Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Opens MAC Tournament Play vs. Miami Friday
November 16, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Ball State MAC Tournament Release in PDF Format - - 680 KB
- - Ball State enters the 2005 Mid-American Conference Tournament with an 18-9 overall record . . . The Cardinals finished the MAC Regular Season with an 11-5 league mark to earn the No. 3 seed in the tournament, along with a first-round bye.
- - The No. 3 seed Cardinals open MAC Tournament play at 1:30 p.m. Friday versus No. 6 seed Miami at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio . . . The RedHawks advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-25) victory over No. 11 seed Buffalo Tuesday evening.
- - Ball State student radio station 91.3 WCRD will be carrying all seven matches of this season's MAC Tournament . . . Alex Graessle and Peter Heinz will bring you all the action live from the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio . . . If you can not tune into WCRD on your radio dials, you can listen to the webcast by clicking on the "Listen Now" button the station's website at: www.wcrd.net . . . In addition, all seven matches will be televised live . . . Buckeye CableSystem's BCSN Regional Sports Network will air all four quarterfinal matches and both semifinal contests, while Comcast Local in Michigan and Fox Sports Net Ohio will carry the championships match.
- - The 2005 Mid-American Conference Tournament marks the 15th-straight MAC Tournament appearance for the Cardinals . . . As the No. 2 seed last season, BSU advanced to its 14th-straight semifinal match with a quarterfinal victory over No. 7 Northern Illinois (3-2; 30-25, 29-31, 34-36, 30-28, 15-13) . . . BSU was denied a trip to the finals after a 3-2 (30-20, 30-22, 28-30, 26-30, 10-15) loss to No. 3 Marshall . . . Overall, BSU has participated in 17 of 22 MAC Tournaments and has claimed the championship trophy a league-record six times, with all six coming under the guidance of head coach Randy Litchfield.
- - After posting a 1-1 record in 2004, Ball State is a combined 23-10 (.697) all-time in MAC Tournament matches . . . BSU holds the record for most tournament matches with 33 . . . Ball State is 1-0 in first round matches, 8-0 in quarterfinal matches, 8-8 in semifinal matches and 6-2 in championship matches.
- - Ball State holds a 241-113-1 record versus the remaining MAC Tournament field, including a 17-7 mark in tournament action and a 5-2 ledger in tournament championship matches:
Ball State All-Time vs. Remaining MAC Tournament Field
Seed Team Overall Tournament Championships Streak
1. Ohio 31-6 0-1 0-0 L4
2. Eastern Michigan 38-15 3-0 0-0 L1
4. Western Michigan 35-30 2-1 1-1 W1
5. Toledo 46-3 1-0 0-0 W37
6. Miami 36-29 4-3 2-0 W1
7. Bowling Green 34-11-1 6-0 2-0 L1
8. Northern Illinois 21-19 1-2 0-1 W1
Total 241-113-1 17-7 5-2
Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, November 15 (at campus sites)
Match #1 No. 5 Toledo def. No. 12 Central Michigan 3-0 (30-20, 30-23, 30-24)
Match #2 No. 6 Miami def. No. 11 Buffalo 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-25)
Match #3 No. 7 Bowling Green def. No. 10 Kent State 3-0 (30-22, 30-19, 30-20)
Match #4 No. 8 Northern Illinois def. No. 9 Akron 3-1 (22-30, 30-16, 30-24, 30-18)
Friday, November 18 (SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio)
(TV: Buckeye CableSystem's BCSN Regional Sports Network, Radio: WCRD 91.3 FM)
Match #5 No. 2 Eastern Michigan vs. No. 7 Bowling Green 11 a.m.
Match #6 No. 3 Ball State vs. No. 6 Miami 1:30 p.m.
Match #7 No. 4 Western Michigan vs. No. 5 Toledo 5 p.m.
Match #8 No. 1 Ohio vs. No. 8 Northern Illinois 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 19 (SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio)
(TV: Buckeye CableSystem's BCSN Regional Sports Network, Radio: WCRD 91.3 FM)
Match #9 Winner Match #5 vs. Winner Match #6 4 p.m.
