three total blocks and a kill.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team will face its first MAC West Division opponent next week, when it travels to Toledo for matches Thursday (6 p.m.) and Friday (4:30 p.m.).
Team Stats
BSU
UB
Kills
38
21
Errors
10
18
Attempts
88
99
Hitting %
.318
.030
Points
53
28
Assists
35
18
Aces
8
3
Blocks
7
4
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS / S
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