Ball State sweeps Kent State to split weekend series

5th year outside hitter Jaclyn Bulmahn digs the ball to get the play going against Northern Kentucky in Worthen Arena Sept. 17. The Cardinals are 9-2 for the season after beating Northern Kentucky in three sets. Jacy Bradley, DN
5th year outside hitter Jaclyn Bulmahn digs the ball to get the play going against Northern Kentucky in Worthen Arena Sept. 17. The Cardinals are 9-2 for the season after beating Northern Kentucky in three sets. Jacy Bradley, DN

After a 3-2 loss Friday evening, Ball State (11-3, 1-1 MAC) returned Saturday with a 3-0 sweep of Kent State (6-8, 1-1 MAC). The Cardinals win earned them a split of the two-day series.

Head Coach Kelli Miller Phillips felt the Cardinals were motivated from the first set. 

“We should have swept (Kent State) and I think we were upset with ourselves,” Miller Phillips said. “We knew today, we were going to come back with a vengeance. How we are capable of playing is how we played today.” 

Graduate student outside hitter Jaclyn Buhlman finished with 19 kills, a team-high. Graduate student outside hitter Emily Hollowell also recorded double-digit kills (12).

Miller Phillips thought the Cardinals were more prepared for the adjustmnets the Golden Flashes made throughout the match.

Freshman setter Megan Wielonski pumps up her teammates before the next point against Northern Kentucky at Worthen Arena Sept. 18. Wielonski has been a leader for Cardinals in her freshman season. Jacy Bradley, DN

“We were certainly much more prepared for all of the possible options they could have,” Miller Phillips said.

Freshman setter Megan Wielonski led Ball State in assists (30) and digs (11). Junior outside hitter Natalie Risi recorded 10 digs. Miller Phillips was satisifed with the way the Cardinals paced themselves and ultilzied their strenghts.

“Honestly, we were not really focused on their side of the net," Miller Phillips said. "We were mainly locked in on our side of the net and playing how we know we are capable of playing, and making them react to us, instead of us reacting to them. They really didn’t have an answer for us.”

Ball State returns to Worthern Arena Sept. 30 against Ohio. The match begins at 6:30 p.m.

Contact Derran Cobb with comments at derran.cobb@bsu.edu or on Twitter @Derran_cobb

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