Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Survives Marathon with IUPUI
September 06, 2006 | Women's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - The Ball State women's volleyball team ended its four-match losing streak Wednesday evening at Worthen Arena with a 3-2 (30-23, 28-30, 26-30, 30-22, 16-14) victory over visiting IUPUI. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 2-5, while the Jaguars fall to 2-6.
In the victory, sophomore transfer Christine Kennedy (San Marcos, Calif./University of San Diego H.S.) helped guide the Cardinals to their best blocking effort of the season, rejecting a career-high 14 volleyballs. In addition to her 12 block assists and two solo blocks, the 6-0 middle attacker tallied a career-best 15 digs for a rare block/dig double-double. Kennedy's 14 total blocks tie as the fifth most in a single match in school history.
Junior outside attacker
Freshman outside attacker Julie Breivogel (Boonville, Ind./Boonville H.S.) also played an important role in the victory, recording her second-straight double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. She also chipped in at the net with a career-high four total blocks.
Senior libero
Also not to be overlooked in the contest were freshman opposite side attacker
After falling behind 9-2 early in the opening set, the Cardinals - - who started freshman setter Cassie Conner (Willow Springs, Ill./Lyons Township H.S.) for the first time in her career - - came to life, tying the game at 14-14. BSU would follow with three more points to take a 17-14 advantage. After IUPUI cut the gap to two points at 21-19, a kill from May and a
The second game was the closest of the night, with 13 ties and six overall lead changes. The Cardinals would build the largest lead of the game - - five points - - at the 21-16 mark, only to have the Jaguars tie the stanza at 27-27. After a kill from Breivogel gave Ball State a 28-27 advantage, IUPUI rallied off the final three points to win the frame 30-28.
In the third set, the teams would play to a 5-5 tie before a five-point IUPUI run gave the visitors from Indianapolis a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game. The Jaguars lead by as many as eight points at 18-10, before BSU drew within two points at 26-24. The Cardinals could not get any closer however, dropping the next two points before going on to lose the game 30-26.
A Breivogel kill would initiate the fourth game, and give the Cardinals an edge they would not surrender in the frame. After BSU jumped ahead 5-1, IUPUI would get within one point six times, with the last being at 17-16. From there, BSU would score the next five points and win the game 30-22.
In the fifth and final set, Ball State would fall behind 4-1 forcing head coach
Breivogel would answer by giving the Cardinals their first match point with her 14th kill of the night to make the score 14-13. However a BSU attack error tied the game once again at 14-14. Senior setter Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) would follow with a kill of her own - - after entering the contest in the fourth game - - and set up May's match-winning 24th kill of the evening.
In addition to her stellar play at the net, Kennedy would add seven kills in the victory, while May added four digs and a service ace to her totals.
Gibson would finish the match with seven kills, five digs, four blocks and a career-best three service aces, while Conner added career-highs of 29 assists, four kills, six digs and a service ace. Parrell would post 13 assists, four kills, four digs and three blocks in her two games.
Also factoring in the win for Ball State were freshmen outside attackers
Overall the Cardinals held a .160 (67-34-206) to .100 (64-43-209) edge in hitting, plus out-blocked the Jaguars 18.5 to 7. IUPUI held a 91 to 83 advantage in digs and a
Carol Newell was one of three Jaguar players to tally double-figure kills with a team-high 18, while Hillary Houston added 17 and DeAnna Pflum tagged 15. Five IUPUI players tallied double-figure digs, led by Christy McConnell's 22.
Ball State will have nine days to rest before returning to action in the Western Kentucky Lady Topper Invitational (Sept. 15-16).
