Western Michigan Clips Volleyball In Four

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Despite a pair of Cardinals logging over 20 kills, the Ball State women's volleyball team suffered a hard-fought 3-1 (20-30, 30-19, 31-29, 30-28) setback to Western Michigan Friday night at Worthen Arena.

With the loss, BSU's Mid-American Conference record drops to 2-3, while its overall mark moves to 3-14.

WMU improves to 13-6 (4-1 MAC) after the win, and moves into sole possession of first place in the MAC's West Division.

After suffering the second-game loss, the Cardinals found themselves trailing 19-8 in the third set, only to see a kill from senior Brittany May (Gaston, Ind./Wes-Del H.S.) and some strong serving by freshman Abby LaVigne (Swanton, Ohio/Swanton H.S.) help the Cardinals battle back and tie the game at 26.

“I was not happy with the way we started the third game,” said Ball State head coach Dave Boos. “However, I was very proud of the way we were able to rebound and battle back into the match.”

Overall, I think the last two games were decided by a point here and there. We played tough at the end of the night and if we turn in that kind of effort the rest of the season, good things will follow.”

May was the top attacker in the match, logging a season-high 21 kills. She also accounted for three of BSU's 15 team blocks, including a solo stuff that tied the fourth game at 28-28.

Sophomore Julie Breivogel (Boonville, Ind./Boonville H.S.) was the other BSU attacker to reach the 20-kill mark, finishing the night with exactly 20.

After falling behind 6-3 early in the opening set, the Cardinals rallied to take a 7-6 advantage off a pair of service aces from freshman Alyssa Rio (Wayne, Ill./St. Francis H.S.) and never looked back, stunning the league's West Division leaders with a 30-20 game one victory. May was the Cardinals top attacker in the stanza, smashing seven of her match-high 21 kills in the frame.

Ball State opened the second game with a 5-4 advantage, only to see five-straight WMU points put the guests ahead 9-5. BSU managed to stay within three points at 16-13, off a kill from Elaina Kakatolis (Arcanum, Ohio/Franklin Monroe H.S.), only to see the Broncos score seven of the next eight points, before winning the game 30-19.

As stated above, BSU rallied from down 19-8 in the third game to tie the set at 26-26. From there, the teams traded the next six points with a block assist from senior Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) and junior Christine Kennedy (San Marcos, Calif./University of San Diego H.S.) pushing the score to 29-29.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Broncos' Jamie Gotham and Michelle Moore smashed back-to-back kills to give WMU a 31-29 game three victory.

The fourth and final set was the closest of the night, as the teams battled back-and-forth through 20 ties and eight lead changes. Ball State held a slim 26-25 advantage after a kill from freshman Alexis Shonkwiler (Marion, Ind./Eastbrook H.S.). However, WMU rallied off the next three points to pull ahead 28-26 and force BSU to call its final timeout of the game.

WMU's Katie Eberling served the ball into the next after the one-minute break before May's solo block tied the game at 28-28. WMU's Moore followed with her team-high 18th kill of the contest, before a BSU attack error ended the set at 30-28 and the match at 3-1.

In addition to two BSU players logging 20-plus kills, three Cardinals collected double-figure digs in the match, paced by Rio's match-best 28.

Kennedy added 17 digs, along with a match-high seven total blocks, while Parrell logged 14 to go along with 51 assists.

In addition to Moore's 18 kills for Western Michigan, Allyson Doyle added 12. Three Broncos logged double-figure digs, paced by Caitlin Strimel with 18.

Ball State finished the match out-digging WMU 79 to 70, while holding a 12 to 8 edge in total blocks. As a team, BSU has now logged double-figure blocks in each of the last three matches and seven times this season.

Western Michigan was able to out-hit BSU .199 (59-23-181) to .189 (65-30-185), while scoring five aces to the Cardinals' four.

The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to action Saturday night, when it hosts Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena. All fans will receive FREE ADMISSION to the match.

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Players Mentioned

Julie Breivogel

Elaina Kakatolis

Christine Kennedy

Abby LaVigne

Brittany May

Angie Parrell

Alyssa Rio

Alexis Shonkwiler