Friday, September 24
Kent, OH
6 p.m.
Ball State University
10-3,0-1MAC
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at
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Kent State
6-7,1-0MAC
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F
Ball St.
25
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26
19
15
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Kent St.
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28
25
17
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Photo by: Julia Kostopolous
WVB Drops Heartbreaker at Kent State
September 24, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio - - Despite holding match point in both the third and fifth sets, the Ball State women's volleyball team could not stop Kent State from rallying for a 3-2 (25-19, 25-13, 26-28, 19-25, 15-17) victory Friday night in the Mid-American Conference opener for both squads.
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It looked to be a quick night for the Cardinals (10-3; 0-1 MAC) who won the first two sets convincingly before a tight third frame.
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However, after falling behind 21-19, the Cardinals used an ace from junior libero Natalie Risi and a kill from junior middle Marie Plitt to reach a pair of match points at 24-22. It was not meant to be, unfortunately, as the Golden Flashes (6-7; 1-0 MAC) battled back to tie the score at 24.
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After one more kill from Plitt gave BSU its third match point at 25-24, KSU scored four of the final five points to win the set 28-26.
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Kent State would carry over the momentum into the fourth, winning it 25-19, only to see the Cardinals surge out to a 9-5 advantage in the fifth. Once again, Kent State would have an answer, tying the score at 11 and then holding the tie to 13-13.
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A kill from sophomore middle Lauren Gilliland followed, giving Ball State its fourth match point at 14-13. However, a Kent State kill would tie the score, while the Golden Flashes won a challenge on the next rally to overturn a BSU point and reach its first match point of the night.
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Ball State was able to stave off KSU's first attempt to win the match, courtesy of an attack error, but back-to-back kills from Melissa Kolurbasi allowed the hosts to escape with the match win.
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Despite the loss, it was another solid offensive effort for the Cardinals who connected for a .272 (68-19-180) attack percentage. Leading the way was Plitt with a career-high 16 kills and a match-best .593 (16-0-27) hitting mark.
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Graduate transfer outside Jaclyn Bulmahn tied Plitt for team-high honors with a Ball State career-high 16 kills, while graduate transfer outside Emily Hollowell added a career-high 13 kills of her own.
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Rounding out Ball State attackers with double figures was junior opposite Natalie Mitchem with 15 kills.
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On the defensive end, junior libero Natalie Risi tied for match-high honors with a season-best 25 digs. Also in double figures in the backcourt were freshman setter Megan Wielonski with 12 digs and junior transfer defensive specialist Havyn Gates with 10.
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At the net, Gilliland led all players with seven total blocks, helping Ball State to a 10.0 to 9.0 edge in that stat. Wielonski added 52 assists to her 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.
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KSU's Savannah Matthews led all players with 27 kills, while Erin Gardner tied Risi for match-high honors with 25 digs. Kent State also hit .251 (69-25-175) as a team.
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Ball State will look to avenge tonight's loss Saturday afternoon, when the teams meet again for a 4 p.m. first serve at the M.A.C. Center.
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It looked to be a quick night for the Cardinals (10-3; 0-1 MAC) who won the first two sets convincingly before a tight third frame.
Â
However, after falling behind 21-19, the Cardinals used an ace from junior libero Natalie Risi and a kill from junior middle Marie Plitt to reach a pair of match points at 24-22. It was not meant to be, unfortunately, as the Golden Flashes (6-7; 1-0 MAC) battled back to tie the score at 24.
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After one more kill from Plitt gave BSU its third match point at 25-24, KSU scored four of the final five points to win the set 28-26.
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Kent State would carry over the momentum into the fourth, winning it 25-19, only to see the Cardinals surge out to a 9-5 advantage in the fifth. Once again, Kent State would have an answer, tying the score at 11 and then holding the tie to 13-13.
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A kill from sophomore middle Lauren Gilliland followed, giving Ball State its fourth match point at 14-13. However, a Kent State kill would tie the score, while the Golden Flashes won a challenge on the next rally to overturn a BSU point and reach its first match point of the night.
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Ball State was able to stave off KSU's first attempt to win the match, courtesy of an attack error, but back-to-back kills from Melissa Kolurbasi allowed the hosts to escape with the match win.
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Despite the loss, it was another solid offensive effort for the Cardinals who connected for a .272 (68-19-180) attack percentage. Leading the way was Plitt with a career-high 16 kills and a match-best .593 (16-0-27) hitting mark.
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Graduate transfer outside Jaclyn Bulmahn tied Plitt for team-high honors with a Ball State career-high 16 kills, while graduate transfer outside Emily Hollowell added a career-high 13 kills of her own.
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Rounding out Ball State attackers with double figures was junior opposite Natalie Mitchem with 15 kills.
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On the defensive end, junior libero Natalie Risi tied for match-high honors with a season-best 25 digs. Also in double figures in the backcourt were freshman setter Megan Wielonski with 12 digs and junior transfer defensive specialist Havyn Gates with 10.
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At the net, Gilliland led all players with seven total blocks, helping Ball State to a 10.0 to 9.0 edge in that stat. Wielonski added 52 assists to her 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.
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KSU's Savannah Matthews led all players with 27 kills, while Erin Gardner tied Risi for match-high honors with 25 digs. Kent State also hit .251 (69-25-175) as a team.
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Ball State will look to avenge tonight's loss Saturday afternoon, when the teams meet again for a 4 p.m. first serve at the M.A.C. Center.
Team Stats
BSU
KentSt
Kills
68
69
Errors
19
25
Attempts
180
175
Hitting %
.272
.251
Points
84
84
Assists
65
65
Aces
6
6
Blocks
10
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH / OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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