WVB’s Offense Shines in Kelli Miller Phillips 100th Career Win

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team celebrated Halloween one night early, rallying behind a candy-powered crowd to score a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-13) victory over Miami on Chirp or Treat night in Worthen Arena.

The win marked the 100th career victory for Cardinals (22-3; 12-2 Mid-American Conference) head coach Kelli Miller Phillips, who owns a 100-63 (.613) record in her six seasons at the helm. It also pushed Ball State's winning streak to 12 and kept the squad atop the league standings with five regular season matches remaining.

"Every win feels great so that's a great start," Phillips said about the milestone. "I honestly didn't know that was where we're at; 100 wins. I told everyone, players and staff, that I thank them. It's all those guys. They're the ones out there and earn them. I'm very grateful for every single one of them."

It was only fitting Phillips would pick up her 100th career victory against the RedHawks (6-17; 4-9 MAC) who are led by the winningest coach in MAC history. Carolyn Condit's 768 career wins are eighth among active NCAA Division I coaches and rank 24th in NCAA history.

Once again, the story of the match was Ball State's offense, as the Cardinals connected for a .412 (50-10-97) rate of success led by opposite Natalie Mitchem. Mitchem led all players with 15 kills and hit an astonishing .714 (15-0-21). In fact, it's the second straight match, and third of the last four, Mitchem has not logged an attacking error.

"Yesterday, Mitchem's priority was more from a blocking standpoint, so she didn't have quite as many offensive opportunities with our middles going so much," Phillips said. "Right out of the gate tonight, she had the hot hand and played as well as she is capable of playing. She wants to be our go to attacker; she wants to be somebody who is reliable to get the ball for a kill. She is proving time and time again that she can be that person. Tonight, was no different."

Mitchem's strong start, seven kills and a .778 (7-0-9) attack percentage in the opening set, helped Ball State set the tone early. With the Cardinals trailing 3-2, Mitchem registered three kills on the next five rallies to help give BSU a 7-3 edge.

Miami would get no closer than two points the rest of the way, as Ball State pulled ahead 18-11 and still led by five at 22-17. Mitchem's seventh kill of the set would then spark a three-point BSU run to end it. The set-winning kill came off the arm of middle Lauren Gilliland.

The second set was much closer affair, as the teams battled to a 15-15 stalemate. However, the Cardinals scored three of the next four points, with setter Megan Wielonski winning a huge joust at the net to push BSU ahead 18-16.

Middle Marie Plitt followed with a service ace, while an overpass kill from Gilliland allowed the Cardinals to reach 20 first at 20-16. Leading 22-19, Ball State used another Gilliland kill and back-to-back Plitt markers to take the set 25-19.

With Ball State trailing 5-4 early in the third, outside Natalie Risi came to life. She tied the score with her first kill of the set and adding three more over the next seven points to help push BSU ahead 11-6.

The Cardinals would build a 10-point cushion, at 18-8, off a kill from outside Cait Snyder and go on to win the frame 25-13 on Plitt's seventh kill of the night.

Mitchem was not the only Ball State player to finish the night with impressive hitting numbers, as MAC leader Gilliland connected for a 10 kills and hit .588 (10-0-17). Plitt, who was third in the conference entering the night, hit .545 (7-1-11). Snyder also turned in a strong effort with a .667 (5-1-6) attack percentage.

All four were set up by Wielonski who has now guided Ball State to above .400 hitting marks twice this season. She handed out 37 total assists, while scoring three kills of her own. She also served up two more aces, with her 41 total aces on the year ranking in the top 15 nationally.

In the backcourt, libero Maggie Huber led all players with 14 digs, while Wielonski was second with seven. Plitt led all blockers with five total blocks (one solo and four assists).

Overall, the Ball State defense limited Miami to a .196 (32-14-92) hitting percentage. Gaby Harper led the squad with 10 kills, while four different players tied for team-high honors with five digs.

Up next for the Ball State women's volleyball team, a two-match set versus Central Michigan which begins Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Worthen Arena. BSU closes the home portion of the 2021 regular season versus the Chippewas Friday with senior night and another 6:30 p.m. first serve.

"The only thing we need to worry about moving forward is ourselves," Phillips concluded. "We have to coming into each practice and attacking that day. We can't worry about what's to come or what anybody else does. We have a group that understand that, and they enjoy practice and working hard. We need to continue to be us and get better out there every day. That's all we can do."

WVB’s Offense Shines in Kelli Miller Phillips 100th Career Win

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Team Stats

Natalie Mitchem

Lauren Gilliland

Natalie Risi

Marie Plitt

Players Mentioned

Lauren Gilliland

Maggie Huber

Natalie Mitchem

Marie Plitt

Natalie Risi

Cait Snyder

Megan Wielonski

Players Mentioned

Lauren Gilliland

Maggie Huber

Natalie Mitchem

Marie Plitt

Natalie Risi

Cait Snyder

Megan Wielonski