Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Ball State
Chippewas Fall In 3 To Ball State
9/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -Despite Miani Bolden having the hot hand, tallying 13 kills on a .556 attack percentage, the Central Michigan volleyball team dropped a Mid-American Conference decision to Ball State on Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
The 3-0 loss left the Chippewas 9-5, 1-1 MAC. CMU is slated to hit the road for a matchup against rival Western Michigan (9-4, 2-0) on Friday (7 p.m.) and Northern Illinois (1-16, 0-2 MAC) on Saturday (8 p.m.).
It was a back and fourth effort between the teams, with Ball State taking the sets, 25-18, 33-31, 26-24.
"1-1 in this conference is okay," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "I think we have bigger goals than just 1-1, but it's better than 0-2. When you're in a position to win and you don't, you get frustrated. When you're right there and for whatever reason you fall short, it's a different kind of frustration. We just have to be two points better, and that's our focus for Friday."
Bolden recorded an .818 attack percentage through the first two sets and finished with four block assists. The middle blocker had nine kills in CMU's five-set MAC-opening victory over Toledo on Thursday.
"I was trying to think of what I could do better at my position," said Bolden, a freshman. "I just wanted to execute my game the best I could."
"To get that kind of productivity out of not only a middle blocker, but someone who is somewhat new to the college game is certainly a shot in the arm as far as our offensive productivity," Gawlik said. "She really stepped up."
Freshman Kalina Smith added 11 kills for the Chippewas while Jordan Bueter had nine. Bueter also recorded 13 digs. Freshman setter Grace Butler finished with 45 assists.
Brooklyn Goodsel had a team-high 16 kills for Ball State and also added 15 digs.
The Cardinals had the over attack percentage advantage with .302 against CMU's .190.
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