Saturday, October 15
DeKalb, IL
3 p.m.
Ball State University
14-6,6-2MAC
3
at
0
NIU
13-6,6-3MAC
1
2
3
F
Ball St.
25
25
25
3
NIU
13
17
22
0
Team Stats
BSU
NIU
Kills
41
35
Errors
12
25
Attempts
117
119
Hitting %
.248
.084
Points
55
39
Assists
36
31
Aces
4
0
Blocks
10
4
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH / OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
Volleyball Completes Weekend Sweep of NIU
October 15, 2022 | Women's Volleyball
DEKALB, Ill. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team used another solid defensive effort to complete a weekend sweep of Northern Illinois with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-22) victory Saturday afternoon at Victor E. Court.
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For the second straight match, the Cardinals (14-6; 6-2 Mid-American Conference) limited the previously league-leading Huskies (13-6; 6-3 MAC) to a season-low attack percentage. In Friday's four-set win, it was a .166 rate of success. In today's sweep, it was a .084 attack percentage.
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"We turned in a solid all-around match today," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "Our defense was all over the place, making play after play. We also had one of our strongest blocking efforts of the season and served well."
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As a team, the Cardinals tallied 10.0 total blocks, with junior middle Lauren Gilliland and senior opposite Natalie Mitchem tying their career highs with nine and seven, respectively.
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Their play at the net came up big in the opening set, as they combined for five total blocks to help Ball State to a 25-13 victory in the frame. Another key factor in the set, eight digs from senior libero Maggie Huber who ended the day with a match-high 21.
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Ball State carried over the momentum in the second set, winning 25-17 led by four kills on five swings from senior middle Marie Plitt. Plitt finished the match with eight kills and a .727 attack percentage.
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The Cardinals would score the first eight points in the third set, and while NIU managed to cut the lead to one point, at 18-17, BSU would eventually win the frame 25-22 on Mitchem's seventh kill of the night.
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Overall, it was a balanced attack for the Ball State offense which hit .248 (41-12-117) in the contest and had five players score at least 2.00 kills per set.
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Senior outside Natalie Mitchem led all players with 11 kills, while junior outside Cait Snyder tied Plitt for second on the squad with eight. Throw in seven from Mitchem and six from Gilliland and it was a tough offense for the Huskies to counter.
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Setting it all up was sophomore Megan Wielonski who handed out 28 assists to go along with seven digs and a match-best two service aces.
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Nikolette Nedic led the NIU offense with nine kills, while Francesca Bertucci added a team-high 12 digs. Ball State held the edge in every statistical category in the contest, including a 4-to-0 advantage in service aces.
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Next week will be a busy one for the Ball State women's volleyball team which will travel to Toledo Wednesday to battle the Rockets for the top spot in the MAC West Division. Both teams are tied atop the division standings at 6-2.
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After that, the Cardinals will host Western Michigan in a pair of 6 p.m. serves Friday and Saturday at Worthen Arena.
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For the second straight match, the Cardinals (14-6; 6-2 Mid-American Conference) limited the previously league-leading Huskies (13-6; 6-3 MAC) to a season-low attack percentage. In Friday's four-set win, it was a .166 rate of success. In today's sweep, it was a .084 attack percentage.
Â
"We turned in a solid all-around match today," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "Our defense was all over the place, making play after play. We also had one of our strongest blocking efforts of the season and served well."
Â
As a team, the Cardinals tallied 10.0 total blocks, with junior middle Lauren Gilliland and senior opposite Natalie Mitchem tying their career highs with nine and seven, respectively.
Â
Their play at the net came up big in the opening set, as they combined for five total blocks to help Ball State to a 25-13 victory in the frame. Another key factor in the set, eight digs from senior libero Maggie Huber who ended the day with a match-high 21.
Â
Ball State carried over the momentum in the second set, winning 25-17 led by four kills on five swings from senior middle Marie Plitt. Plitt finished the match with eight kills and a .727 attack percentage.
Â
The Cardinals would score the first eight points in the third set, and while NIU managed to cut the lead to one point, at 18-17, BSU would eventually win the frame 25-22 on Mitchem's seventh kill of the night.
Â
Overall, it was a balanced attack for the Ball State offense which hit .248 (41-12-117) in the contest and had five players score at least 2.00 kills per set.
Â
Senior outside Natalie Mitchem led all players with 11 kills, while junior outside Cait Snyder tied Plitt for second on the squad with eight. Throw in seven from Mitchem and six from Gilliland and it was a tough offense for the Huskies to counter.
Â
Setting it all up was sophomore Megan Wielonski who handed out 28 assists to go along with seven digs and a match-best two service aces.
Â
Nikolette Nedic led the NIU offense with nine kills, while Francesca Bertucci added a team-high 12 digs. Ball State held the edge in every statistical category in the contest, including a 4-to-0 advantage in service aces.
Â
Next week will be a busy one for the Ball State women's volleyball team which will travel to Toledo Wednesday to battle the Rockets for the top spot in the MAC West Division. Both teams are tied atop the division standings at 6-2.
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After that, the Cardinals will host Western Michigan in a pair of 6 p.m. serves Friday and Saturday at Worthen Arena.
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