Wednesday, November 15
Toledo, OH
6 p.m.
Ball State University
16-13,13-5MAC
0
at
3
Toledo
13-16,11-7MAC
1
2
3
F
Ball St.
23
18
13
0
Toledo
25
25
25
3
Volleyball Falls To Toledo in Regular Season Finale
November 15, 2023 | Women's Volleyball
TOLEDO, Ohio - - After dropping a close opening set, the Ball State women's volleyball team was never able to regain its momentum Wednesday night in a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18. 25-13) setback to Toledo at Savage Arena.
"Sometimes, you just have matches were nothing seems to go your way and tonight was one of those nights," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "The MAC season ends tonight, and from here on out, it's postseason time. It's a new season and a new opportunity to reach our goal of competing in the NCAA Tournament."
The loss, coupled with a Buffalo sweep at Akron, means the Cardinals (16-13; 13-5 Mid-American Conference) will enter the 2023 MAC Women's Volleyball Championship as the No. 3 seed and battle No. 6 seed Bowling Green Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
The entire tournament will be hosted by top-seeded Western Michigan and played at WMU's University Arena.
Ball State played well early, jumping out to a 17-13 lead in the opening set on junior setter Megan Wielonski's first of three aces. Unfortunately, the hosts would chip away at the lead and ultimately tie the score at 21. The Rockets (13-16; 11-7 MAC) would follow with back-to-back service aces, pulling ahead 23-21, before alternating kills to win the frame 25-23.
The Cardinals held another early lead in the second frame, at 11-9, only to see UT score nine of the next 11 to take control. The Rockets would win the set 25-18.
Toledo jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set, forcing a quick Ball State timeout. BSU would battle back within one, at 9-8, on a kill from freshman outside Kendall Barnes. However, the Rockets followed with the next four points and never looked back.
Once again, redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy led the Ball State offense, this time blasting 11 kills. Unfortunately, no other Cardinals attacker registered more than five kills as BSU was limited to a .152 (28-14-92) hitting percentage.
Fifth-year libero Havyn Gates led the Ball State backcourt with 11 digs, while four Cardinals tied for match-high honors with two blocks apiece. Overall, BSU held a 4.0 to 2.0 edge in total blocks, the only stat the team won.
"I still believe in every person on this team," Phillips added. "I still believe we will win the MAC Tournament and I am excited for the weekend ahead."
Taylor Alt led the Toledo attack with 12 kills, while Ryann Jaqua collected a match-high 20 digs. The Rockets hit .299 as a team, while serving up nine total aces.
"Sometimes, you just have matches were nothing seems to go your way and tonight was one of those nights," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "The MAC season ends tonight, and from here on out, it's postseason time. It's a new season and a new opportunity to reach our goal of competing in the NCAA Tournament."
The loss, coupled with a Buffalo sweep at Akron, means the Cardinals (16-13; 13-5 Mid-American Conference) will enter the 2023 MAC Women's Volleyball Championship as the No. 3 seed and battle No. 6 seed Bowling Green Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
The entire tournament will be hosted by top-seeded Western Michigan and played at WMU's University Arena.
Ball State played well early, jumping out to a 17-13 lead in the opening set on junior setter Megan Wielonski's first of three aces. Unfortunately, the hosts would chip away at the lead and ultimately tie the score at 21. The Rockets (13-16; 11-7 MAC) would follow with back-to-back service aces, pulling ahead 23-21, before alternating kills to win the frame 25-23.
The Cardinals held another early lead in the second frame, at 11-9, only to see UT score nine of the next 11 to take control. The Rockets would win the set 25-18.
Toledo jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set, forcing a quick Ball State timeout. BSU would battle back within one, at 9-8, on a kill from freshman outside Kendall Barnes. However, the Rockets followed with the next four points and never looked back.
Once again, redshirt freshman outside Aniya Kennedy led the Ball State offense, this time blasting 11 kills. Unfortunately, no other Cardinals attacker registered more than five kills as BSU was limited to a .152 (28-14-92) hitting percentage.
Fifth-year libero Havyn Gates led the Ball State backcourt with 11 digs, while four Cardinals tied for match-high honors with two blocks apiece. Overall, BSU held a 4.0 to 2.0 edge in total blocks, the only stat the team won.
"I still believe in every person on this team," Phillips added. "I still believe we will win the MAC Tournament and I am excited for the weekend ahead."
Taylor Alt led the Toledo attack with 12 kills, while Ryann Jaqua collected a match-high 20 digs. The Rockets hit .299 as a team, while serving up nine total aces.
Team Stats
BSU
UT
Kills
28
48
Errors
14
16
Attempts
92
107
Hitting %
.152
.299
Points
37.0
59.0
Assists
25
39
Aces
5
9
Blocks
4
2
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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