Tuesday, October 19
Muncie, IN
6:30 p.m.
Ball State University
18-3,8-1MAC
3
vs
1
Toledo
15-6,6-3MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Toledo
25
19
24
20
1
Ball St.
19
25
26
25
3
Photo by: Bobby Ellis (Ball State Creative Services)
Volleyball Grounds Rockets in Tuesday #MACtion
October 19, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In a battle of the top offense and top defense in the Mid-American Conference, something had to give Tuesday night in Worthen Arena.
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After a slow start in the opening set, it looked like the Ball State women's volleyball offense would be victim.
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However, the Cardinals (18-3; 8-1 MAC) found their usual rhythm over the final three frames to earn a 3-1 (19-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-20) victory over Toledo in a pivotal MAC West Division showdown. BSU has now won its last eight matches and is 7-0 at home this season.
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"I thought we started out the match pressing a little too much," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We were amped up for this match. We knew it was a big one and Toledo was going to come out ready to go. Toledo is a great team and they put a lot of pressure on you. After the first set, we settled down, played tough, and played our style."
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The Rockets (15-6; 6-3 MAC) entered the contest limiting opponents to a league-low .163 attack percentage. That defense did the job early, limiting Ball State to a .029 mark in the first set. However, the Cardinals started to click in the second set and finished the match hitting .206. It was the 20th time in 21 matches this season BSU has hit at least .200.
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Leading the way for Ball State was opposite Natalie Mitchem who tied her career high with 21 kills, hit a blistering .452, and came up with four huge blocks to go along with an overall solid night denying the Rockets offense at the net.Â
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Her best offensive effort came in the third set when she smashed eight kills, helping the Cardinals rally from down 22-16 to win the frame 26-24. Mitchem had four kills in the run, which also saw outside Cait Snyder add a solo block and the frame-ending kill. Snyder was one of three Cardinals to end the match with five kills.
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"I thought Natalie Mitchem was a huge block presence for us tonight," Phillips added. "From an attacking and blocking standpoint, she was dialed in and hit her assignment every time. She made a huge difference on our side of the net."
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In addition to Mitchem's solid performance, outside Jaclyn Bulmahn was second on the squad with 12 kills. It is the 15th time this season she had reached double figures, with six of the kills coming in the fourth set.
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In addition to handing out 43 assists and scoring five kills, setter Megan Wielonski served up a match-high three aces. The effort raised her season total to 37 which ranks first in the MAC and is in the top 20 nationally.
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Wielonski also tied for team-high honors with 17 digs, for her 11 assist-dig double-double of the season. Defensive specialist Havyn Gates was the other Ball State defender with 17 digs, while libero Maggie Huber collected 10.
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"I thought we fought really well," Mitchem said. "We knew this would be a really hard match and we had to compete. I feel like our defense was a big part of that. Without our defense we wouldn't have been as a successful as we were, so I really give kudos to our back row."
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Overall, the Cardinals defense limited Toledo to a .195 rate of success, with Taylor Alt smashing 20 kills. Uluave Sinalauli'I led the Rockets with 18 digs and added 13 kills.
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Tuesday's match was the first of four big tests for the Ball State women's volleyball team over the next two weeks. Up next, a two-match series at Western Michigan who enters the match right behind the Cardinals in the MAC West Division standings at 7-2. The team will play at 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday at University Arena.
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After this weekend, the Cardinals return home for its next four matches, staring with a Friday, Oct. 29 date with MAC-leading Bowling Green which entered the week with an 8-0 league ledger. First serve for that contest, which will also serve as Alumni Night for the Ball State women's volleyball program, is set for 6:30 p.m.
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After a slow start in the opening set, it looked like the Ball State women's volleyball offense would be victim.
Â
However, the Cardinals (18-3; 8-1 MAC) found their usual rhythm over the final three frames to earn a 3-1 (19-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-20) victory over Toledo in a pivotal MAC West Division showdown. BSU has now won its last eight matches and is 7-0 at home this season.
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"I thought we started out the match pressing a little too much," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We were amped up for this match. We knew it was a big one and Toledo was going to come out ready to go. Toledo is a great team and they put a lot of pressure on you. After the first set, we settled down, played tough, and played our style."
Â
The Rockets (15-6; 6-3 MAC) entered the contest limiting opponents to a league-low .163 attack percentage. That defense did the job early, limiting Ball State to a .029 mark in the first set. However, the Cardinals started to click in the second set and finished the match hitting .206. It was the 20th time in 21 matches this season BSU has hit at least .200.
Â
Leading the way for Ball State was opposite Natalie Mitchem who tied her career high with 21 kills, hit a blistering .452, and came up with four huge blocks to go along with an overall solid night denying the Rockets offense at the net.Â
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Her best offensive effort came in the third set when she smashed eight kills, helping the Cardinals rally from down 22-16 to win the frame 26-24. Mitchem had four kills in the run, which also saw outside Cait Snyder add a solo block and the frame-ending kill. Snyder was one of three Cardinals to end the match with five kills.
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"I thought Natalie Mitchem was a huge block presence for us tonight," Phillips added. "From an attacking and blocking standpoint, she was dialed in and hit her assignment every time. She made a huge difference on our side of the net."
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In addition to Mitchem's solid performance, outside Jaclyn Bulmahn was second on the squad with 12 kills. It is the 15th time this season she had reached double figures, with six of the kills coming in the fourth set.
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In addition to handing out 43 assists and scoring five kills, setter Megan Wielonski served up a match-high three aces. The effort raised her season total to 37 which ranks first in the MAC and is in the top 20 nationally.
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Wielonski also tied for team-high honors with 17 digs, for her 11 assist-dig double-double of the season. Defensive specialist Havyn Gates was the other Ball State defender with 17 digs, while libero Maggie Huber collected 10.
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"I thought we fought really well," Mitchem said. "We knew this would be a really hard match and we had to compete. I feel like our defense was a big part of that. Without our defense we wouldn't have been as a successful as we were, so I really give kudos to our back row."
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Overall, the Cardinals defense limited Toledo to a .195 rate of success, with Taylor Alt smashing 20 kills. Uluave Sinalauli'I led the Rockets with 18 digs and added 13 kills.
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Tuesday's match was the first of four big tests for the Ball State women's volleyball team over the next two weeks. Up next, a two-match series at Western Michigan who enters the match right behind the Cardinals in the MAC West Division standings at 7-2. The team will play at 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday at University Arena.
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After this weekend, the Cardinals return home for its next four matches, staring with a Friday, Oct. 29 date with MAC-leading Bowling Green which entered the week with an 8-0 league ledger. First serve for that contest, which will also serve as Alumni Night for the Ball State women's volleyball program, is set for 6:30 p.m.
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Team Stats
UT
BSU
Kills
57
54
Errors
27
22
Attempts
154
155
Hitting %
.195
.206
Points
71
68
Assists
55
54
Aces
1
4
Blocks
13
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
21
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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