Tuesday, September 13
Muncie, IN
6 p.m.
Ball State University
8-2,0-0MAC
2
vs
3
Dayton
6-4,0-0Atlantic 10
1
2
3
4
5
F
Dayton
17
25
25
23
15
3
Ball St.
25
21
17
25
12
2
Team Stats
UD
BSU
Kills
69
62
Errors
22
26
Attempts
185
184
Hitting %
.254
.196
Points
88
78
Assists
63
59
Aces
7
6
Blocks
12
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH / OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS / S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
WVB Suffers Five-Set Setback to Dayton
September 13, 2022 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - It was another five-set thriller in Worthen Arena Tuesday night, but unfortunately it was the Ball State women's volleyball team came up a few points short in a 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) setback to Dayton.
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After falling behind two sets to one in the match, the Cardinals (8-2) battled back from down 19-15 in the fourth to force a deciding fifth frame.
"We showed we are capable of playing at a high level when we are locked into doing so," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said after the match. "But we have to figure out how to play at that level for an entire match. Â That's got to be a leadership thing. We have to dig deeper and figure out how we can play consistently hard and at that level all the time, not just when it's a pressure situation. That's a learning curve we are still working through."
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This looked promising for the Cardinals early in the fifth after redshirt junior middle Cailyn Bolser scored three straight kills to give the hosts a 4-2 edge. However, the Flyers (6-4) battled back and eventually won the frame.
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"Cailyn was a huge spark for us," Phillips said. "She finished the match hitting .500 and was a big energy presence. She did exactly what we needed her to do in that situation; come in, give us a spark, and show that we are capable of scoring if we just go out there and hit confidently."
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Bolser finished the match with a career-high 11 kills and hit .500 (11-1-20), with all her offense coming in the final three sets.
"When you get the chance to go in, you know that's what you've been put in for," Bolser said. "You need to bring some energy, be a spark. I was just excited to get the chance to do it and even though the match did not go our way, hopefully I proved that I can do it anytime we need it."
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With the guests from Ohio focused on shutting down Ball State's dynamic middle duo of senior Marie Plitt and junior Lauren Gilliland, the Cardinals had to shift gears and move to the outside early.
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Leading the charge in the opening portion of the match for Ball State was senior opposite Natalie Mitchem who nine of her team-high 13 kills in the opening two sets. Senior outside Natalie Risi also started strong with six of her 10 kills in the opening two frames.
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Overall, for Cardinals scored double figures kills in the contest, with junior outside Cait Snyder earning a season-high 12 to round out the group.
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On the defensive end, the Cardinals also had four players collect double-figure digs, led by a Ball State career-high 24 from senior libero Havyn Gates. Risi and sophomore setter Megan Wielonski added 19 digs apiece, as each finished the match with double-doubles.
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Rounding out the quartet was junior defensive specialist Kate Vinson at 13. Senior defensive specialist Maggie Huber led Ball State's primary passers with a .947 (17-for-18).
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In addition to her 19 digs, Wielonski dished out 49 assists and led the Ball State offense to a .196 (62-26-184) rate of success.
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Despite being limited to seven kills, Plitt played a big role at the net with a team-high six total blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs.
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On the other side of the net, Lexie Almodovar led the Dayton attack with 21 kills, while the Flyers connected for a .254 (69-22-185) rate of success as a team. Dayton also held a 90-to-89 edge in digs, a 12.0-to-10.0 advantage in blocks, and a 7-to-6 lead in service aces.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Friday, with a 4 p.m. first serve versus Northern Kentucky as part of the Stacey Clark Classic hosted by Purdue. The Cardinals will face the 10th-ranked Boilermakers at 4 p.m. Saturday.
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After falling behind two sets to one in the match, the Cardinals (8-2) battled back from down 19-15 in the fourth to force a deciding fifth frame.
"We showed we are capable of playing at a high level when we are locked into doing so," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said after the match. "But we have to figure out how to play at that level for an entire match. Â That's got to be a leadership thing. We have to dig deeper and figure out how we can play consistently hard and at that level all the time, not just when it's a pressure situation. That's a learning curve we are still working through."
Â
This looked promising for the Cardinals early in the fifth after redshirt junior middle Cailyn Bolser scored three straight kills to give the hosts a 4-2 edge. However, the Flyers (6-4) battled back and eventually won the frame.
Â
"Cailyn was a huge spark for us," Phillips said. "She finished the match hitting .500 and was a big energy presence. She did exactly what we needed her to do in that situation; come in, give us a spark, and show that we are capable of scoring if we just go out there and hit confidently."
Â
Bolser finished the match with a career-high 11 kills and hit .500 (11-1-20), with all her offense coming in the final three sets.
"When you get the chance to go in, you know that's what you've been put in for," Bolser said. "You need to bring some energy, be a spark. I was just excited to get the chance to do it and even though the match did not go our way, hopefully I proved that I can do it anytime we need it."
Â
With the guests from Ohio focused on shutting down Ball State's dynamic middle duo of senior Marie Plitt and junior Lauren Gilliland, the Cardinals had to shift gears and move to the outside early.
Â
Leading the charge in the opening portion of the match for Ball State was senior opposite Natalie Mitchem who nine of her team-high 13 kills in the opening two sets. Senior outside Natalie Risi also started strong with six of her 10 kills in the opening two frames.
Â
Overall, for Cardinals scored double figures kills in the contest, with junior outside Cait Snyder earning a season-high 12 to round out the group.
Â
On the defensive end, the Cardinals also had four players collect double-figure digs, led by a Ball State career-high 24 from senior libero Havyn Gates. Risi and sophomore setter Megan Wielonski added 19 digs apiece, as each finished the match with double-doubles.
Â
Rounding out the quartet was junior defensive specialist Kate Vinson at 13. Senior defensive specialist Maggie Huber led Ball State's primary passers with a .947 (17-for-18).
Â
In addition to her 19 digs, Wielonski dished out 49 assists and led the Ball State offense to a .196 (62-26-184) rate of success.
Â
Despite being limited to seven kills, Plitt played a big role at the net with a team-high six total blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs.
Â
On the other side of the net, Lexie Almodovar led the Dayton attack with 21 kills, while the Flyers connected for a .254 (69-22-185) rate of success as a team. Dayton also held a 90-to-89 edge in digs, a 12.0-to-10.0 advantage in blocks, and a 7-to-6 lead in service aces.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Friday, with a 4 p.m. first serve versus Northern Kentucky as part of the Stacey Clark Classic hosted by Purdue. The Cardinals will face the 10th-ranked Boilermakers at 4 p.m. Saturday.
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