Saturday, September 24
Mount Pleasant, MI
4 p.m.
Ball State University
8-6,0-2MAC
2
at
3
Central Michigan
9-4,2-0MAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ball St.
25
25
20
22
17
2
Central Mich.
23
12
25
25
19
3
WVB Drops Five-Set Heartbreaker at CMU
September 24, 2022 | Women's Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - - It was not meant to be Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena, as the Ball State women's volleyball team won the opening two sets and held a 14-12 edge in the fifth only to suffer a 3-2 (23-25, 12-25, 25-20, 25-22, 19-17) loss at Central Michigan.
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The Cardinals (8-6; 0-2 Mid-American Conference) looked poised to sweep the match after a dominating 25-12 victory in the second set. However, the Chippewas (9-4; 2-0 MAC) scored eight of the first 10 points in the third to shift the momentum to its side.
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CMU would go on to win the third and fourth frames, setting up an exhilarating fifth-set battle. It was Ball State which would have the early edge in the fifth, playing to a 10-7 edge before CMU fought back to even the score at 12.
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Ball State would regain the momentum briefly, as freshman outside Katie Egenolf smashed a kill and combined with junior middle Lauren Gilliland for a huge block to give BSU a pair of swings for the match.
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Unfortunately, Central Michigan scored the next two points, and survived three more match points from the Cardinals. With the score tied at 17, the Chippewas reached match point for the first time on a block and followed with a kill to end the contest.
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While the Cardinals came up just short on the final scoreboard, it was not for lack of effort. A total of 15 different players saw action for BSU, with nine recording at least one kill and 12 earning at least one dig.
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Senior middle Marie Plitt led the BSU offense with 13 kills, while senior opposite Natalie Mitchem was right behind with 12.Â
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The backcourt was led by senior libero Havyn Gates who finished with a Ball State career-high 33 digs. Gates also registered a .963 (26-for-27) reception percentage and served up a pair of aces.
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"Havyn played solid this weekend," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She brings an intensity and voice to our backcourt and is continuously working to better her game."
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Despite the loss, the Cardinals held a 67-to-62 edge in kills, a 97-to-96 advantage in digs and out-aced CMU by a 13-to-5 margin.
Four of those aces came from sophomore setter Megan Wielonski who collected her ninth double-double of the season with 53 assists and 18 digs. Junior defensive specialist Kate Vinson also served up four aces and finished the match with 16 digs.
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Central Michigan finished the night out-hitting the Cardinals .247-to-.178 and out-blocking BSU 12.0-to-5.0. Natalia Rejment led all players with 14 kills, while Aly Gurtiza chipped in a team-high 25 digs.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena for its next four matches, starting next Friday with a 6 p.m. first serve against Eastern Michigan.
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The Cardinals (8-6; 0-2 Mid-American Conference) looked poised to sweep the match after a dominating 25-12 victory in the second set. However, the Chippewas (9-4; 2-0 MAC) scored eight of the first 10 points in the third to shift the momentum to its side.
Â
CMU would go on to win the third and fourth frames, setting up an exhilarating fifth-set battle. It was Ball State which would have the early edge in the fifth, playing to a 10-7 edge before CMU fought back to even the score at 12.
Â
Ball State would regain the momentum briefly, as freshman outside Katie Egenolf smashed a kill and combined with junior middle Lauren Gilliland for a huge block to give BSU a pair of swings for the match.
Â
Unfortunately, Central Michigan scored the next two points, and survived three more match points from the Cardinals. With the score tied at 17, the Chippewas reached match point for the first time on a block and followed with a kill to end the contest.
Â
While the Cardinals came up just short on the final scoreboard, it was not for lack of effort. A total of 15 different players saw action for BSU, with nine recording at least one kill and 12 earning at least one dig.
Â
Senior middle Marie Plitt led the BSU offense with 13 kills, while senior opposite Natalie Mitchem was right behind with 12.Â
Â
The backcourt was led by senior libero Havyn Gates who finished with a Ball State career-high 33 digs. Gates also registered a .963 (26-for-27) reception percentage and served up a pair of aces.
Â
"Havyn played solid this weekend," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "She brings an intensity and voice to our backcourt and is continuously working to better her game."
Â
Despite the loss, the Cardinals held a 67-to-62 edge in kills, a 97-to-96 advantage in digs and out-aced CMU by a 13-to-5 margin.
Four of those aces came from sophomore setter Megan Wielonski who collected her ninth double-double of the season with 53 assists and 18 digs. Junior defensive specialist Kate Vinson also served up four aces and finished the match with 16 digs.
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Central Michigan finished the night out-hitting the Cardinals .247-to-.178 and out-blocking BSU 12.0-to-5.0. Natalia Rejment led all players with 14 kills, while Aly Gurtiza chipped in a team-high 25 digs.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena for its next four matches, starting next Friday with a 6 p.m. first serve against Eastern Michigan.
Team Stats
BSU
CMU
Kills
67
62
Errors
30
15
Attempts
208
190
Hitting %
.178
.247
Points
85
79
Assists
60
47
Aces
13
5
Blocks
5
12
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH / OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS / S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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