
Seven Straight; Volleyball Scores 3-1 Win At Bowling Green
October 07, 2023 | Women's Volleyball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - - The Ball State women's volleyball team closed its four-match road swing with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21) victory over Bowling Green Saturday afternoon at the Stroh Center.
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With the win, the Cardinals' (9-8; 6-0 Mid-American Conference) remain undefeated in league play and extend its current winning streak to seven matches. The victory is also Ball State's eighth straight on the Falcons' (7-10; 1-6 MAC) home court and avenges a loss to BGSU in last season's MAC Volleyball Championship Match played in Worthen Arena.
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The Cardinals scored the first three points of the afternoon and jumped out to an early 10-3 edge in a run powered by four kills from freshman outside Aniya Kennedy and four service aces. BGSU would get no closer than three points the rest of the frame, with a kill from senior outside Cait Snyder ending the set at 25-21.
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With Bowling Green leading 13-12 in the second set, another Snyder kill and a service ace from senior defensive specialist Kate Vinson helped spark a 4-0 run, giving Ball State control of the set. The Cardinals would go on to win the frame 25-20 on a blast from Kennedy.
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Ball State held a 15-12 edge in the third set after a block from Kennedy and sophomore opposite Madison Buckley, but Bowling Green countered with the next five points. BSU would stay within two, at 22-20, but BGSU scored three of the final four points to extend the match.
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The Falcons led 17-13 midway through the fourth set, only to see the Cardinals storm back and even the score at 18. BGSU tallied the next two points, but back-to-back blasts from Kennedy helped spark a six-point run to give Ball State match point. Two rallies later, Kennedy ended it with her career-high 21st kill of the day.
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It was the second straight match Kennedy tallied a career high in kills, while she also secured three blocks and a dig. Buckley finished with 10 kills and a team-best .364 (10-2-22) attack percentage, while Snyder scored nine kills.
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In the backcourt, fifth-year libero Havyn Gates was credited with a team-high 13 digs, while Vinson collected 10 in just her fourth match of the season.
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Rounding out Ball State's top contributors in the backrow was junior setter Megan Wielonski who earned her eighth double-double of the season with 12 digs and 42 assists. She also ran the Cardinals offense to a .260 (53-19-131) rate of success while scoring four more kills and tying for match-high honors with two aces.
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Ball State also turned in another solid effort at the net, posting 8.0 team blocks, while by four from freshman Camryn Wise. The effort helped limit Bowling Green to a .204 (55-25-147) hitting percentage.
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Lauryn Hovey led the BGSU attack with 17 kills, while Lindsey LaPinta tallied a match-high 17 digs.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena Thursday (Oct. 12) when it opens a three-match homestand with a 6 p.m. first serve versus Akron. The Cardinals and Zips will also square off at 6 p.m. Friday (Oct. 13) for Dig Pink night.
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With the win, the Cardinals' (9-8; 6-0 Mid-American Conference) remain undefeated in league play and extend its current winning streak to seven matches. The victory is also Ball State's eighth straight on the Falcons' (7-10; 1-6 MAC) home court and avenges a loss to BGSU in last season's MAC Volleyball Championship Match played in Worthen Arena.
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The Cardinals scored the first three points of the afternoon and jumped out to an early 10-3 edge in a run powered by four kills from freshman outside Aniya Kennedy and four service aces. BGSU would get no closer than three points the rest of the frame, with a kill from senior outside Cait Snyder ending the set at 25-21.
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With Bowling Green leading 13-12 in the second set, another Snyder kill and a service ace from senior defensive specialist Kate Vinson helped spark a 4-0 run, giving Ball State control of the set. The Cardinals would go on to win the frame 25-20 on a blast from Kennedy.
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Ball State held a 15-12 edge in the third set after a block from Kennedy and sophomore opposite Madison Buckley, but Bowling Green countered with the next five points. BSU would stay within two, at 22-20, but BGSU scored three of the final four points to extend the match.
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The Falcons led 17-13 midway through the fourth set, only to see the Cardinals storm back and even the score at 18. BGSU tallied the next two points, but back-to-back blasts from Kennedy helped spark a six-point run to give Ball State match point. Two rallies later, Kennedy ended it with her career-high 21st kill of the day.
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It was the second straight match Kennedy tallied a career high in kills, while she also secured three blocks and a dig. Buckley finished with 10 kills and a team-best .364 (10-2-22) attack percentage, while Snyder scored nine kills.
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In the backcourt, fifth-year libero Havyn Gates was credited with a team-high 13 digs, while Vinson collected 10 in just her fourth match of the season.
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Rounding out Ball State's top contributors in the backrow was junior setter Megan Wielonski who earned her eighth double-double of the season with 12 digs and 42 assists. She also ran the Cardinals offense to a .260 (53-19-131) rate of success while scoring four more kills and tying for match-high honors with two aces.
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Ball State also turned in another solid effort at the net, posting 8.0 team blocks, while by four from freshman Camryn Wise. The effort helped limit Bowling Green to a .204 (55-25-147) hitting percentage.
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Lauryn Hovey led the BGSU attack with 17 kills, while Lindsey LaPinta tallied a match-high 17 digs.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena Thursday (Oct. 12) when it opens a three-match homestand with a 6 p.m. first serve versus Akron. The Cardinals and Zips will also square off at 6 p.m. Friday (Oct. 13) for Dig Pink night.
Team Stats
BSU
BGSU
Kills
53
55
Errors
19
25
Attempts
131
147
Hitting %
.260
.204
Points
69.0
69.0
Assists
49
52
Aces
8
7
Blocks
8
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Players Mentioned
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