Ball State University Athletics
No. 3 seeded Women's Volleyball Blanks No. 6 Miami
November 18, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Toledo, Ohio. - - The No. 3 seeded Ball State (19-9) women's volleyball team improved to 9-0 in Mid-American Conference Tournament Quarterfinal action with a 3-0 (30-27, 30-23, 30-27) victory over No. 6 Miami Friday afternoon at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio. With the win, the Cardinals advance to Saturday's
"From start to finish, this was one of our most consistent matches of the year," said Ball State head coach Randy Litchfield. "To hold a good hitting team like Miami to ten percent under their normal attack percentage was a key to our victory."
While BSU's defense limited the RedHawks to a .143 (42-25-119) attack percentage on the day, it was the team's offense that did the damage on the court, as the Cardinals hit for a .266 (48-15-124) rate of success.
"I liked our overall team personality on the court this afternoon," Litchfield continued. "We knew coming into the tournament that having a balanced offensive attack would be a big factor in our success. Today we were able to achieve that balance."
Senior middle attacker and first team All-MAC selection Rachel Refenes (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.) paced the Cardinals' offense with 14 kills on the afternoon. She also added a match-best five total blocks, three digs and a service ace.
Fellow senior middle attacker Kristin Westhof (Fruitport, Mich./Fruitport H.S.) turned in her best performance of the season, collecting season-highs of nine kills and a .538 (
Junior outside attacker Kelly Cochran (La Porte, Ind./Michigan City Marquette H.S.) also added nine kills, while collecting eight digs, two blocks and a pair of assists.
In the opening frame, the Cardinals jumped out to an early five-point advantage at 11-6, only to have the RedHawks charge back and take a 15-14 advantage. The play would go back-and-forth much of the rest of the way as the contest saw 16 total ties and seven lead changes.
Westhof would score the most pivotal kill of the game, giving Ball State a 28-27 edge late in the game. After an attack error by Miami's Carli Reihman gave BSU match-point, BSU's All-MAC honorable mention selection
In the second stanza, Miami took an early 11-9 advantage before a 8-0 service run from senior defensive specialist Stephanie Bacan (Remsen, Iowa/St. Mary's H.S.) turned the tide in favor of the Cardinals. Miami would get as close as one point at, 23-22, before a six-point service run from second team All-MAC selection
The third set saw the RedHawks jump out to a 7-1 advantage, but another strong service run from Refenes would eventually give the Cardinals a 9-8 advantage. After trading the next four points, Obras would give the Cardinals a 16-10 advantage with a five-point service run. This time, Miami would cut the gap to two points, at 26-24, but never get closer as the Cardinals won the frame 30-27 on Refenes' final kill of the match.
BSU's Obras would finish the match with six kills, nine digs and three service aces, moving her MAC career-leading kills total to 1,917. Her career dig total now stands at 1,619.
McCormick would add 11 digs in the match, while posting three assists and a pair of service aces. Bacan would tally a season-best two kills in the victory, as well as five digs, a service ace and an assists.
Sophomore setter Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) paced the Cardinals with 34 assists, while scoring five kills and four total blocks.
Also factoring in the win for Ball State were junior opposite side attacker Kirby Gibson (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.) with one kill and a block; sophomore outside/middle attacker
In addition to out-hitting the RedHawks, Ball State posted a 7-to-2 advantage in service aces and a 10-to-3 edge in blocks. Miami led the match with 51 digs, while BSU tallied 45.
The RedHawks' Emily Schroeder paced all players with 16 kills in the contest, while three Miami players - - Schroeder, Suzy Wolford and Katie Fleming - - each recorded 10 digs.
