Friday, October 4
Mount Pleasant, MI
6 p.m.
Ball State University
8-6,1-2MAC
3
at
2
Central Michigan
12-4,3-1MAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ball St.
25
17
25
18
16
3
Central Mich.
23
25
22
25
14
2
Photo by: Jack Reeber
Volleyball Takes Down MAC-Leading Central Michigan
October 04, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - - Redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy came up with perhaps her biggest kill so far this season at 14-14 in the fifth, and followed with a block assist to help the Ball State women's volleyball team earn a 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 18-25, 16-14) victory over Central Michigan Friday night at McGuirk Arena.
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"We picked up a huge win tonight," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "Playing CMU is always a battle because they are so tough defensively. It felt great to finish with a win."
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In a battle of the league's top two attacking teams, the Cardinals (8-6; 1-2 Mid-American Conference) saved their best for last, hitting .450 (11-2-20) in the fifth set hand the Chippewas (12-4; 3-1 MAC) its first league loss of the season.
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While Kennedy combined with sophomore middle Gwen Crull for the match-winning block, graduate middle Aayinde Smith came up with a huge one of her own a few points earlier, giving Ball State the first match point at 14-13.
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Overall, the Ball State defense produced a season-high 14.0 total blocks to help limit the CMU offense to its lowest rate of success in league play so far this season at .190. Crull would lead the way with six total blocks, while Smith chipped in five. Overall, eight different Cardinals registered at least one block in the win.
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Aided by a match-high 23 kills from freshman outside Carson Tyler and 17 from Kennedy, it was enough for Ball State to walk away from McGuirk with its first #MACtion victory of the season.
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 Tyler, who smashed 20+ kills for the fifth time this season, also led the Ball State offense with a .327 (23-5-55) hitting mark, while the team connected for a .201 rate of success. CMU entered the night ranked seventh nationally by limiting opponents to a .136 hitting percentage.Â
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The setting effort was split tonight, with senior Megan Wielonski seeing action in four of the five sets, while sophomore Lindsey Green set most of the third and all of the fourth. Wielonski would collect 34 assists in the win, while Green finished the night with a career-high 19.
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"We needed everyone tonight and everyone who came in made a major impact in our victory," Phillips continued. "Lindsey really was the spart we needed in set three. We just couldn't get things flowing early and her presence and energy gave us the boost we needed."Â
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In the backcourt, freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter once again paced the Ball State backcourt, collecting 17 digs. Junior defensive specialist Josie Bloom was second with nine, while Wielonski added eight and Kennedy chipped in a career-high seven.
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It was Ledbetter's service ace which would secure the opening set for the Cardinals, as BSU rallied off six of the final seven points in the frame. An 8-0 Ball State run turned a 15-10 deficit into an 18-15 advantage in the third, while Kennedy helped secure the final two points of the fifth to give BSU the match victory.
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Natalia Rejment led four CMU players in double figures with 15 kills, while Hannah Langton collected a match-high 30 digs.
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The Cardinals and Chippewas will square off again Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. first serve at McGuirk Arena.
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"We picked up a huge win tonight," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "Playing CMU is always a battle because they are so tough defensively. It felt great to finish with a win."
Â
In a battle of the league's top two attacking teams, the Cardinals (8-6; 1-2 Mid-American Conference) saved their best for last, hitting .450 (11-2-20) in the fifth set hand the Chippewas (12-4; 3-1 MAC) its first league loss of the season.
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While Kennedy combined with sophomore middle Gwen Crull for the match-winning block, graduate middle Aayinde Smith came up with a huge one of her own a few points earlier, giving Ball State the first match point at 14-13.
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Overall, the Ball State defense produced a season-high 14.0 total blocks to help limit the CMU offense to its lowest rate of success in league play so far this season at .190. Crull would lead the way with six total blocks, while Smith chipped in five. Overall, eight different Cardinals registered at least one block in the win.
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Aided by a match-high 23 kills from freshman outside Carson Tyler and 17 from Kennedy, it was enough for Ball State to walk away from McGuirk with its first #MACtion victory of the season.
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 Tyler, who smashed 20+ kills for the fifth time this season, also led the Ball State offense with a .327 (23-5-55) hitting mark, while the team connected for a .201 rate of success. CMU entered the night ranked seventh nationally by limiting opponents to a .136 hitting percentage.Â
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The setting effort was split tonight, with senior Megan Wielonski seeing action in four of the five sets, while sophomore Lindsey Green set most of the third and all of the fourth. Wielonski would collect 34 assists in the win, while Green finished the night with a career-high 19.
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"We needed everyone tonight and everyone who came in made a major impact in our victory," Phillips continued. "Lindsey really was the spart we needed in set three. We just couldn't get things flowing early and her presence and energy gave us the boost we needed."Â
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In the backcourt, freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter once again paced the Ball State backcourt, collecting 17 digs. Junior defensive specialist Josie Bloom was second with nine, while Wielonski added eight and Kennedy chipped in a career-high seven.
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It was Ledbetter's service ace which would secure the opening set for the Cardinals, as BSU rallied off six of the final seven points in the frame. An 8-0 Ball State run turned a 15-10 deficit into an 18-15 advantage in the third, while Kennedy helped secure the final two points of the fifth to give BSU the match victory.
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Natalia Rejment led four CMU players in double figures with 15 kills, while Hannah Langton collected a match-high 30 digs.
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The Cardinals and Chippewas will square off again Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. first serve at McGuirk Arena.
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Team Stats
BSU
CMU
Kills
60
61
Errors
26
29
Attempts
169
168
Hitting %
.201
.190
Points
77.0
78.0
Assists
58
60
Aces
3
7
Blocks
14
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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