Saturday, October 16
Muncie, IN
3 p.m.
Ball State University
17-3,7-1MAC
3
vs
0
Northern Illinois
9-10,3-6MAC
1
2
3
F
Northern Ill.
14
14
23
0
Ball St.
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Ball State Sports Link
Volleyball Ups Winning Streak to Seven with Another Sweep of NIU
October 16, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team ran its winning streak to seven matches with another dominating 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-23) victory over Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon in Mid-American Conference play in Worthen Arena.
Â
It was yet another solid day for the Cardinals' (17-3; 7-1 MAC) offense which connected for a .302 (46-11-116) attack percentage in the win. It was BSU's fifth match hitting above .300 this season, and the fourth time in MAC action.
Â
"We are definitely continuing to build confidence," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "When you're winning matches and playing well, confidence is earned. But at the same time, I think we understand that we need to continue to get better. Our focus in practice has to be great, because we know we still have a long way to go to reach the goals we have."
Â
Leading the Ball State attack for the second straight match versus the Huskies (9-10; 3-5 MAC) was outside Jaclyn Bulmahn with 11 kills and a .333 (11-2-27) attack percentage. Bulmahn smashed a match-best 12 kills in Friday's sweep, giving her a total of 23 for a 3.83 kills-per-set average on the weekend.
Â
Middle Lauren Gilliland also had a strong match, blasting eight kills and hitting .400 (9-1-20). The effort moved her back ahead of teammate and fellow middle Marie Plitt for the top attacking percentage in the league this season at .367.
Â
Plitt finished Saturday's contest with six kills and a .235 (6-2-17) hitting mark and is second in the MAC with a .361 attack percentage on the year. Plitt, who capped the match with her sixth kill, also led all players at the net with four total blocks.
Â
Rounding out Ball State's top attackers were opposite Natalie Mitchem with nine kills and outside Natalie Risi with eight. Much like last night, Risi came up with another pivotal solo block late in the third set of today's win.
Â
With NIU attempting to tie the score at 22, Risi recorded her fourth solo stuff of the weekend to keep the momentum on BSU's side and force an NIU timeout. The Cardinals would go on to win the set 25-23 to complete the two-match sweep.
Â
Libero Maggie Huber led the Ball State defense with 14 digs, while Risi was close behind with 10. In addition to running the offense at a .302 clip, setter Megan Wielonski added three kills, nine digs and three more service aces. She now has 34 total aces on the year to lead all MAC players.
Â
Nikolette Nedic led the Northern Illinois attack for the second time in Muncie, blasting a match-high 14 kills. NIU libero Francesca Bertucci led all players with 18 digs.
Â
It will be a quick turnaround for the Ball State women's volleyball team which hosts Toledo for a 6:30 p.m. first serve Tuesday in Worthen Arena.
Â
"We've got some big matches coming up, so we're going to continue to prepare like we have been." Plitt said about the upcoming week. "We're going to continue to practice well, work on our defense, and keep doing good things."
Â
The Rockets enter the match with a 15-5 (6-2 MAC) record coming off a weekend spilt with Western Michigan, who the Cardinals will visit Friday and Saturday of next week.
Â
"We have three really big divisional matchups this week," Phillips added. "A big part of our success is going to be our recovery and how quickly we can prepare for three more tough league battles. In order for us to succeed, we have to play hard on our side of the net and take care of business."
Â
It was yet another solid day for the Cardinals' (17-3; 7-1 MAC) offense which connected for a .302 (46-11-116) attack percentage in the win. It was BSU's fifth match hitting above .300 this season, and the fourth time in MAC action.
Â
"We are definitely continuing to build confidence," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "When you're winning matches and playing well, confidence is earned. But at the same time, I think we understand that we need to continue to get better. Our focus in practice has to be great, because we know we still have a long way to go to reach the goals we have."
Â
Leading the Ball State attack for the second straight match versus the Huskies (9-10; 3-5 MAC) was outside Jaclyn Bulmahn with 11 kills and a .333 (11-2-27) attack percentage. Bulmahn smashed a match-best 12 kills in Friday's sweep, giving her a total of 23 for a 3.83 kills-per-set average on the weekend.
Â
Middle Lauren Gilliland also had a strong match, blasting eight kills and hitting .400 (9-1-20). The effort moved her back ahead of teammate and fellow middle Marie Plitt for the top attacking percentage in the league this season at .367.
Â
Plitt finished Saturday's contest with six kills and a .235 (6-2-17) hitting mark and is second in the MAC with a .361 attack percentage on the year. Plitt, who capped the match with her sixth kill, also led all players at the net with four total blocks.
Â
Rounding out Ball State's top attackers were opposite Natalie Mitchem with nine kills and outside Natalie Risi with eight. Much like last night, Risi came up with another pivotal solo block late in the third set of today's win.
Â
With NIU attempting to tie the score at 22, Risi recorded her fourth solo stuff of the weekend to keep the momentum on BSU's side and force an NIU timeout. The Cardinals would go on to win the set 25-23 to complete the two-match sweep.
Â
Libero Maggie Huber led the Ball State defense with 14 digs, while Risi was close behind with 10. In addition to running the offense at a .302 clip, setter Megan Wielonski added three kills, nine digs and three more service aces. She now has 34 total aces on the year to lead all MAC players.
Â
Nikolette Nedic led the Northern Illinois attack for the second time in Muncie, blasting a match-high 14 kills. NIU libero Francesca Bertucci led all players with 18 digs.
Â
It will be a quick turnaround for the Ball State women's volleyball team which hosts Toledo for a 6:30 p.m. first serve Tuesday in Worthen Arena.
Â
"We've got some big matches coming up, so we're going to continue to prepare like we have been." Plitt said about the upcoming week. "We're going to continue to practice well, work on our defense, and keep doing good things."
Â
The Rockets enter the match with a 15-5 (6-2 MAC) record coming off a weekend spilt with Western Michigan, who the Cardinals will visit Friday and Saturday of next week.
Â
"We have three really big divisional matchups this week," Phillips added. "A big part of our success is going to be our recovery and how quickly we can prepare for three more tough league battles. In order for us to succeed, we have to play hard on our side of the net and take care of business."
Team Stats
NIU
BSU
Kills
38
46
Errors
19
11
Attempts
116
116
Hitting %
.164
.302
Points
43
58
Assists
34
43
Aces
0
6
Blocks
5
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballWomen's Volleyball // Wise and VanOort Reaction
Monday, September 22
This Week in Ball State Sports // Mike Uremovich, Ally Becki, Qua Ashley & Kelli Miller Phillips
Thursday, September 18
Women's Volleyball // 2025 First Practice Recap
Tuesday, August 05
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01