Tuesday, November 12
Muncie, Ind.
6 p.m.
Miami University
at
Ball State University
RedHawks Travel to Ball State Tuesday Evening
11/11/2024 3:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
THIS WEEK: The RedHawks close out away play at Ball State on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. This match will be available to watch on ESPN+.
ABOUT BALL STATE: Kelli Miller Phillips is currently in her ninth season as the head coach of the Ball State Cardinals. She holds a 167-96 record as a head coach with the Cardinals. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Ball State was selected to finish third overall in the MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll. This year the Cardinals are 18-8 (11-4 MAC), most recently sweeping Toledo in a pair of matches. Ball State is currently on an eight-match win streak.
Ball State ranks among conference leaders in multiple statistical categories. The Cardinals are first in the MAC in hitting percentage (0.263) and opponent digs per set (12.32). Ball State stands at second in points per set (17.25), opponent assists per set (10.88) and opponent kills per set (11.70). They also hold the third spot in blocks per set (2.41). and opponent hitting percentage (0.188).
Numerous Cardinals lead the MAC in overall statistics. Megan Wielonski ranks fifth in assists per set (8.65) and third in service aces per set (0.48). Aayinde Smith ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.335) and Carson Tyler is sixth in kills per set (3.28). Tyler is seventh in points per set (3.69) as well. Gwen Crull has knocked down 1.15 blocks per set to take the fourth spot in the MAC, with Smith following closely behind at sixth (1.14 per set) in the conference.Â
The all-time series is 47-39 in favor of Ball State. The last time Miami took on the Cardinals the RedHawks fell 1-3 on Oct. 8, 2024.Â
TELEVISION:Â Tuesday's match will be available to watch on ESPN+.Â
UP NEXT: Miami closes out the 2024 season by hosting Northern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
ACE SHOW: The RedHawks enter this week ranked 62nd in the nation in aces per set (1.72) and 61st in team service aces (163). Miami is second in the Mid-American Conference in service aces per set, with Ana Vetter (0.33) leading the way as she is tied for sixth in the MAC in aces per set. Ava Francis (0.29) and Ellie Hanson (0.26) rank just outside the top 10 of the MAC.
MAC LEADERS: Gentry Warrick currently ranks 94th nationally and third in the MAC in blocks per set (1.16). She also finds herself at 68th in the country and fourth in the MAC in total blocks (110). Anna McClure has totaled 3.74 digs per set, which puts her at eighth overall in the MAC.Â
WARRICK WATCH: Junior middle hitter Gentry Warrick is climbing several Miami career and season top 10 lists this season. Here is where she stands entering Miami's next match:
• Blocks per set in a season: 1.16 (eighth all-time)
• Career blocks per set: 0.91 (tied for ninth all-time)
• Career solo blocks: 53 (one away from tying 10th place all-time)
SHOWING OUT: In a five-set victory over Kent State, the RedHawks set numerous personal bests. Chelsea Williams led all players with a career-high 23 kills, and Sophie Crawford led each team with a career-best 48 assists. Lydia Michelin also totaled the most kills (13) of her career with a .522 hitting percentage. Miami set its highest mark of the season as a team in assists (78), hitting percentage (.283) and kills (81).
CRAWFORD SET FOR SUCCESS: Freshman setter Sophie Crawford's first start for the Red and White came at the Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Ind., where she promptly earned All-Tournament honors with her family in attendance cheering her on. Saying that sports run in Crawford's family might be a bit of an understatement. Her father, Chris Crawford, was drafted by the MLB's Houston Astros but went on to play for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks from 1997-2004. Her mother, Stacy (Stanton) Crawford, was a two-sport athlete at Indiana State, including earning All-Conference recognition in volleyball. To learn more about Sophie, check out the feature story here!
