Friday, September 6
Lexington, KY
4:30 p.m.
Ball State University
3-1,0-0MAC
3
vs
1
James Madison
2-2,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Ball St.
27
25
25
25
3
James Madison
25
27
20
17
1
Photo by: Brayden Goins / Ball State Athletics
Volleyball Battles Past JMU in Kentucky Invitational Opener
September 06, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team found itself trailing 24-20 in the first set versus James Madison Friday afternoon in its opening match of the Kentucky Invitational at Memorial Coliseum.
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Battling a Dukes (2-2) squad which finished the 2023 season ranked 25th in the RPI and earned a berth in its second consecutive NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals (3-1) were able to score the next four points and eventually win the frame 27-25.
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"Our set one comeback was a huge confidence boost, and it all started with our defensive playmaking," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "I was proud of our focus and ability to keep battling regardless of the scoreboard, and that tenacity paid off."
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Ball State played with the same energy the remainder of the night to pull off a 3-1 (27-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-17) victory in its first of three straight matches versus Top 25 RPI teams from a year ago.
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In a match which saw four Cardinals reach double-digit kills, it was freshman outside Carson Tyler who stole the show. Tyler finished the night with a career-high 21 kills and hit an impressive .347 (21-4-49) in just her fourth collegiate outing. She also collected eight digs, two blocks and was perfect in serve receive, facing a team-high 27 serves.
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"Carson got better and better as the match went on," Phillips said. "She was consistent and played hard, which helped everyone around her play better. I am not surprised by her results at all."
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Of Tyler's 21 kills, nine came in the final set as Ball State built a 7-2 advantage and went on to win by the same margin on the freshman's final kill of the night.
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Also reaching double figures for the Cardinals from the attack line were redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy with 14, graduate middle Aayinde Smith with 13 and junior opposite Madison Buckley with 10.Â
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It was the second straight match Kennedy has reached double-digit kills, while Smith reached double figures for the first time in her Ball State career.
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Along with its solid effort from the attack line, which was aided by a match-high 57 assists from senior setter Megan Wielonski, the Cardinals also put together a solid defensive effort.
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In fact, the defense limited a JMU squad which ranked 47th nationally with a .273 hitting mark to a season-low .180 rate of success. The defensive effort included 11 total blocks and 76 digs.
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"Defense was really the name of the game tonight," Phillips added. "We made plays and put pressure on JMU which was a huge difference maker. We have to keep that defensive tenacity every time out."
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Smith and sophomore middle Gwen Crull led the way with four block each, while seven different Cardinals were credited with at least two blocks on the night.
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The backcourt was led by freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter who was credited with a career-high 27 digs. She also finished the night perfect in reception on 15 attempts. Wielonski was second on the squad with 12 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Elizabeth Tabeling added a career-high 11.
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"We really needed everyone who contributed tonight," Phillips concluded. "I felt like we really battled tonight, didn't worry about the numbers, but just played hard. Good things happen when you do that."
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Savanah Cockrill led the Dukes with 12 kills, while Jaydyn Clemmer recorded a team-high 17 digs and Annie Smith earned a match-high seven total blocks.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team will be in for another tough test Saturday, when it squares off versus No. 7 Penn State at 5 p.m. in its second match of the three-day Kentucky Invitational. The Cardinals battle No. 9 Kentucky Sunday at 2 p.m.
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Battling a Dukes (2-2) squad which finished the 2023 season ranked 25th in the RPI and earned a berth in its second consecutive NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals (3-1) were able to score the next four points and eventually win the frame 27-25.
Â
"Our set one comeback was a huge confidence boost, and it all started with our defensive playmaking," head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. "I was proud of our focus and ability to keep battling regardless of the scoreboard, and that tenacity paid off."
Â
Ball State played with the same energy the remainder of the night to pull off a 3-1 (27-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-17) victory in its first of three straight matches versus Top 25 RPI teams from a year ago.
Â
In a match which saw four Cardinals reach double-digit kills, it was freshman outside Carson Tyler who stole the show. Tyler finished the night with a career-high 21 kills and hit an impressive .347 (21-4-49) in just her fourth collegiate outing. She also collected eight digs, two blocks and was perfect in serve receive, facing a team-high 27 serves.
Â
"Carson got better and better as the match went on," Phillips said. "She was consistent and played hard, which helped everyone around her play better. I am not surprised by her results at all."
Â
Of Tyler's 21 kills, nine came in the final set as Ball State built a 7-2 advantage and went on to win by the same margin on the freshman's final kill of the night.
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Also reaching double figures for the Cardinals from the attack line were redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy with 14, graduate middle Aayinde Smith with 13 and junior opposite Madison Buckley with 10.Â
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It was the second straight match Kennedy has reached double-digit kills, while Smith reached double figures for the first time in her Ball State career.
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Along with its solid effort from the attack line, which was aided by a match-high 57 assists from senior setter Megan Wielonski, the Cardinals also put together a solid defensive effort.
Â
In fact, the defense limited a JMU squad which ranked 47th nationally with a .273 hitting mark to a season-low .180 rate of success. The defensive effort included 11 total blocks and 76 digs.
Â
"Defense was really the name of the game tonight," Phillips added. "We made plays and put pressure on JMU which was a huge difference maker. We have to keep that defensive tenacity every time out."
Â
Smith and sophomore middle Gwen Crull led the way with four block each, while seven different Cardinals were credited with at least two blocks on the night.
Â
The backcourt was led by freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter who was credited with a career-high 27 digs. She also finished the night perfect in reception on 15 attempts. Wielonski was second on the squad with 12 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Elizabeth Tabeling added a career-high 11.
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"We really needed everyone who contributed tonight," Phillips concluded. "I felt like we really battled tonight, didn't worry about the numbers, but just played hard. Good things happen when you do that."
Â
Savanah Cockrill led the Dukes with 12 kills, while Jaydyn Clemmer recorded a team-high 17 digs and Annie Smith earned a match-high seven total blocks.
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The Ball State women's volleyball team will be in for another tough test Saturday, when it squares off versus No. 7 Penn State at 5 p.m. in its second match of the three-day Kentucky Invitational. The Cardinals battle No. 9 Kentucky Sunday at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
BSU
JMU
Kills
64
50
Errors
25
21
Attempts
155
161
Hitting %
.252
.180
Points
78.0
65.0
Assists
63
42
Aces
3
2
Blocks
11
13
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
21
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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