Ball State University Athletics
Pair of Volleyball Players Earn MAC Weekly Honors
October 25, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - For their part in helping guide the Ball State women's volleyball team to three crucial Mid-American Conference wins last week, freshman Megan Wielonski has been named the MAC West Division Setter of the Week and junior Natalie Mitchem has been named the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week.
The pair helped the Cardinals improve to 20-3 (10-1 MAC) on the year, run its current winning streak to 10 matches, and become the league's first 20-win team this season following a 3-1 victory over Toledo last Tuesday and a pair of weekend sweeps at Western Michigan.
The Rockets entered the Tuesday contest one match back of the Cardinals for the top spot in the MAC West Division, while the Broncos entered the weekend one match back of BSU. Both are now 7-4 in league play.
In earning MAC Setter of the Week honors for the second consecutive week, Wielonski averaged 11.20 assists per set, 4.20 digs per set, 1.40 kills per set, and led the offense to a combined .279 attack percentage. She started with 43 assists and 17 digs in the four-set win over Toledo, with the Cardinals finishing the match hitting .206 as a squad. She also registered five kills, three service aces, and a block assists in the win.
In Friday's sweep at Western Michigan, Wielonski handed out 30 assists and corralled 10 digs, helping the Ball State offense connect for a .336 attack percentage. She smashed five kills and added two more aces to her season totals. Wielonski followed with 39 more assists in Saturday's sweep. She was also credited with 15 more digs, led BSU to a .320 hitting mark, and scored four kills.
Mitchem, who earns MAC West Division Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career, turned in a solid performance from the right side for the Cardinals last week, averaging 4.40 kills per set and hitting .421 (44-4-95). She started with a career-high tying 21 kills in Tuesday's sweep over Toledo, while hitting .452 (21-2-42). She was also credited with four block assists in the win.
In the weekend series at Western Michigan, Mitchem smashed 11 kills and hit .458 (11-0-24) Friday and followed with 12 kills and a .345 (12-2-29) attack percentage Saturday. Both matches were sweeps for the Cardinals.
Up next for the Ball State women's volleyball team is a Friday (Oct. 29) matchup with MAC leader Bowling Green. The Falcons enter the 6:30 p.m. contest with an unblemished 11-0 league ledger. In addition to being a battle of the top two teams in the MAC, the match will serve as Alumni Night for the program. Ball State women's volleyball alumni can register for the event at BallStateSports.com/WVBAlumni.
Following the battle with Bowling Green, Ball State will host Miami Saturday (Oct. 30) for Chirp or Treat. The FREE community event features trick-or-treating starting at 5:30 p.m. on the Worthen Arena Concourse sponsored by the Ball State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Fans will also receive FREE admissions to the match, which starts at 6:30 p.m., by registering at BallStateSports.com/Halloween.
The pair helped the Cardinals improve to 20-3 (10-1 MAC) on the year, run its current winning streak to 10 matches, and become the league's first 20-win team this season following a 3-1 victory over Toledo last Tuesday and a pair of weekend sweeps at Western Michigan.
The Rockets entered the Tuesday contest one match back of the Cardinals for the top spot in the MAC West Division, while the Broncos entered the weekend one match back of BSU. Both are now 7-4 in league play.
In earning MAC Setter of the Week honors for the second consecutive week, Wielonski averaged 11.20 assists per set, 4.20 digs per set, 1.40 kills per set, and led the offense to a combined .279 attack percentage. She started with 43 assists and 17 digs in the four-set win over Toledo, with the Cardinals finishing the match hitting .206 as a squad. She also registered five kills, three service aces, and a block assists in the win.
In Friday's sweep at Western Michigan, Wielonski handed out 30 assists and corralled 10 digs, helping the Ball State offense connect for a .336 attack percentage. She smashed five kills and added two more aces to her season totals. Wielonski followed with 39 more assists in Saturday's sweep. She was also credited with 15 more digs, led BSU to a .320 hitting mark, and scored four kills.
Mitchem, who earns MAC West Division Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career, turned in a solid performance from the right side for the Cardinals last week, averaging 4.40 kills per set and hitting .421 (44-4-95). She started with a career-high tying 21 kills in Tuesday's sweep over Toledo, while hitting .452 (21-2-42). She was also credited with four block assists in the win.
In the weekend series at Western Michigan, Mitchem smashed 11 kills and hit .458 (11-0-24) Friday and followed with 12 kills and a .345 (12-2-29) attack percentage Saturday. Both matches were sweeps for the Cardinals.
Up next for the Ball State women's volleyball team is a Friday (Oct. 29) matchup with MAC leader Bowling Green. The Falcons enter the 6:30 p.m. contest with an unblemished 11-0 league ledger. In addition to being a battle of the top two teams in the MAC, the match will serve as Alumni Night for the program. Ball State women's volleyball alumni can register for the event at BallStateSports.com/WVBAlumni.
Following the battle with Bowling Green, Ball State will host Miami Saturday (Oct. 30) for Chirp or Treat. The FREE community event features trick-or-treating starting at 5:30 p.m. on the Worthen Arena Concourse sponsored by the Ball State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Fans will also receive FREE admissions to the match, which starts at 6:30 p.m., by registering at BallStateSports.com/Halloween.
Players Mentioned
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