Match #10 Winner Match #7 vs. Winner Match #8 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 20 (SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio)
(TV: Comcast Local Michigan/FOX Sports Net Ohio, Radio: WCRD 91.3 FM)
Match #11 Championship match 2 p.m.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 1 OHIO: Ball State holds a 31-6 advantage in the all-time series with Ohio . . . The Bobcats hold an 1-0 advantage in MAC Tournament action, with a win in the 2003 MAC Semifinals . . . In the teams' only match this season, Ohio defeated Ball State 0-3 (26-30, 23-30, 23-30) in Athens . . . While the Bobcats have won the last four meetings, the Cardinals have won 26 of the last 30.
Ball State vs. Ohio In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/22/03 Ohio Semifinals L, 0-3 (21-30, 20-30, 21-30)
SCOUTING NO. 1 OHIO: The Bobcats earned the No. 1 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament by winning the MAC Regular Season title with a 16-0 league ledger . . . The Bobcats also boast a 26-2 overall record . . . Stephanie Blackburn paces the club with a 3.86 kills-per-game average . . . Michaele Blackburn tops the team with a 5.07 digs-per-game average, while Savanah Parra serves as the team's main setter with a 14.72 assist-per-game average . . . Melissa Griffin is the Bobcats' main threat at the net with a 0.97 blocks-per-game average . . . As a team, Ohio averages 17.92 KPG, 16.65 APG, 17.82 DPG and 2.26 BPG . . . Bobcats' opponents average 12.80 KPG, 11.87 APG, 14.42 DPG and 1.88 BPG.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 2 EASTERN MICHIGAN: Ball State holds a 38-15 edge in the all-time series vs. Eastern Michigan . . . BSU is 3-0 in MAC Tournament matches vs. EMU . . . The Cardinals and the Eagles split a pair of regular season matches this season, with BSU posting a 3-1 (28-30, 30-20, 30-23, 30-23) victory Oct. 22 in Muncie, while suffering a 0-3 (28-30, 29-31, 21-30) setback in Ypsilanti . . . Ball State is 17-3 in the last 20 matches with Eastern Michigan.
Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/21/03 Eastern Michigan Quarterfinals W, 3-0 (30-24, 30-24, 30-27)
11/29/02 Eastern Michigan Semifinal W, 3-0 (30-26, 30-17, 30-26)
11/20/01 Eastern Michigan Quarterfinal W, 3-1 (26-30, 30-28, 30-24, 30-24)
SCOUTING NO. 2 EASTERN MICHIGAN: The Eagles earned the No. 2 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament by winning the MAC West Division title with a 14-2 league ledger . . . Eastern Michigan also boast a 21-6 overall record . . . Lindsay Piccolini paces the squad with a 3.89 kills-per-game average and a 1.52 blocks-per-game average . . . Ashley Cudney tops the team with a 5.38 digs-per-game average . . . Kate Sulewski serves as the team's main setter, averaging 13.93 assists per game . . . As a team, EMU averages 16.79 KPG, 15.30 APG, 19.02 DPG and 2.78 BPG . . . Eagles' opponents average 15.81 KPG, 14.46 APG, 18.87 DPG and 2.09 BPG.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 4 WESTERN MICHIGAN: Ball State holds a 35-30 edge in the all-time series vs. Western Michigan, after splitting a pair of league contest this season . . . The Cardinals scored a 3-0 (34-32, 30-21, 30-23) victory over the Broncos at Worthen Arena Oct. 29, after suffering a 2-3 (14-30, 18-30, 32-30, 35-33, 7-15) setback to WMU at University Arena Oct. 14 . . . The Cardinals hold a 2-1 advantage in MAC Tournament action vs. the Broncos, including an 1-1 mark in finals action.
Ball State vs. Western Michigan In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/26/02 Western Michigan Quarterfinal W, 3-0 (31-29, 30-23, 30-28)
11/25/00 at Western Michigan Finals L, 1-3 (12-15, 15-8, 15-17, 15-5)
11/27/99 Western Michigan Finals W, 3-0 (15-11, 16-14, 15-9)
SCOUTING NO. 4 WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos earned the No. 4 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament after posting an 11-5 league record . . . WMU enters the weekend with an 18-8 overall record . . . Shaylen Jackson leads the squad with a 4.42 kills-per-game average and a 1.38 blocks-per-game average . . . Katy Duffy paces the club with a 5.32 digs-per-game average . . . Jennifer Sulewski is the team's top setter with a 12.59 assist-per-game average . . . As a team, WMU averages 15.65 KPG, 14.16 APG, 17.41 DPG and 2.82 BPG . . . Broncos' opponents average 15.28 KPG, 13.95 APG, 16.09 DPG and 2.34 BPG.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 5 TOLEDO: The Cardinals hold a 46-3 advantage in the all-time series vs. Toledo, including an 1-0 record in MAC Tournament action . . . The Cardinals swept the Rockets during the regular season, posting a 3-1 (30-27, 25-30, 30-28, 30-27) victory in Muncie and a 3-0 (35-33, 30-27, 30-16) sweep in Toledo . . . Ball State has won the last 37 matches between the two clubs dating back to 1987.
