Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Upsets No. 2 EMU in Five-Game Thriller
November 19, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Toledo, Ohio - - The No. 3 seed Ball State (20-9) women's volleyball team advanced to the championship match of the 2005 Mid-American Conference Tournament with a thrilling 3-2 (32-30, 29-31, 11-30, 30-28, 15-7) win over No. 3 Eastern Michigan (22-7) Saturday evening at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio. The Cardinals will face No. 1 seed and two-time defending tournament champion Ohio - - who defeated No. 5 Toledo earlier in the day - - at
Trailing two-games to one and 28-24 in the fourth game, the Cardinals mounted a season-saving six point rally behind the serving of senior defensive specialist Stephanie Bacan (Remsen, Iowa/St. Mary's H.S.) and the determined play of the entire team to take the fourth game 30-28.
"This was one of the craziest, spectacular matches I have ever coached," said Ball State head coach Randy Litchfield. "It was a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the entire match."
The rollercoaster began with a first set that saw 11 ties, five lead changes and the Cardinals rally from behind 19-11 before winning 32-30.
The ride began its decent in the second set which saw the Cardinals ahead 26-21 before a 6-0 EMU gave the Eagles the edge in a game EMU won 31-29.
The ride hit the bottom of the slope in the third game, with Ball State suffered its worst game loss of the season, falling 30-11.
The rollercoaster began its trip back up the hill late in the fourth game, when the Cardinals rallied from behind 28-24 to win the game 30-24.
In the fifth game the Cardinals road the train back to the top, as they jumped out to a 4-1 advantage they would never relinquish, winning the frame 15-7.
Litchfield would go on to site senior outside attacker
"Sarah really willed us to the win," Litchfield said. "Amanda's defensive effort in spite of her injured foot was really gutsy."
Obras would finish the contest with a match-best 23 kills - - tying a season-high - - while McCormick tallied a career-best 43 digs. Obras would also add 11 digs, four total blocks and a service ace; while McCormick posted three assists and an ace.
Also posting double-figure kills in the contest were senior middle-attacker Rachel Refenes (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.) and junior outside attacker Kelly Cochran (La Porte, Ind./Michigan City Marquette H.S.) with 17 and 12, respectively.
Refenes would score the most critical kill of the contest in the fourth set after a Bacan ace, giving the Cardinals a 30-28 win in the frame. She would also post three blocks, two digs and a service ace in the victory.
Cochran would add 13 digs, three assists, two blocks and a service ace; while Bacan scored seven digs three assists and an ace.
Junior opposite side attacker Kirby Gibson (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.) would smash the match-winning kill, capping her nine on the night. She would also score a dig and a block.
Senior middle attacker Kristin Westhof (Fruitport, Mich./Fruitport H.S.) would continue her solid play, scoring a season-high six total blocks to go along with three kills, three digs and an assists.
Sophomore setter Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) tallied 56 assists in the match, while posting seven digs, five kills and a pair of blocks.
Also aiding in the win were junior outside attacker Heather Burleson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian H.S.) with four digs, two kills and one block; sophomore middle/outside attacker
As a team, the Cardinals held a slim .197 (73-33-203) to .194 (72-33-201) edge in attack percentage, as well as a 91-to-90 advantage in digs. EMU scored 12 aces to BSU's five and out-blocked the Cardinals 12-to-11.
Lindsay Piccolini paced the Eagles with 22 kills, while Ashley Cudney scored a team-high 37 digs.