NORFOLK STATE INVITATIONAL: The Red and White got the 2024 season off to a fast start, going 3-0 at the Norfolk State Invitational. Miami took a 3-0 season-opening win against Lamar University, swept Gardner-Webb 3-0 and secured a 3-1 victory over tournament host Norfolk State. Redshirt junior outside hitter Ava Francis was named the tournament MVP. She finished with 33 kills, an average of 3.30 per set, and also contributed four blocks. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by redshirt sophomore libero Anna McClure, who totaled 41 digs (4.10 per set) and added nine assists.Â
Against the tournament host, Norfolk State, the RedHawks recorded 17 service aces as a team. This mark is the most aces by Miami in a match since Sept. 21, 2018, when Miami put down 14 against the Akron Zips.Â
FINDING THEIR FIT: Two of this season's newcomers that will be counted on to make an immediate impact for Gwitt's first Miami team are Power Five transfers: Ava Francis and Anna McClure. Both players join the RedHawks with multiple years of eligibility remaining (two for Francis and three for McClure) and have bought in right away to Gwitt's vision for the program. To learn more about their story, click here!
THE RAEGAN LANTZ STORY: Raegan Lantz knows exactly when she decided she wanted to play volleyball in college. However, getting to this point hasn't been easy for Lantz. That's because her eighth-grade year wasn't just when she decided to pursue a future in collegiate volleyball. Eighth grade was also when Lantz started battling Type 1 diabetes. To learn more about Raegan's story, click here!
GWITT GEARING UP FOR DEBUT SEASON: When the fifth head coach in Miami Volleyball history met his players for the first time in early February to introduce himself, it didn't take long for the RedHawks to get to work. And while it's been a whirlwind for Gwitt since day one, including finalizing a roster, hiring assistant coaches, updating the locker room, building a culture and finishing a schedule, he is ecstatic about where things stand for the program heading into his first season at the helm. Check out the feature story here!
SPECIAL PROGRAM, SPECIAL PLACE: Dan Gwitt was ready to take the next step. After a journey in volleyball that's included playing at Penn State, serving as the youngest Division I head coach in the country at Centenary, excelling as a recruiter and assistant at Indiana and then most recently returning to his alma mater for the past two seasons, Gwitt felt it was time to move on from Happy Valley and be a college head coach again if the right job opened up. Miami University was the perfect opportunity. To catch up on his decision to become the next head coach of the Miami Volleyball team, click here!
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ABOUT BALL STATE: Kelli Miller Phillips is currently in her ninth season as the head coach of the Ball State Cardinals. She holds a 167-96 record as a head coach with the Cardinals. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Ball State was selected to finish third overall in the MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll. This year the Cardinals are 18-8 (11-4 MAC), most recently sweeping Toledo in a pair of matches. Ball State is currently on an eight-match win streak.
Ball State ranks among conference leaders in multiple statistical categories. The Cardinals are first in the MAC in hitting percentage (0.263) and opponent digs per set (12.32). Ball State stands at second in points per set (17.25), opponent assists per set (10.88) and opponent kills per set (11.70). They also hold the third spot in blocks per set (2.41). and opponent hitting percentage (0.188).
Numerous Cardinals lead the MAC in overall statistics. Megan Wielonski ranks fifth in assists per set (8.65) and third in service aces per set (0.48). Aayinde Smith ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.335) and Carson Tyler is sixth in kills per set (3.28). Tyler is seventh in points per set (3.69) as well. Gwen Crull has knocked down 1.15 blocks per set to take the fourth spot in the MAC, with Smith following closely behind at sixth (1.14 per set) in the conference.Â
The all-time series is 47-39 in favor of Ball State. The last time Miami took on the Cardinals the RedHawks fell 1-3 on Oct. 8, 2024.Â
TELEVISION:Â Tuesday's match will be available to watch on ESPN+.Â
UP NEXT: Miami closes out the 2024 season by hosting Northern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
ACE SHOW: The RedHawks enter this week ranked 62nd in the nation in aces per set (1.72) and 61st in team service aces (163). Miami is second in the Mid-American Conference in service aces per set, with Ana Vetter (0.33) leading the way as she is tied for sixth in the MAC in aces per set. Ava Francis (0.29) and Ellie Hanson (0.26) rank just outside the top 10 of the MAC.
