Saturday, September 14
Bloomington, IN
11 a.m.
Ball State University
3
vs
0
Southern Indiana
WVB Spilts Saturday Action at Indiana Invitational
September 14, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - - Led by a season-high 13 kills from junior opposite Madison Buckley, the Ball State women's volleyball team opened the second day of the Indiana Invitational with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-17) sweep in its first-ever meeting with Southern Indiana.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals (5-4) fell two points shy of a reverse sweep in the nightcap, suffering a 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-27, 15-13) to tournament host Indiana in the championship match.
"It's tough when you're so close but can't finish it off," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We battled hard and continue to learn a lot about ourselves; where we have to keep working and where we have to get better. It was a good experience to play in another big-time environment. All this will help us in the long run."
MATCH 1 RECAP: Ball State 3 – Southern Indiana 0
Much like yesterday's sweep of Chicago State, Ball State was able to get a majority of its roster some playing experience in the win, as 17 different student-athletes saw action.
In all, nine different Cardinals scored at least one kill and 11 were credited with at least one dig.
Right behind Buckley's 13 tallies, and .345 (13-3-29) hitting percentage, was redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy with 10 kills. They were the only two players to reach double digit kills in the match.
Graduate middle Aayinde Smith added eight kills and once again led all players with five total blocks. All three attackers were set up by senior setter Megan Wielonski who dished out 37 assists and ran the offense at a .310 clip.
Wielonski also tallied 11 digs in the win for her second assist/dig double-double of the season, while serving up one of Ball State's three aces.
Once again Sophie Ledbetter led the Ball State backcourt, this time collecting 21 digs. It is her third career match with 20+ digs. She was also perfect in serve receive on 13 attempts, as was freshman outside Carson Tyler in her 14 attempts. Tyler also added five digs, four kills and a service ace to her stat line.
The Cardinals solid defensive play helped limit the Screaming Eagles (2-6) attack to a .100 hitting mark. Ashby Willis led the squad with nine kills, while Keira Moore had a team-high 18 digs.
MATCH 2 RECAP: Ball State 2 – Indiana 3
Things looked bleak for Ball State after the first two sets in the nightcap as the Hoosiers (6-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead. However, the Cardinals would fight back to win the next two sets to force a deciding fifth frame.
Tyler played a huge role in the fourth-set win, smashing nine of her team-high 21 kills to help keep the Cardinals hopes of a reverse sweep alive.
Unfortunately, the host Hoosiers would regain the momentum by jumping out to an 8-3 edge in the fifth. Ball State would battle back within one at 10-9, and again at 13-12, but could not overcome the early deficit.
Along with her match-high 21 kills, Tyler finished the night with a career-best .385 (21-6-39) attack percentage and a career-high nine digs.
"Carson was huge tonight, both attacking and with her ball control," Phillips added. "We count on her to do a ton of things for us and she's really risen to the challenge time and time again."
Overall, the Ball State offense was able to finish the night with a .274 hitting mark with Wielonski picking up her second double-double of the day with 46 assists and a team-high 16 digs. Wielonski also led the squad at the net with three total blocks.
She also helped sophomore outside Kendall Barnes finish the match with a season-high 12 kills, while helping Buckley and Smith chip in 11 apiece. It is the second match this season Ball State has had four attackers reach double-digit kills.
Ledbetter was second on the squad with 12 digs and seven assists, while serving up BSU's lone ace of the evening.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals defense was able to limit IU to a .244 team attack percentage, including a .150 effort in the fifth frame. Avry Tatum led the Hoosiers with 225 kills, while Ramsey Gary secured a match-high 21 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Thursday when it travels to Butler for a 7 p.m. first serve. The following night, the Cardinals host Wright State at 6 p.m. in its first of three consecutive home matches.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals (5-4) fell two points shy of a reverse sweep in the nightcap, suffering a 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-27, 15-13) to tournament host Indiana in the championship match.
"It's tough when you're so close but can't finish it off," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "We battled hard and continue to learn a lot about ourselves; where we have to keep working and where we have to get better. It was a good experience to play in another big-time environment. All this will help us in the long run."
MATCH 1 RECAP: Ball State 3 – Southern Indiana 0
Much like yesterday's sweep of Chicago State, Ball State was able to get a majority of its roster some playing experience in the win, as 17 different student-athletes saw action.
In all, nine different Cardinals scored at least one kill and 11 were credited with at least one dig.
Right behind Buckley's 13 tallies, and .345 (13-3-29) hitting percentage, was redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy with 10 kills. They were the only two players to reach double digit kills in the match.
Graduate middle Aayinde Smith added eight kills and once again led all players with five total blocks. All three attackers were set up by senior setter Megan Wielonski who dished out 37 assists and ran the offense at a .310 clip.
Wielonski also tallied 11 digs in the win for her second assist/dig double-double of the season, while serving up one of Ball State's three aces.
Once again Sophie Ledbetter led the Ball State backcourt, this time collecting 21 digs. It is her third career match with 20+ digs. She was also perfect in serve receive on 13 attempts, as was freshman outside Carson Tyler in her 14 attempts. Tyler also added five digs, four kills and a service ace to her stat line.
The Cardinals solid defensive play helped limit the Screaming Eagles (2-6) attack to a .100 hitting mark. Ashby Willis led the squad with nine kills, while Keira Moore had a team-high 18 digs.
MATCH 2 RECAP: Ball State 2 – Indiana 3
Things looked bleak for Ball State after the first two sets in the nightcap as the Hoosiers (6-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead. However, the Cardinals would fight back to win the next two sets to force a deciding fifth frame.
Tyler played a huge role in the fourth-set win, smashing nine of her team-high 21 kills to help keep the Cardinals hopes of a reverse sweep alive.
Unfortunately, the host Hoosiers would regain the momentum by jumping out to an 8-3 edge in the fifth. Ball State would battle back within one at 10-9, and again at 13-12, but could not overcome the early deficit.
Along with her match-high 21 kills, Tyler finished the night with a career-best .385 (21-6-39) attack percentage and a career-high nine digs.
"Carson was huge tonight, both attacking and with her ball control," Phillips added. "We count on her to do a ton of things for us and she's really risen to the challenge time and time again."
Overall, the Ball State offense was able to finish the night with a .274 hitting mark with Wielonski picking up her second double-double of the day with 46 assists and a team-high 16 digs. Wielonski also led the squad at the net with three total blocks.
She also helped sophomore outside Kendall Barnes finish the match with a season-high 12 kills, while helping Buckley and Smith chip in 11 apiece. It is the second match this season Ball State has had four attackers reach double-digit kills.
Ledbetter was second on the squad with 12 digs and seven assists, while serving up BSU's lone ace of the evening.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals defense was able to limit IU to a .244 team attack percentage, including a .150 effort in the fifth frame. Avry Tatum led the Hoosiers with 225 kills, while Ramsey Gary secured a match-high 21 digs.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Thursday when it travels to Butler for a 7 p.m. first serve. The following night, the Cardinals host Wright State at 6 p.m. in its first of three consecutive home matches.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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