Volleyball Falls To CMU In MAC Opener

Friday, September 23

Mount Pleasant, MI

6 p.m.

Ball State University

8-5,0-1MAC

Central Michigan

8-4,1-0MAC

Ball St.

Central Mich.

September 23, 2022 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score: Ball State 1 - CMU 3

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - - Despite a hot start, the Ball State women's volleyball team opened Mid-American Conference play with a 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-19) setback to Central Michigan Friday evening at McGuirk Arena.

With a pair of freshmen in the starting lineup for the first time in their careers, the Cardinals (8-5; 0-1 MAC) hit a blistering .552 (18-2-29) to take the opening set. Unfortunately, a fired up Chippewas (8-4; 1-0 MAC) squad playing its first home match of the season bounced back to win the final three frames.

Ball State freshman outside Katie Egenolf made the most of her first collegiate start, smashing a match-high and career-best 15 kills. That went along with a .273 (15-6-33) attack percentage, as well as a dig and solo block.

"Katie played aggressively and with confidence tonight," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We've seen that out of her in practice and I'm not surprised at all by her performance."

Add three more Cardinals with double-digit kills, senior outside Natalie Risi at 14, senior middle Marie Plitt at 13, and junior middle Lauren Gilliland at 10, and the Cardinals finished the contest with a 64-to-61 edge in the category.

Unfortunately, CMU committed 12 fewer attack errors to finish with a .316 (61-12-155)-to-.250 (64-24-160) attack advantage to earn the victory.

Also making her first collegiate start for BSU was freshman opposite Madison Buckley, who finished the match with five kills and a .333 (5-1-12) attack percentage. Four of those five kills came in the opening set.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior libero Havyn Gates led five Cardinals in double figures with 17 digs. Junior defensive specialist Kate Vinson was right behind with 16.

Sophomore setter Megan Wielonski added her eighth double-double of the season, handing out 53 assists to go along with 15 digs. Risi earned her sixth double-double of the season with 12 digs, while senior defensive specialist Maggie Huber rounded out Ball State's defenders in double figures with 10 digs.

Elly Medendorp paced a quartet of CMU attackers in double figures with 14 kills to go along with a match-best .520 (14-1-25) attack percentage. Aly Gurtiza led all defenders with 21 digs.

"We have to learn how to enjoy the pressure of competition," Phillips added. "We have to keep getting better, keep working and taking things one match at a time."

The Ball State women's volleyball team will look to avenge tonight's loss Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. first serve against the Chippewas.