Saturday, October 5
Mount Pleasant, MI
4 p.m.
Ball State University
8-7,1-3MAC
2
at
3
Central Michigan
13-4,4-1MAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ball St.
25
21
21
25
9
2
Central Mich.
19
25
25
23
15
3
Photo by: Jack Reeber
Season-High 18 Blocks Not Enough in Volleyball Loss at CMU
October 05, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - - It was another five-set thriller in McGuirk Arena Saturday afternoon, unfortunately it was the Ball State women's volleyball team which ended up on the short end of a 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 15-19) decision to Central Michigan.
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"It was another tough match tonight that is continuing to teach us a lot about ourselves and where we must continue to improve," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We had moments of good play, but too many errors at the wrong times that cost us."
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After the Cardinals (8-7; 1-3 Mid-American Conference) used a strong fifth set to earn a hard-fought five-set win Friday night, the Chippewas (13-4; 4-1 MAC) did the same Saturday afternoon. CMU hit .333 (9-2-11) in the final frame, while limiting the Cardinals to a .100 (6-4-20) rate of success to claim the victory between the league's top two offenses entering the weekend.
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Once again, Ball State managed to hold the overall hitting edge, connecting at a .222 (56-21-158) clip compared to CMU's .197 (64-30-173) mark. The Cardinals defensive effort was aided by a season-high 18.0 total blocks, including a career-high 10 from sophomore middle Gwen Crull.
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Graduate middle Aayinde Smith added was not far behind, collecting a Ball State career-high eight total blocks. It was two shy of her career-high 10 total blocks versus Chicago State Oct. 23, 2022, during her junior season at Towson.
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On the offensive front, BSU redshirt freshman Aniya Kennedy led all players with a season-high tying 20 kills, her 10th career match with 20+ kills. She also collected three blocks.
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Freshman outside Carson Tyler and junior opposite Madison Buckley chipped in 12 kills apiece, while adding four and five total blocks, respectively. Meanwhile, Crull and Smith were credited with six apiece to round out the Cardinals' offensive contributors.
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On the defensive front, freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter tied for match-high honors with 17 digs, while senior setter Megan Wielonski added 15. Wielonski was also credited with 46 assists for her 60th career assist/dig double double.
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Speaking for double doubles, Tyler added a career-high 10 digs to her 12 kills for the first of her collegiate career.
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On the CMU side, Lauren Schrick and Abby Olin tied for team-high honors with 18 kills each, while Natalia Rejment and Hannah Langton tied Ledbetter for match-high honors with 17 digs.
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It will be a quick turnaround for the Ball State women's volleyball team, as it travels to Miami for a 6:30 p.m. first serve Tuesday.
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"It was another tough match tonight that is continuing to teach us a lot about ourselves and where we must continue to improve," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We had moments of good play, but too many errors at the wrong times that cost us."
Â
After the Cardinals (8-7; 1-3 Mid-American Conference) used a strong fifth set to earn a hard-fought five-set win Friday night, the Chippewas (13-4; 4-1 MAC) did the same Saturday afternoon. CMU hit .333 (9-2-11) in the final frame, while limiting the Cardinals to a .100 (6-4-20) rate of success to claim the victory between the league's top two offenses entering the weekend.
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Once again, Ball State managed to hold the overall hitting edge, connecting at a .222 (56-21-158) clip compared to CMU's .197 (64-30-173) mark. The Cardinals defensive effort was aided by a season-high 18.0 total blocks, including a career-high 10 from sophomore middle Gwen Crull.
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Graduate middle Aayinde Smith added was not far behind, collecting a Ball State career-high eight total blocks. It was two shy of her career-high 10 total blocks versus Chicago State Oct. 23, 2022, during her junior season at Towson.
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On the offensive front, BSU redshirt freshman Aniya Kennedy led all players with a season-high tying 20 kills, her 10th career match with 20+ kills. She also collected three blocks.
Â
Freshman outside Carson Tyler and junior opposite Madison Buckley chipped in 12 kills apiece, while adding four and five total blocks, respectively. Meanwhile, Crull and Smith were credited with six apiece to round out the Cardinals' offensive contributors.
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On the defensive front, freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter tied for match-high honors with 17 digs, while senior setter Megan Wielonski added 15. Wielonski was also credited with 46 assists for her 60th career assist/dig double double.
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Speaking for double doubles, Tyler added a career-high 10 digs to her 12 kills for the first of her collegiate career.
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On the CMU side, Lauren Schrick and Abby Olin tied for team-high honors with 18 kills each, while Natalia Rejment and Hannah Langton tied Ledbetter for match-high honors with 17 digs.
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It will be a quick turnaround for the Ball State women's volleyball team, as it travels to Miami for a 6:30 p.m. first serve Tuesday.
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Team Stats
BSU
CMU
Kills
56
64
Errors
21
30
Attempts
158
173
Hitting %
.222
.197
Points
80.0
83.0
Assists
52
57
Aces
6
9
Blocks
18
10
Game Leaders
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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