Saturday, March 27
Ypsilanti, MI
4 p.m.
Ball State University
9-12,9-12MAC
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at
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Eastern Michigan
8-12,8-12MAC
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Ball St.
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Eastern Mich.
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Photo by: Bobby Ellis (Ball State Creative Services)
Holder’s 27 Kills Can’t Power WVB Past EMU in Tight Season Finale
March 27, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
YPSILANTI, MICH. -- Senior outside hitter Kia Holder smashed a career-high 27 kills Saturday, but the Ball State women's volleyball team came up agonizingly short in its season finale at Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals rallied from two sets down, forcing a decisive fifth frame, only to see the Eagles emerge by the smallest of margins, 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25, 15-13).
"Kia was unreal tonight," BSU head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She left it all on the court, and I'm so proud of her. What a career.
"EMU played much better tonight, and we struggled to score besides Kia and Mitch. I thought our defensive effort was good but just came up short. It's hard to have another two-point loss, but I know this young group will learn from this experience and use it as motivation to work this summer to be ready in the fall."
BSU (9-12) could not muster the same rhythm it had one night earlier when it swept EMU (8-12) in the first match of this weekend's back-to-back.
The Cardinals' attack percentage dropped from .303 in Friday night's win to .168 on Saturday. Natalie Mitchem again joined Holder in double-figure kills with 15, while Lauren Gilliland led the way with seven total blocks.
BSU setters Esther Grussing and Kate Vinson combined for 50 assists, with Vinson adding 10 digs for a double-double. She was one of three Cardinals in double-figure digs, joining Maggie Huber (19) and Chloe Rickenback (13).
Ball State was right there in the first set, tied at 17-all, before Eastern Michigan pulled away down the stretch. The teams then traded wins in second and third sets that could not have been any tighter.
The fourth set appeared to be going that way, too, until the Cardinals seized control with a run of seven straight points on the way to forcing a fifth.
Ball State rallied from three points down in the decisive frame to tie the score at 12-all, but Eastern Michigan won three of the next four points to finish it off.
Franki Strefling paced three EMU players in double-figure kills with 19, while Raeven Chase led all player with 15 total blocks.
Saturday marked the third time this season Ball State suffered a loss by two points in a fifth set. With neither team qualifying for this year's four-team MAC Tournament, Saturday's match closed out the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season for both.
The Cardinals rallied from two sets down, forcing a decisive fifth frame, only to see the Eagles emerge by the smallest of margins, 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25, 15-13).
"Kia was unreal tonight," BSU head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She left it all on the court, and I'm so proud of her. What a career.
"EMU played much better tonight, and we struggled to score besides Kia and Mitch. I thought our defensive effort was good but just came up short. It's hard to have another two-point loss, but I know this young group will learn from this experience and use it as motivation to work this summer to be ready in the fall."
BSU (9-12) could not muster the same rhythm it had one night earlier when it swept EMU (8-12) in the first match of this weekend's back-to-back.
The Cardinals' attack percentage dropped from .303 in Friday night's win to .168 on Saturday. Natalie Mitchem again joined Holder in double-figure kills with 15, while Lauren Gilliland led the way with seven total blocks.
BSU setters Esther Grussing and Kate Vinson combined for 50 assists, with Vinson adding 10 digs for a double-double. She was one of three Cardinals in double-figure digs, joining Maggie Huber (19) and Chloe Rickenback (13).
Ball State was right there in the first set, tied at 17-all, before Eastern Michigan pulled away down the stretch. The teams then traded wins in second and third sets that could not have been any tighter.
The fourth set appeared to be going that way, too, until the Cardinals seized control with a run of seven straight points on the way to forcing a fifth.
Ball State rallied from three points down in the decisive frame to tie the score at 12-all, but Eastern Michigan won three of the next four points to finish it off.
Franki Strefling paced three EMU players in double-figure kills with 19, while Raeven Chase led all player with 15 total blocks.
Saturday marked the third time this season Ball State suffered a loss by two points in a fifth set. With neither team qualifying for this year's four-team MAC Tournament, Saturday's match closed out the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season for both.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Kills
63
64
Errors
32
31
Attempts
185
181
Hitting %
.168
.182
Points
78
84
Assists
59
62
Aces
3
3
Blocks
12
17
Game Leaders
Kills
27
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS / S
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