Friday, February 5
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Ball State University
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Photo by: Haley Boehm
Team Effort Leads WVB Past Toledo in Five
February 05, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
TOLEDO, Ohio - - In yet another thriller between the Ball State women's volleyball team and Toledo, it came down to a decisive fifth frame Friday evening at Savage Arena.
After losing the fourth set 25-15, things looked bleak for the Cardinals (5-1, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) heading into the fifth.
However, Ball State would score four of the first five points in the decisive frame and never look back, avenging Thursday's loss to the Rockets (2-4, 2-4 MAC) with a 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 15-25, 15-10) victory.
"There were several turning points for both teams tonight," acting head coach Fritz Rosenberg said. "I am really proud of how our team handled them and was able to remain composed and focused all the way through."
That composure and focus was seen from every player on the court.
It was seen in senior outside hitter Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) who smashed a season-high and match-best 17 kills.
It was seen in sophomore outside hitter Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) who tied her career-high high with 22 digs and added 12 kills for her second straight double-double versus the Rockets this season.
It was seen in sophomore libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) who tied her career high set last night with a match-best 35 digs. She also tied a career high with four service aces.
In fact, according to Rosenberg, it was see in all 13 players who stepped on the court for the Cardinals.
"Tonight was an all-around team effort," Rosenberg exclaimed. " I thought everyone raised their game from last night, starting with our defense. We really showed our maturity and fight to finish off a long week. We got back to Ball State volleyball tonight, and it paid off with a big win over a tough Toledo squad."
Behind Huber and Risi, Ball State's defense held an 80 to 78 advantage in digs, while limiting the Toledo offense to a .176 (57-25-162) attack percentage. That defensive effort was also aided by the play of sophomore middle Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) who had a hand in four of the Cardinals' six total blocks.
On offense, Ball State connected for a .202 (59-25-168) rate of success led by the effort of sophomore opposite Allison Hamaker (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) who followed up her strong performance last night with 14 more kills and a .393 (14-3-28) attack percentage.
Hamaker was the third Cardinals attacker with double-digit kills, joining Holder and Risi.
Two other key contributors on both sides, freshman setter Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) and redshirt sophomore setter Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) who handed out 24 and 25 assists, respective. Vinson added 10 digs for her second career double-double, while Grussing added four.
The Ball State women's volleyball team looks to continue its solid team effort next Thursday, when it opens a four-match homestand with a 7 p.m. first serve versus MAC East Division leader Bowling Green.
After losing the fourth set 25-15, things looked bleak for the Cardinals (5-1, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) heading into the fifth.
However, Ball State would score four of the first five points in the decisive frame and never look back, avenging Thursday's loss to the Rockets (2-4, 2-4 MAC) with a 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 15-25, 15-10) victory.
"There were several turning points for both teams tonight," acting head coach Fritz Rosenberg said. "I am really proud of how our team handled them and was able to remain composed and focused all the way through."
That composure and focus was seen from every player on the court.
It was seen in senior outside hitter Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) who smashed a season-high and match-best 17 kills.
It was seen in sophomore outside hitter Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) who tied her career-high high with 22 digs and added 12 kills for her second straight double-double versus the Rockets this season.
It was seen in sophomore libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) who tied her career high set last night with a match-best 35 digs. She also tied a career high with four service aces.
In fact, according to Rosenberg, it was see in all 13 players who stepped on the court for the Cardinals.
"Tonight was an all-around team effort," Rosenberg exclaimed. " I thought everyone raised their game from last night, starting with our defense. We really showed our maturity and fight to finish off a long week. We got back to Ball State volleyball tonight, and it paid off with a big win over a tough Toledo squad."
Behind Huber and Risi, Ball State's defense held an 80 to 78 advantage in digs, while limiting the Toledo offense to a .176 (57-25-162) attack percentage. That defensive effort was also aided by the play of sophomore middle Marie Plitt (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) who had a hand in four of the Cardinals' six total blocks.
On offense, Ball State connected for a .202 (59-25-168) rate of success led by the effort of sophomore opposite Allison Hamaker (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) who followed up her strong performance last night with 14 more kills and a .393 (14-3-28) attack percentage.
Hamaker was the third Cardinals attacker with double-digit kills, joining Holder and Risi.
Two other key contributors on both sides, freshman setter Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) and redshirt sophomore setter Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) who handed out 24 and 25 assists, respective. Vinson added 10 digs for her second career double-double, while Grussing added four.
The Ball State women's volleyball team looks to continue its solid team effort next Thursday, when it opens a four-match homestand with a 7 p.m. first serve versus MAC East Division leader Bowling Green.
Team Stats
BSU
UT
Kills
59
57
Errors
25
25
Attempts
168
182
Hitting %
.202
.176
Points
71
84
Assists
56
54
Aces
6
13
Blocks
6
14
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS / S
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