One consistent aspect of the Ball State women’s volleyball team this season has been the play of its setter, Jenna Spadafora.
A junior, Spadafora has helped lead the Cardinals through an overall inconsistent offensive season. However, she recently helped deliver Ball State's “best offensive match of the year,” according to head coach Steve Shondell.
Ball State’s starting setter dished out 44 assists in a 3-0 win over Kent State on Oct. 18.
Spadafora helped four of her teammates hit .400 or better in the match, en route to a season-high team .358 attack percentage, one day after Ball State hit just .134 against a stout Ohio defense.
The Cardinal offense has been up and down as the year has progressed, but Spadafora has provided her attackers with consistent opportunities.
She currently has 845 assists on the season, ranking third in the Mid-American Conference. Her 10.06 per set average is good enough for fifth in the league.
While assists remain her main focus, Spadafora said getting involved in killing the ball helps her teammates as well.
“I think it honestly helps my hitters out,” she said after a win over Toledo on Oct. 9. “If I’m attacking I count as a third attacker, so again someone has to be in charge of blocking me, then it opens up our slide and our outside.”
Spadafora has attacked this season to the tune of 90 kills, ranking fifth on the team.
She averages just over a kill per set at 1.07, and has been efficient with a .243 attack percentage.
Passing has become an improved aspect of the Ball State offense, opening up more opportunities for Spadafora to take advantage of opposing defenses.
“Our passers are doing so well that it gives me the opportunity to attack. It just adds all-around to our offense,” she said.
Spadafora gets the offense started as a server during rotation and has 14 service aces on the season.
In addition to contributing offensively, Spadafora has also made an impact on the defensive side, trailing only redshirt junior Hayley Benson with 52 blocks.
Spadafora’s impact is obvious, as she is only one of three Cardinals to play in all of the team’s 84 sets.
As the regular season concludes, Spadafora will look to continue her efficient offensive play, while also contributing to an improved Cardinal defense.
