Friday, November 12
Ypsilanti, MI
2 p.m.
Ball State University
25-3,15-1MAC
3
at
1
Eastern Michigan
9-18,4-12MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Ball St.
25
22
25
26
3
Eastern Mich.
18
25
19
24
1
WVB Ups Winning Streak To 15; Tops EMU 3-1
November 12, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
YPSILANTI, Mich. - - When the Ball State women's volleyball team needed someone to step up with the squad trailing 20-16 in the fourth set, outside Jaclyn Bulmahn was there to answer the call.
Bulmahn smashed seven of her match-high 20 kills over the final 14 points to help the Cardinals (25-3; 15-1 Mid-American Conference) extended its current winning streak to 15 matches with a 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24) victory at Eastern Michigan Friday afternoon.
"Jaclyn really stepped up and put us on her back in the fourth set," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She had the hot hand and refused to let us lose. We needed her spark this afternoon!"
With the win, the Cardinals maintain the top spot in the MAC standings and move closer to hosting rights for the 2021 MAC Volleyball Championships in a little over two weeks. Bowling Green (14-1 MAC) is the only team that can overtake the Cardinals, and they open a two-match series at Ohio later this evening.
After trading the first three sets, the pattern looked like it was going to hold in the fourth as the Eagles (9-18; 4-12 MAC) scored the first four points and led by as many as eight, at 18-10, trying to even the match. However, the Cardinals would not be denied the victory at EMU's Convocation Center, scoring 16 of the final 22 points to take the set and the match.
In addition to Bulmahn's 20 kills, which were a Ball State career high for the transfer from Valparaiso, the Cardinals applied consistent defensive pressure to limit the Eastern Michigan attack to a .116 hitting mark.
BSU's 13 total blocks tied as the second-most in a match for the defense this season, with middles Marie Plitt and Lauren Gilliland collecting six apiece. Opposite Natalie Mitchem chipped in with five total blocks as well.
In the backcourt, Ball State held a 65 to 51 advantage in total digs for the match, with libero Maggie Huber tying for match-high honors with 18. Outside Natalie Risi was not far behind with 16.
"We really emphasized our defensive game this week in practice, and I am glad to see that translate over in today's match," Phillips added. "We have to continue to do that tomorrow against a talented EMU offense."
Ball State's offense did not do to bad either, connecting for a .248 rate of success, led by a .381 (11-3-21) hitting mark from Plitt. Mitchem would add 10 kills to join Plitt and Bulmahn in double figures.
Once again Megan Wielonski would guide the Cardinals offense, handing out 42 assists to go along with four kills, nine digs and two total blocks. She also led all players with four service aces in the contest, raising her MAC-leading total to 49 on the year.
Raeven Chase would lead the EMU attack with 19 kills and the defense with five total blocks, while Kamryn Stilwell tied for match-high honors with 18 digs. One statistic the Eagles did win was the service game, collecting 12 aces to BSU's six.
"Today, we learned the value of serve and pass," Phillips concluded. "We talk about it often, but we really saw what a different it can make today."
The Cardinals and Eagles will battle again Saturday with another 2 p.m. first serve at the EMU Convocation Center.
Bulmahn smashed seven of her match-high 20 kills over the final 14 points to help the Cardinals (25-3; 15-1 Mid-American Conference) extended its current winning streak to 15 matches with a 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24) victory at Eastern Michigan Friday afternoon.
"Jaclyn really stepped up and put us on her back in the fourth set," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She had the hot hand and refused to let us lose. We needed her spark this afternoon!"
With the win, the Cardinals maintain the top spot in the MAC standings and move closer to hosting rights for the 2021 MAC Volleyball Championships in a little over two weeks. Bowling Green (14-1 MAC) is the only team that can overtake the Cardinals, and they open a two-match series at Ohio later this evening.
After trading the first three sets, the pattern looked like it was going to hold in the fourth as the Eagles (9-18; 4-12 MAC) scored the first four points and led by as many as eight, at 18-10, trying to even the match. However, the Cardinals would not be denied the victory at EMU's Convocation Center, scoring 16 of the final 22 points to take the set and the match.
In addition to Bulmahn's 20 kills, which were a Ball State career high for the transfer from Valparaiso, the Cardinals applied consistent defensive pressure to limit the Eastern Michigan attack to a .116 hitting mark.
BSU's 13 total blocks tied as the second-most in a match for the defense this season, with middles Marie Plitt and Lauren Gilliland collecting six apiece. Opposite Natalie Mitchem chipped in with five total blocks as well.
In the backcourt, Ball State held a 65 to 51 advantage in total digs for the match, with libero Maggie Huber tying for match-high honors with 18. Outside Natalie Risi was not far behind with 16.
"We really emphasized our defensive game this week in practice, and I am glad to see that translate over in today's match," Phillips added. "We have to continue to do that tomorrow against a talented EMU offense."
Ball State's offense did not do to bad either, connecting for a .248 rate of success, led by a .381 (11-3-21) hitting mark from Plitt. Mitchem would add 10 kills to join Plitt and Bulmahn in double figures.
Once again Megan Wielonski would guide the Cardinals offense, handing out 42 assists to go along with four kills, nine digs and two total blocks. She also led all players with four service aces in the contest, raising her MAC-leading total to 49 on the year.
Raeven Chase would lead the EMU attack with 19 kills and the defense with five total blocks, while Kamryn Stilwell tied for match-high honors with 18 digs. One statistic the Eagles did win was the service game, collecting 12 aces to BSU's six.
"Today, we learned the value of serve and pass," Phillips concluded. "We talk about it often, but we really saw what a different it can make today."
The Cardinals and Eagles will battle again Saturday with another 2 p.m. first serve at the EMU Convocation Center.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Kills
55
46
Errors
21
29
Attempts
138
146
Hitting %
.246
.116
Points
74
67
Assists
51
40
Aces
6
12
Blocks
13
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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