Friday, October 27
Muncie, IN
6 p.m.
Ball State University
13-10,10-2MAC
3
vs
0
Kent State
5-18,1-11MAC
1
2
3
F
Kent St.
13
14
15
0
Ball St.
25
25
25
3
Volleyball Celebrates Alumni Night With Sweep of Kent State
October 27, 2023 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team scored the first five points Friday and never looked back in a dominating 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-15) victory over Kent State on Alumni Night in Worthen Arena.
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"I was really pleased with our performance," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "The things we focused on in practice this week, getting a better offensive rhythm, getting more balance offensively and being more disciplined with our drop-off defending, I felt like we started to put some things together."
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With nearly 30 of the program's alumni on hand, the Cardinals (13-10; 10-2 Mid-American Conference) put on an offensive clinic by hitting a season-high .443 (49-6-97). It is the sixth-best attack percentage in a match in program history and the third time in her career junior setter Megan Wielonski has set a top-six performance.
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"Having this great alumni turnout is really special," Phillips added. "When you have former players, coaches and staff that are still invested and want to be a part of the program, it speaks volumes. When you get to have them come back, share their memories, share their stories, I love it. I'm excited to be able to chat with the some more tonight."
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Wielonski would finish the match with 35 assists, helping Ball State tally 49 kills. She scored three of the kills herself, while also collecting four digs.
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Fifth-year middle Marie Plitt led all players with 13 kills on the night, hitting an impressive .722 (13-0-18) on her own. The effort ties as the ninth-best individual effort in a match for a Ball State player with at least 15 attempts. Plitt also shined from the back row Friday, collecting five digs and serving up a pair of aces.
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Redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy also put together a strong night, collecting 12 kills and hitting .357 (12-2-28). Also helping the Cardinals attack were freshman middle Camryn Wise with nine kills and sophomore opposite Madison Buckley with seven. Both hit over .500, with a .571 (9-1-14) rate of success for Wise and a .545 (7-1-11) effort for Buckley.
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In the backcourt, fifth-year libero Havyn Gates collected a match-best 10 digs, while senior defensive specialist Kate Vinson and sophomore defensive specialist Josie Bloom added seven apiece.
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The strong defensive effort, coupled with a tough serving presence, helped limit the Golden Flashes (5-18; 1-11 MAC) to a .140 (30-17-93) hitting percentage. Mackenzie McGuire had the most success against the BSU defense with 11 kills. Bryn Roberts was credited with a team-high nine digs.
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"There were some unbelievable physicality matches last weekend at Buffalo," Phillips said. "We took a lot from that weekend. When you are winning all the time, you're nervous to want to change anything. After you drop one, it helps you reset as a coach and a team. I think we have done that and now, my hope, is that we can continue to find our way to our best volleyball by MAC Tournament time."
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The Ball State women's volleyball returns to action Saturday for Chirp or Treat versus Ohio. Tickets for the match are just $5 and fans can Trick or Treat around the Worthen Arena concourse starting at 3 p.m. as Ball State's other teams will be in attendance to hand out candy. The event is sponsored by Ball State SAAC with support from Texas Roadhouse and Raising Cane's. Â
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"I was really pleased with our performance," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "The things we focused on in practice this week, getting a better offensive rhythm, getting more balance offensively and being more disciplined with our drop-off defending, I felt like we started to put some things together."
Â
With nearly 30 of the program's alumni on hand, the Cardinals (13-10; 10-2 Mid-American Conference) put on an offensive clinic by hitting a season-high .443 (49-6-97). It is the sixth-best attack percentage in a match in program history and the third time in her career junior setter Megan Wielonski has set a top-six performance.
Â
"Having this great alumni turnout is really special," Phillips added. "When you have former players, coaches and staff that are still invested and want to be a part of the program, it speaks volumes. When you get to have them come back, share their memories, share their stories, I love it. I'm excited to be able to chat with the some more tonight."
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Wielonski would finish the match with 35 assists, helping Ball State tally 49 kills. She scored three of the kills herself, while also collecting four digs.
Â
Fifth-year middle Marie Plitt led all players with 13 kills on the night, hitting an impressive .722 (13-0-18) on her own. The effort ties as the ninth-best individual effort in a match for a Ball State player with at least 15 attempts. Plitt also shined from the back row Friday, collecting five digs and serving up a pair of aces.
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Redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy also put together a strong night, collecting 12 kills and hitting .357 (12-2-28). Also helping the Cardinals attack were freshman middle Camryn Wise with nine kills and sophomore opposite Madison Buckley with seven. Both hit over .500, with a .571 (9-1-14) rate of success for Wise and a .545 (7-1-11) effort for Buckley.
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In the backcourt, fifth-year libero Havyn Gates collected a match-best 10 digs, while senior defensive specialist Kate Vinson and sophomore defensive specialist Josie Bloom added seven apiece.
Â
The strong defensive effort, coupled with a tough serving presence, helped limit the Golden Flashes (5-18; 1-11 MAC) to a .140 (30-17-93) hitting percentage. Mackenzie McGuire had the most success against the BSU defense with 11 kills. Bryn Roberts was credited with a team-high nine digs.
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"There were some unbelievable physicality matches last weekend at Buffalo," Phillips said. "We took a lot from that weekend. When you are winning all the time, you're nervous to want to change anything. After you drop one, it helps you reset as a coach and a team. I think we have done that and now, my hope, is that we can continue to find our way to our best volleyball by MAC Tournament time."
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The Ball State women's volleyball returns to action Saturday for Chirp or Treat versus Ohio. Tickets for the match are just $5 and fans can Trick or Treat around the Worthen Arena concourse starting at 3 p.m. as Ball State's other teams will be in attendance to hand out candy. The event is sponsored by Ball State SAAC with support from Texas Roadhouse and Raising Cane's. Â
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Team Stats
KentSt
BSU
Kills
30
49
Errors
17
6
Attempts
93
97
Hitting %
.140
.443
Points
32.0
55.0
Assists
28
45
Aces
0
4
Blocks
2
2
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballWomen's Volleyball // 2025 First Practice Recap
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