MAC LEADERS: Gentry Warrick currently ranks 94th nationally and third in the MAC in blocks per set (1.16). She also finds herself at 68th in the country and fourth in the MAC in total blocks (110). Anna McClure has totaled 3.74 digs per set, which puts her at eighth overall in the MAC.Â
WARRICK WATCH: Junior middle hitter Gentry Warrick is climbing several Miami career and season top 10 lists this season. Here is where she stands entering Miami's next match:
• Blocks per set in a season: 1.16 (eighth all-time)
• Career blocks per set: 0.91 (tied for ninth all-time)
• Career solo blocks: 53 (one away from tying 10th place all-time)
SHOWING OUT: In a five-set victory over Kent State, the RedHawks set numerous personal bests. Chelsea Williams led all players with a career-high 23 kills, and Sophie Crawford led each team with a career-best 48 assists. Lydia Michelin also totaled the most kills (13) of her career with a .522 hitting percentage. Miami set its highest mark of the season as a team in assists (78), hitting percentage (.283) and kills (81).
CRAWFORD SET FOR SUCCESS: Freshman setter Sophie Crawford's first start for the Red and White came at the Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Ind., where she promptly earned All-Tournament honors with her family in attendance cheering her on. Saying that sports run in Crawford's family might be a bit of an understatement. Her father, Chris Crawford, was drafted by the MLB's Houston Astros but went on to play for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks from 1997-2004. Her mother, Stacy (Stanton) Crawford, was a two-sport athlete at Indiana State, including earning All-Conference recognition in volleyball. To learn more about Sophie, check out the feature story here!
NORFOLK STATE INVITATIONAL: The Red and White got the 2024 season off to a fast start, going 3-0 at the Norfolk State Invitational. Miami took a 3-0 season-opening win against Lamar University, swept Gardner-Webb 3-0 and secured a 3-1 victory over tournament host Norfolk State. Redshirt junior outside hitter Ava Francis was named the tournament MVP. She finished with 33 kills, an average of 3.30 per set, and also contributed four blocks. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by redshirt sophomore libero Anna McClure, who totaled 41 digs (4.10 per set) and added nine assists.Â
Against the tournament host, Norfolk State, the RedHawks recorded 17 service aces as a team. This mark is the most aces by Miami in a match since Sept. 21, 2018, when Miami put down 14 against the Akron Zips.Â
FINDING THEIR FIT: Two of this season's newcomers that will be counted on to make an immediate impact for Gwitt's first Miami team are Power Five transfers: Ava Francis and Anna McClure. Both players join the RedHawks with multiple years of eligibility remaining (two for Francis and three for McClure) and have bought in right away to Gwitt's vision for the program. To learn more about their story, click here!
THE RAEGAN LANTZ STORY: Raegan Lantz knows exactly when she decided she wanted to play volleyball in college. However, getting to this point hasn't been easy for Lantz. That's because her eighth-grade year wasn't just when she decided to pursue a future in collegiate volleyball. Eighth grade was also when Lantz started battling Type 1 diabetes. To learn more about Raegan's story, click here!
GWITT GEARING UP FOR DEBUT SEASON: When the fifth head coach in Miami Volleyball history met his players for the first time in early February to introduce himself, it didn't take long for the RedHawks to get to work. And while it's been a whirlwind for Gwitt since day one, including finalizing a roster, hiring assistant coaches, updating the locker room, building a culture and finishing a schedule, he is ecstatic about where things stand for the program heading into his first season at the helm. Check out the feature story here!
SPECIAL PROGRAM, SPECIAL PLACE: Dan Gwitt was ready to take the next step. After a journey in volleyball that's included playing at Penn State, serving as the youngest Division I head coach in the country at Centenary, excelling as a recruiter and assistant at Indiana and then most recently returning to his alma mater for the past two seasons, Gwitt felt it was time to move on from Happy Valley and be a college head coach again if the right job opened up. Miami University was the perfect opportunity. To catch up on his decision to become the next head coach of the Miami Volleyball team, click here!
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Players Mentioned
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero/Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Middle Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Opposite Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Middle Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's VolleyballSaturday, June 27
Tuesday, June 16
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, May 22