Ball State vs. Toledo In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/26/93 vs. Toledo Semifinals W, 3-0 (15-4, 15-13, 15-10)
SCOUTING NO. 5 TOLEDO: The Rockets earned the No. 5 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament after posting a 9-7 record in league action . . . Toledo, who enters the weekend with a 17-12 overall record, advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 3-0 (30-20, 30-23, 30-24) victory over No. 12 Central Michigan Tuesday night . . . Kate Bean paces the squad with a 4.07 kills-per-game average . . . Lora Sarich tops the team with a 4.85 digs-per-game average, while Kelsey Culver leads the Rockets with a 0.94 blocks-per-game average . . . Emi Holsclaw serves as the team's main setter, averaging 12.15 assists per game . . . As a team, Toledo averages 15.15 KPG, 13.86 APG, 17.77 DPG and 1.95 BPG . . . Rockets' opponents average 12.81 KPG, 11.64 APG, 17.26 DPG and 2.88 BPG.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 6 MIAMI: The Cardinals hold a 36-29 advantage in the all-time series vs. Miami . . . BSU is 4-3 vs. Miami in MAC Tournament action, including a 2-0 mark in championship matches . . . Friday's contest will mark the first time the team's have played in quarterfinal action . . . The Cardinals won the only meeting this season, topping the RedHawks 3-2 (25-30, 30-24, 19-30, 30-26, 15-10) at Worthen Arena (Sept. 23) . . . Ball State has won nine of the last 10 matches between the two clubs.
Ball State vs. Bowling Green In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/18/03 Miami First Round W, 3-0 (30-21, 30-22, 30-26)
11/21/97 at Miami Semifinals L, 0-3 (7-15, 8-15, 10-15)
11/18/95 at Miami Finals W, 3-2 (8-15, 15-13, 11-15, 15-12, 15-12)
11/19/94 Miami Finals W, 3-2 (15-3, 10-15, 7-15, 15-10, 15-9)
11/27/92 vs. Miami Semifinals W, 3-2 (15-11, 13-15, 9-15, 15-3, 15-9)
11/29/91 vs. Miami Semifinals L, 0-3 (9-15, 10-15, 7-15)
10/18/80 vs. Miami Semifinals L, 0-3 (15-5, 15-3, 15-10)
SCOUTING NO. 6 MIAMI: The RedHawks earned the No. 6 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament after posting an 9-7 record in league action . . . Miami, who enters the weekend with a 17-11 overall record, advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-25) victory over No. 11 Buffalo Tuesday night . . . Emily Schroeder paces the squad with a 3.35 kills-per-game average . . . Suzy Wolford tops the team with a 4.54 digs-per-game average, while Kate Norris leads the RedHawks with a 1.02 blocks-per-game average . . . Megan Clark serves as the team's main setter, averaging 11.69 assists per game . . . As a team, Miami averages 16.00 KPG, 14.93 APG, 15.89 DPG and 2.38 BPG . . . RedHawks' opponents average 14.89 KPG, 13.55 APG, 15.32 DPG and 2.41 BPG.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 7 BOWLING GREEN: The Cardinals hold a 34-11-1 advantage in the all-time series vs. Bowling Green . . . BSU is 6-0 vs. BGSU in MAC Tournament action, including a 2-0 mark in championship matches . . . The Cardinals suffered a 0-3 (25-30, 22-30, 28-30) setback to the Falcons Sept. 24 in the teams' only match this year . . . The win snapped BSU's 24-match winning streak over BGSU.
