Saturday, November 13
Ypsilanti, MI
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Ball State University
26-3,16-1MAC
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Eastern Michigan
9-19,4-13MAC
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Ball St.
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Eastern Mich.
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Photo by: Steve King - EMU
MAC CHAMPIONS! Volleyball Tops EMU in Five-Set Thriller
November 13, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
YPSILANTI, Mich. - - By rallying to win the final two sets Saturday afternoon, the Ball State women's volleyball team is bringing a championship back to Muncie as it secured the 2021 Mid-American Conference regular season title with a 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 15-9) victory at Eastern Michigan.
"This championship means so much to our team," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips exclaimed. "We've worked so hard and I'm just so proud of the girls! We know we aren't done yet, but we are going to enjoy this tonight!
Coupled with a five-set Bowling Green loss at Ohio, the Cardinals (26-3; 16-1 MAC) secured the program's ninth regular season championship and hosting rights for the 2021 MAC Volleyball Championships, which will be played Nov. 21, 22 & 24 inside Worthen Arena.
Ball State's ninth MAC regular season title is its first since 2010, with the others coming in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2002.
Ball State's 16th consecutive victory would not come easy, as the Eagles (9-19; 4-13 MAC) gave it their all on Senior Day trying to upset the Cardinals. EMU won the first set, and after losing the second, rallied from down 23-20 to take the third.
"This group knows how to battle," Phillips continued. "We've been tested a lot this season and it shows a lot of toughness to be able to trust one another, not overly concern yourself with the score and just play one point at a time. I'm super proud of our team.
However, BSU was able to capitalize on another all-around solid effort on offense to secure the win. Five different Cardinals reached double-figure kills in the match, led by 19 from outside attacker Jaclyn Bulmahn.
The MAC leading attacker by percentage, middle Lauren Gilliland paced all players with a .476 (10-0-21) rate of success. Position mate Marie Plitt was not far behind, hitting .357 (14-4-28), while outside Natalie Risi and opposite Natalie Mitchem rounded out BSU's attackers in double figures with 15 and 11 kills, respectively.
In dishing out a career-high 61 assists to help the Cardinals maintain the most wins among NCAA Division I programs this season, setter Megan Wielonski ran the offense to a .261 (71-23-184) hitting mark. It is the 28th time in 29 matches Ball State has hit over .200 this season. She also collected six digs and a pair of kills.
In addition to tying her season-high with 15 kills, Risi was one of four Cardinals to reach double-digit digs, earning her fourth double-double of the season with 14. She also served up BSU's only two aces in the contest.
Libero Maggie Huber led the BSU defense with 23 digs, while defensive specialists Havyn Gates and Cathryn Starck were credited with 16 and 14, respectively.
"We continue to learn about ourselves each and every weekend," Phillips concluded. "We are battling and every single person on our roster is critical for our team's success. They all want it for each other and for BSU. I'm just so proud of this group."
Overall, the Ball State defense limited Eastern Michigan to a .191 (61-28-173) attack percentage for the match, with Samantha Basham tying for match-high honors with 19 kills. EMU libero Kamryn Stilwell led all players with 26 digs, while a match high six blocks from Makayla Smith helped slow down the BSU attack.
The Ball State women's volleyball team closes the 2021 regular season Wednesday, when it travels to Toledo for a 6 p.m. first serve.
"This championship means so much to our team," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips exclaimed. "We've worked so hard and I'm just so proud of the girls! We know we aren't done yet, but we are going to enjoy this tonight!
Coupled with a five-set Bowling Green loss at Ohio, the Cardinals (26-3; 16-1 MAC) secured the program's ninth regular season championship and hosting rights for the 2021 MAC Volleyball Championships, which will be played Nov. 21, 22 & 24 inside Worthen Arena.
Ball State's ninth MAC regular season title is its first since 2010, with the others coming in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2002.
Ball State's 16th consecutive victory would not come easy, as the Eagles (9-19; 4-13 MAC) gave it their all on Senior Day trying to upset the Cardinals. EMU won the first set, and after losing the second, rallied from down 23-20 to take the third.
"This group knows how to battle," Phillips continued. "We've been tested a lot this season and it shows a lot of toughness to be able to trust one another, not overly concern yourself with the score and just play one point at a time. I'm super proud of our team.
However, BSU was able to capitalize on another all-around solid effort on offense to secure the win. Five different Cardinals reached double-figure kills in the match, led by 19 from outside attacker Jaclyn Bulmahn.
The MAC leading attacker by percentage, middle Lauren Gilliland paced all players with a .476 (10-0-21) rate of success. Position mate Marie Plitt was not far behind, hitting .357 (14-4-28), while outside Natalie Risi and opposite Natalie Mitchem rounded out BSU's attackers in double figures with 15 and 11 kills, respectively.
In dishing out a career-high 61 assists to help the Cardinals maintain the most wins among NCAA Division I programs this season, setter Megan Wielonski ran the offense to a .261 (71-23-184) hitting mark. It is the 28th time in 29 matches Ball State has hit over .200 this season. She also collected six digs and a pair of kills.
In addition to tying her season-high with 15 kills, Risi was one of four Cardinals to reach double-digit digs, earning her fourth double-double of the season with 14. She also served up BSU's only two aces in the contest.
Libero Maggie Huber led the BSU defense with 23 digs, while defensive specialists Havyn Gates and Cathryn Starck were credited with 16 and 14, respectively.
"We continue to learn about ourselves each and every weekend," Phillips concluded. "We are battling and every single person on our roster is critical for our team's success. They all want it for each other and for BSU. I'm just so proud of this group."
Overall, the Ball State defense limited Eastern Michigan to a .191 (61-28-173) attack percentage for the match, with Samantha Basham tying for match-high honors with 19 kills. EMU libero Kamryn Stilwell led all players with 26 digs, while a match high six blocks from Makayla Smith helped slow down the BSU attack.
The Ball State women's volleyball team closes the 2021 regular season Wednesday, when it travels to Toledo for a 6 p.m. first serve.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Kills
71
61
Errors
23
28
Attempts
184
173
Hitting %
.261
.191
Points
79
73.5
Assists
68
59
Aces
2
2
Blocks
6
10.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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