Workforce Effort Leads WVB Previous Toledo in 5

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2/11/2021 | 19 o’clock

ESPN3 / ESPN +

SL Digital

TOLEDO, Ohio – Another thriller between the Ball State women’s volleyball team and Toledo saw a pivotal fifth frame on Friday night at Savage Arena.

After losing the fourth set at 25:15, things looked bleak for the Cardinals (5-1, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) in fifth place.

Ball State, however, would score four of the first five points in a crucial frame and never look back to claim Thursday’s loss to the Rockets (2-4, 2-4 MAC) with a 3-2 (25-23, 21-25) avenge, 25-19, 15-25, 15-10) victory.

“Tonight there were several turning points for both teams,” said the reigning head coach Fritz Rosenberg said. “I’m really proud of the way our team handled them and I was able to stay calm and focused all the way.”

That serenity and focus was seen by every player on the pitch.

It was seen in Senior Outside Batsman Kia Holder (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) who hit a season high and the best 17 kills.

It was seen outside of Batsman for the sophomore year Natalie Risi (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Preparatory) who combined her career high with 22 digs and added 12 kills for her second straight double against the Rockets this season.

It was seen in the sophomore year Libero Maggie Huber (Loveland, Ohio / Ursuline Academy) which connected her career high with the best 35 digs last night. She also has a career tied high with four service aces.

In fact, according to Rosenberg, it was seen in all 13 players who stepped on for the Cardinals.

“Tonight was an all-round team effort,” exclaimed Rosenberg. “I thought everyone raised their game from last night, starting with our defense. We really showed our maturity and are struggling to end a long week. We got back to Ball State Volleyball tonight and it worked out with us a big win over a tough player paid off Toledo squad. “

Behind Huber and Risi, Ball State’s defense had an 80-78 lead, while the Toledo offensive was limited to an attack percentage of 0.176 (57-25-162). These defensive efforts were also helped by the second-center game Marie splits (Loveland, Ohio / Loveland) who had a hand in four of the cardinals’ six blocks.

On the offensive, Ball State combined with a success rate of 0.202 (59-25-168), led by the second opponent’s efforts Allison Hamaker (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) who continued their strong performance last night with 14 more kills and an attack percentage of 0.393 (14-3-28).

Hamaker was the Cardinals’ third attacker with double-digit kills, joining Holder and Risi.

Two other key contributors on both sides, freshman setters Kate Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) and Redshirt sophomore setter Esther Grussing (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) who distributed 24 and 25 templates respectively. Vinson added 10 digs for her second career as a double-double while Grussing added four.

Ball State’s women’s volleyball team plans to continue its solid team performance next Thursday when it opens a four-game homestand with a first serve at 7 p.m. against Bowling Green, head of the MAC East Division.