Ball State vs. Bowling Green In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/23/01 vs. Bowling Green Semifinals W, 3-2 (28-30, 30-22, 25-30, 37-35, 17-15)
11/26/99 Bowling Green Semifinals W, 3-0 (15-6, 15-6, 15-7)
11/18/97 Bowling Green Quarterfinals W, 3-0 (15-0, 15-9, 15-5)
11/18/94 Bowling Green Semifinals W, 3-2 (15-7, 7-15, 11-15, 15-8, 16-14)
11/27/93 vs. Bowling Green Finals W, 3-1 (15-8, 15-12, 12-15, 15-5)
11/28/92 vs. Bowling Green Finals W, 3-2 (14-16, 15-3, 15-10, 13-15, 16-14)
SCOUTING NO. 7 BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons earned the No. 7 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament after posting an 8-8 record in league action . . . Bowling Green, who enter the weekend with an 18-13 overall record, advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 3-0 (30-22, 30-19, 30-20) victory over No. 10 Kent State Tuesday night . . . Ashlei Nofzinger paces the squad with a 2.91 kills-per-game average . . . Chelsey Meek tops the team with a 4.15 digs-per-game average, while Stephanie Swiger leads the Falcons with a 1.09 blocks-per-game average . . . Chrissy Gothke serves as the team's main setter, averaging 9.86 assists per game . . . As a team, BGSU averages 15.50 KPG, 13.68 APG, 18.25 DPG and 2.44 BPG . . . Falcons' opponents average 15.26 KPG, 13.94 APG, 18.59 DPG and 2.29 BPG.
ALL-TIME VS. NO. 8 NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Ball State holds an 21-19 advantage in the all-time series vs. Northern Illinois . . . BSU is 1-2 vs. NIU in MAC Tournament action, including a 0-1 record in championship matches . . . The two teams split a pair of regular season matches in 2005, with the Cardinals suffering a 2-3 (30-23, 27-30, 30-28, 27-30, 13-15) setback in DeKalb (Oct. 15), before rebounding for a 3-0 (30-28, 30-10, 30-14) victory in Muncie . . . BSU holds a 6-4 advantage in the last 10 contests.
Ball State vs. Northern Illinois In MAC Tournament
Date Opponent Round Results
11/19/04 vs. Northern Illinois Quarterfinals W, 3-2 (30-25, 29-31, 34-36, 30-28, 15-13)
11/24/01 at Northern Illinois Finals L, 0-3 (21-30, 17-30, 24-30)
11/27/98 vs. Northern Illinois Semifinals L, 1-3 (9-15, 11-15, 16-14, 9-15)
SCOUTING NO. 8 NORTHERN ILLINOIS: The Huskies earned the No. 8 seed in the 2005 MAC Tournament after posting an 7-9 league record . . . NIU, 16-16 overall, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament with a 3-1 (22-30, 30-16, 30-24, 30-18) win over No. 9 Akron Tuesday night . . . Kate McCullagh leads the squad with a 5.38 kills-per-game average and a 1.10 blocks-per-game average . . . Gina Guide paces the club with a 4.34 digs-per-game average . . . Jenny Dziubla is the team's top setter with an 12.03 assist-per-game average . . . As a team, NIU averages 14.56 KPG, 13.44 APG, 15.80 DPG and 2.09 BPG . . . Huskies' opponents average 15.44 KPG, 14.23 APG, 16.45 DPG and 2.06 BPG.
BALL STATE NEWS AND NOTES
OBRAS BECOMES MAC CAREER KILLS LEADER: With 15 kills in the Cardinals' win at Central Michigan last Saturday, Ball State senior outside attacker Sarah Obras became the league's all-time career kills leader . . . Obras enters the 2005 MAC Tournament with 1,911 career kills . . . Obras also enters the MAC Tournament as the league's all-time attempts leader with 5,512.
OBRAS CAN PLAY DEFENSE TOO: In addition to setting the MAC career kills mark at Central Michigan last Saturday, Obras recorded 17 digs in the match to become just the sixth player in league history to record over 1,600 career digs . . . Obras, who enters the weekend with 1,610 career digs, is also the first player in league history to record 1,500 kills and 1,500 digs in a career.
MCCORMICK KEEPS ON DIGGING: After collecting 22 digs in each of BSU's matches last weekend, junior libero Amanda McCormick continues to rank fourth in the nation with a 6.22 digs-per-game average . . . Last week, McCormick became the first player in school history to earn National Player of the Week honors after recording 37 digs in a three-game win at Toledo (Nov. 5) . . . The total is a career-high, the highest in the nation in a three-game set this season and the third-highest in a three-game match in NCAA history . . . On the year, McCormick has recorded 30-or-more digs seven times . . . As a team, the Cardinals rank seventh in the nation with a 19.34 dpg.
