Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Dominates Northern Illinois
October 28, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - Sparked by the music of the Delta High School Band, the Ball State (14-8; 7-4 Mid-American Conference) women's volleyball team posted a dominating 3-0 (30-28, 30-10, 30-14) victory over Northern Illinois (12-14; 4-7 MAC) Friday night at Worthen Arena. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 9-1 at home and move to 9-0 vs. NIU at Worthen Arena.
Senior Rachel Refenes (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.) set the pace for the Cardinals on the night, tying a season-high with 24 kills, while posting a season-best .611 (24-2-36) attack percentage. The 6-3 reigning MAC West Player of the Week also collected four blocks, four digs and a pair of aces in the win.
In addition to Refenes' season-high hitting mark, the Cardinals as a team posted a season-best mark with a .425 (51-6-106) rate of success for the match, which is the fifth-best effort in school history. In addition, BSU shut down the Huskies' offense, limiting the visitors to a .112 (37-23-115) clip.
Despite collecting just six kills in the match, senior Sarah Obras (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights H.S.) sparked a huge rally in the second set with her serving, helping the Cardinals post 13-straight points, while adding a pair of service aces in the team's second-longest point streak of the season. She also collected 11 digs and a solo stuff in the win.
Junior Kelly Cochran (La Porte, Ind./Michigan City Marquette H.S.) chipped in with 12 kills on the night, falling just short of a double-double with nine digs. She also added a pair of service aces and a block assists.
After seeing the Huskies hold several early three-point advantages in the opening set, the Cardinals would tie the game at 13-13. NIU would regain its three-point edge at the 19-16 mark, before a six-point service run from Refenes put the Cardinals up by three at 22-19.
The Huskies would battle back and take a 28-27 edge, before Refenes connected on back-to-back kills giving BSU game point at 29-28. After a Huskies' timeout, Obras put down the game-winner at 30-28.
After a close first set, the Cardinals came out and dominated the remaining two games of the match, posting 30-10 and 30-14 victories.
In the second stanza, the Cardinals were ahead 14-8 when Obras served 13-straight points, upping the advantage to 27-8. NIU would stop the streak with a kill from Kate McCullagh, who was limited to 12 kills and a .045 (
A kill from Refenes and a Huskie attack error would give BSU game point at 29-9, before Cochran ended the set at 30-10 with a smash to the hard wood floor.
The third set started out tight, with BSU playing to a 7-6 advantage. However, the Cardinals would pull ahead by 14 at the 28-14 mark and have a pair of aces from Amanda McCormick (Muncie, Ind./Burris H.S.) ice the set at 30-14.
McCormick would finish the contest with three aces, while collecting 16 digs and an assists. Senior defensive specialist Stephanie Bacan (Remsen, Iowa/St. Mary's H.S.) added seven digs and an assists in the victory.
Sophomore setter Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) turned in another solid performance, guiding the Cardinals to a season-best .425 attack mark, while collecting 43 assists, four digs, three blocks and three digs. Freshman setter Lanee Mikesell (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry H.S.) also saw action in the contest.
Adding to the victory were senior Kristin Westhof (Fruitport, Mich./Fruitport H.S.) with three kills, a pair of blocks and a dig; junior Kriby Gibson (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.) with two kills and junior Heather Burleson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian H.S.) with two digs, a block and an ace.
McCullagh paced NIU with 12 kills on the night, while Corinne Walsh added 11. Gina Guide paced all players with 18 digs.
In addition to the huge hitting advantage, the Cardinals posted a 7-2 win in blocks, a 53-45 advantage in digs and a 10-1 lead in service aces.
The Ball State women's volleyball team will close the home portion of its 2005 MAC schedule Saturday with senior night when it host Western Michigan at 7 p.m. Admission to the match is FREE for everyone.
In addition, prizes will be given out throughout the match, capped by the give-away of a 27" Color TV, an X-Box and 12-month X-Box Live subscription donated by Pepsi and a collection of X-Box games including Tiger Woods 2006, Madden 2006, NCAA March Madness 2006 and Hulk.