SPEAKING OF RANKINGS: With an 1.52 blocks-per-game average on the year, senior middle attacker Rachel Refenes currently ranks 18th in the nation . . . The average also tops the MAC charts . . . In addition, her team-best 4.56 kills-per-game average ranks third in the league, while her .342 attack percentage is fourth in the conference . . . Refenes - - who currently ranks 13th in BSU's career charts with 306 blocks since joining the Cardinals last season - - finished the 2004 season ranked eighth in the nation with a school-record 1.67 bpg average.
COCHRAN APPROACHING ELITE COMPANY: With 22 digs last weekend, junior outside attacker Kelly Cochran climbed into the top 10 in school history with 948 career digs . . . Cochran also moved over 900 kills for her career last weekend and now ranks 12th in the club's charts at 907 . . . She is currently nine kills outside of the top 10 . . . In addition, she is on pace to become just the fifth player in school history to record over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career, joining Sarah Obras (1,911 kills/1,610 digs); Megan Hammons (1,827 kills/1,204 digs); Lindsay Follin (1,495 kills/1,067 digs) and Katie Butts (1,362 kills/1,109 digs).
MIKESELL THROWING UP THE BLOCK: Sophomore setter Lanee Mikesell recorded a career-high two blocks after entering last Friday's contest at Eastern Michigan as an emergency opposite side attacker in the third game . . . So far this season, Mikesell has tallied 10 assists over five matches . . . She has also logged two digs and the pair of blocks.
THREE CARDINALS EARN ACADEMIC HONORS: Three members of the Ball State women's volleyball team have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V University Division Women's Volleyball Team . . . seniors Sarah Obras and Stephanie Bacan earned recognition on the first team, while redshirt sophomore Angie Parrell was named to the third team . . . Obras and Bacan will now have their names placed on the national ballot for the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's Volleyball Team, which will be announced Nov. 30.
MORE ON BACAN: Stephanie Bacan enters the 2005 MAC Tournament with a career-best 2.56 digs-per-game average on the year . . . In 80 games, Bacan has collected 205 digs . . . She also paces the team with a 0.30 aces-per-game average, posting 24 aces on the year.
MORE ON PARRELL: Angie Parrell enters the 2005 MAC Tournament ranked eighth in school annals with 1,520 career assists . . . With a career-high 69 assists at Akron (Nov. 4), Parrell became just the seventh player in school history to post over 1,000 assists in a season . . . Her 2005 total currently stands at 1,165.
WESTHOF LOOKING FOR A BLOCK: Senior middle attacker Kristin Westhof enters the 2005 MAC Tournament one block shy of 300 for her career . . . In last Saturday's win at Central Michigan, Westhof tallied a season-high six total blocks moving her career total to 299, which ranks 14th in school annals.
MAY MAKING AN IMPACT: After seeing action in just nine matches as a freshman, sophomore outside/middle attacker Brittany May has played in 25 matches for BSU this season, including 12 starts . . . May, who tallied career-bests of 12 kills and a .526 attack percentage at Akron (Nov. 4), currently has an 1.78 kills-per-game average on the year . . . She has also logged 42 total blocks for a 0.55 blocks-per-game average.
GIBSON HITTING FOR PERCENTAGE: Junior opposite side attacker Kirby Gibson currently ranks second on the team with a .241 attack percentage . . . In 23 matches, including 13 starts, Gibson has an 1.58 kills-per-game average and a 0.69 blocks-per-game average.
BURLESON RECORDS 100TH KILL: In BSU's win at Central Michigan last Saturday, junior outside attacker Heather Burleson recorded four kills, moving her career total to 101 . . . Burleson currently has 34 kills on the year for a 0.54 kpg average . . . She has also tallied a career-best 20 total blocks.
THE WORTHEN ARENA ADVANTAGE: The Ball State women's volleyball team holds a 127-9 (.934) advantage vs. teams from the Mid-American Conference in Worthen Arena . . . Miami has the most wins in the gym with four (4-11), followed by Ohio (2-8), Bowling Green (1-12), Central Michigan (1-11) and Western Michigan (1-14) . . . Akron (0-10), Buffalo (0-6), Eastern Michigan (0-16), Kent State (0-10), Northern Illinois (0-9) and Toledo (0-13) have never won in Worthen Arena . . . Marshall was 0-7 at Worthen when it was a member of the conference from 1997 to 2004 . . . BSU is 165-24 (.873) all-time at Worthen Arena.
